McCovey Chronicles Roundtable: Final Destination, Waiver Wire Edition

After an ignominious sweep, a four-game losing streak, and time running out on the schedule, the Giants might decide it’s time to let some players go on the waiver wire. Where would you like to see some players wind up? The only rule is you have to follow the waiver wire rules, which gives claim priority in reverse order of the standings, beginning with the waived player’s league. If you want a Giant to wind up on an AL team, then show your work! You can’t just say “because I feel like it!”

Bryan Murphy, Managing Editor

Whoa. We’ve already done six of these?

Kenny Kelly, Staff Writer

Andrew McCutchen: Seattle Mariners

I don’t know if I can watch another Seattle Mariners collapse. Their success earlier in the year was completely undeserved, but their 17-year long playoff drought is also undeserved. It’s not fair that that they’re going to get upended by another Cinderella A’s team. Andrew McCutchen could be the thing that saves their season. He could be the spark that sends them on another incredible stretch that would bounce the A’s or even the Astros from the playoffs.

Andrew McCutchen is a Good Dude™, and it’s a shame he’s never gotten a chance to play beyond the Wild Card game. Taking the Mariners on an improbable playoff run would be wonderful for both Seattle and McCutchen.

It’s a bit of a long shot for McCutchen to make it all the way to the Mariners because all the National League teams would have to pass on McCutchen, and the Phillies, Pirates, and Cardinals could all use outfield help but maybe they all play their way out of playoff contention before the deadline.

Sami Higgins, Deputy Editor

Nobody: Nowhere

I honestly can’t think of anything that wouldn’t make me feel dead inside.

This is why I could never run a baseball team. I’m far too sentimental. Also I want to keep the good players because I don’t want the rest of this season to be soul-suckingly awful to watch.

Roger Munter, Minor League Guru

Andrew McCutchen: Cleveland Indians.

I know sending Cutch back to the Pirates is the sentimental choice, but to be honest I don’t have any more faith in the 63-62 Pirates than I do the Giants. I’d like to send him someplace where he can actually do some good and there’s not too much higher good I feel can come out of the 2018 season than to have Cleveland grab the title that should have been theirs two years ago and break the, now, longest championship drought in the game for a single franchise.

Cleveland has two MVP calibre seasons anchoring it’s lineup and a whole lot of hot garbage. They’ve recently picked up old friend Melky Cabrera to play RF and have the legendary Yandy Diaz anchoring the DH position for them. They can use some Cutch if they’re to navigate the post-season. So, better than “because I feel like it,” eh? Uh... man Philadelphia’s OF situation is a mess too so this is gonna take some… uh… All teams pledge to a gentleman’s agreement not to claim Cutch so that he can go to his preferred destination in pursuit of a title! That was easy!

Doug Bruzzone, Chief Dougologist

Sam Dyson: Colorado Rockies

The Rockies bullpen has not impressed anyone this year. They thought they’d addressed it in the offseason, adding Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw (never trust a Bryan), and Wade Davis to three year contracts, and then the year started and funny story, ha ha, in over 130 innings they’ve been worth a combined -0.2 fWAR. They went out at the deadline and got some help, but they can’t think it’s enough.

Enter Sam Dyson. If any pitch has ever been built for Coors Field, it’s Dyson’s sinker. He’s making decent money this year -- enough that it makes sense that the Giants would want to get rid of a month of his salary -- but not enough that the Rockies can’t afford him. And he’s been effective; a 2.84 ERA is absolutely solid, and every team would take that out of every spot in the bullpen. It really makes sense for both sides.

But why do I want him to go to the Rockies? Because they’ve been so shaky in the late innings, they’d be bound to use Dyson as a closer eventually after Wade Davis has another bad outing. And what would Dyson do as a closer in Coors Field? The same thing he did when he closed for the Giants in the week after Hunter Strickland hurt himself: blow several saves and remind them why the Rangers DFA’d him last year.

You see, what I want is for the Rockies to suffer.

Bryan Murphy, Managing Editor

Evan Longoria: Padres

Hear me out on this one. It’s not about the Giants jettisoning a tricky-to-bad contract, it’s about the Padres being too clever by half. I can imagine a scenario where the Padres put in a blocking claim on any player the Giants put on waivers thinking that they can do something creative or just really be a pain. I would have to think that the Giants would simply give away without getting back another player in trade for the full salaries of Longoria, Melancon, and Samardzija, and out of those three, I could most see the Padres doing something like claim Longoria despite having Christian Villanueva already.

I recognize that in this case I’m putting my need to see the Padres trip over themselves above the comfort and well being of a Giants player, but I really want to see the Padres trip over themselves with a random waiver claim that surprises us all.

But, since I’m also the managing editor, I’ll make a second pick, because I can.

Brandon Belt: Astros

He’d get to the AL because the Astros are the only team out there with the payroll/CBT flexibility, the possible roster need (Yuli Gurriel is 34 and having a bland year), and just like last year when they added Justin Verlander, it’d be the move that makes them as strong as possible heading into the postseason. Plus, it puts Belt closer to home.

Brady Klopfer of The Athletic

Derek Holland: Philadelphia Phillies

There’s no telling where a pitcher will land on waiver claims, but most playoff teams have their rotations set to the point that Dutch making it to Philly wouldn’t be shocking. And once there, the fit just seems right. Holland is silly and playful, a constant reminder that baseball is a child’s game. The Phillies are youthful and exuberant, full of energetic, fun-to-watch players. If Holland leaves his buddies in Hunter Pence and Andrew McCutchen, I want him somewhere where baseball is fun, not stuffy. And Philly, like all playoff-bound teams, could benefit from adding another reliable arm to the back of the rotation or the front of the bullpen.

Carmen Kiew, Social Media Manager

Hunter Strickland: St Louis Cardinals

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Hunter Strickland is back from the DL. He’s ready to go and while I’ve seen both facets of the guy from “dominant flame-thrower” to “guy who gives up hella home runs”, I do think he could add value to a team like the St. Louis Cardinals.

For one, they’ve had their share of pitcher woes, especially from the right side. Luke Gregerson, or Greg Lukerson, as I like to call him, is on the 60-day DL. The Cards had also picked up Greg Holland this season but released him in the beginning of August after a horrendous showing with 7.92 ERA. Eek.

In short, their bullpen, which is the fourth worst in the national league in ERA, could use some support. Hello, Hunter Strickland (please say this in Jon Miller’s Hello Kitty voice).

Finally, the Cardinals have their BS “play the game the right way” thing going and that’s pretty much Hunter Strickland’s MO. Him and his new teammates would have a fantastic time discussing the unwritten rules of baseball. And he could help them win. The End.