Considering the Giants’ glaring need is pitching, it was surprising that the first trade they made was acquiring infielder Eduardo Núñez. But it appears the Giants are not done and have returned their focus to the pitching market.
Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports the Giants have added Kansas City Royals pitcher Edinson Vólquez to their list of trade targets. The 33-year-old pitcher is 8-8 this season with a 4.56 ERA in 124.1 innings pitched. He helped propel the Royals to a World Series victory last season and has been a late season trade acquisition back in 2013 when he was sent from San Diego to the Dodgers.
Vólquez and Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto were teammates in Cincinnati for four seasons and reunited in 2015 when Cueto was traded to Kansas City. Vólquez could provide long relief for the Giants or slot into the rotation.
The Kansas City Star wrote about Vólquez’s mixed feelings about a potential trade.
“I want to be a Royal,” Vólquez said. “Like I say, you can’t control that. The only thing I can control is going over there and pitching every fifth day. It’s part of the business and whatever happens, happens.”
Vólquez played a major role in bringing the Royals their first World Series championship since 1985.
“It’s hard to go,” Vólquez told The Star. “Because we won the World Series last year and you feel like you’re part of this city. This is your hometown now.”