Giants Trade For Braves Infielder Gordon Beckham After Nuñez Injury
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants are taking no chances as they chase a playoff spot in the final week of the season.
The Giants acquired infielder Gordon Beckham on Tuesday in a trade with the Atlanta Braves to give themselves some help with Eduardo Nuñez injured.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Beckham was due to arrive shortly before first pitch of Tuesday night's series opener against Colorado. San Francisco is looking to secure one of the NL wild cards and Beckham could make some starts this weekend against the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He also provides a veteran right-handed bat off the bench.
Nuñez had an MRI exam that showed a mild right hamstring pull that is expected to keep him out a few days.
"With what happened there with Nuney, we just felt like we could use a little help," Bochy said.
Beckham is batting .217 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 85 games, playing second, third and shortstop. He would not be eligible for the postseason roster, but Bochy credited general manager Bobby Evans for finding a capable fill-in to try to get the Giants into the playoffs. They have won the World Series every even year this decade: 2010, '12 and '14.
Nuñez could be ready by the weekend series with the Dodgers.
"Every day we'll re-evaluate him," Bochy said. "We're hoping he'll be ready the last series."
San Francisco is sending Class-A infielder Rich Rodriguez to Atlanta.
Also Tuesday, Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto threw a bullpen session — Bochy even stood in as the hitter for a few minutes — to test his strained left groin and did fine. He is slated to start Thursday as planned without restrictions. Cueto will go through some fielding work Wednesday to make sure the groin is fine.
San Francisco also added catcher Tony Sanchez to the roster for insurance behind Buster Posey and Trevor Brown. Outfielder Mac Williamson was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a quadriceps strain that was unknown to the team until he could "barely walk" after landing from San Diego on Sunday night. Left-hander Matt Reynolds was designated for assignment.
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