Giants add Anthony Banda in lone deadline deal

There were a lot of questions leading up to the 2020 MLB trade deadline about what the San Francisco Giants would do. Would they sell off their veterans and stockpile more assets for future years? Or would they double-down on their postseason push and grab some reinforcements?

Ultimately they did neither. They basically stood pat, making just one move: sending cash to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda.

Banda, who is 27, has a brief history in the Major Leagues. He debuted in 2017 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and had a rather funny year. His ERA was 5.96, but his FIP was all the way down at 3.24.

That was the best year of his career, but that ERA and FIP discrepancy has remained. In 51.1 career innings, Banda has a 5.96 ERA and a 3.67 FIP, with 41 strikeouts to 18 walks. He has struggled mightily so far in 2020, though the Rays only gave him 7 innings before designating him for assignment and trading him.

He’ll report to the Alternate Training Site in Sacramento, where the Giants will try and see if they can tap into his potential as a long reliever or starter.

The Giants also announced that outfielder Joey Rickard was placed on the 60-day Injured List with elbow inflammation, thus ending his season. His short season concludes with him being hitless, as he went 0-5 with 1 walk.

That opens up a spot on the active roster for the Giants, though no corresponding move has been made yet. Presumably the Giants will add another player (Jaylin Davis or Chris Shaw, perhaps?) prior to their Tuesday night game against the Colorado Rockies.