No, Eduardo Nunez has not been traded. Yet.
The morning after Nunez smoked a walkoff single through the right side of the infield to propel San Francisco to a 2-1 win over Cleveland, Nunez was out of the Giants’ lineup while trade rumors involving the 30-year-old third baseman swirled.
Though the Boston Red Sox may be inclined to offer the Giants a trade to secure a third baseman for the remainder of the season, Nunez was actually sitting because manager Bruce Bochy was concerned about Nunez’s hamstring.
“His (Nunez) hamstring still is a little tight,” Bochy said. “He said he felt it a little yesterday, and that’s why a couple times he wasn’t quite going full speed. You know, he had orders to take it easy when necessary. Now, I’m not talking about the one where he scored. He thought that ball was picked up by the shortstop, that’s why he shut it down. He’ll get the day.”
Nunez spent nearly a month on the disabled list before returning to the Giants after the All-Star break with a hamstring strain, and doesn’t look like he has all of his speed back. However, the Giants have wanted Nunez’s bat back in the lineup, and the Dominican Republic native has provided the team with a boost since his return.
On Tuesday, Nunez went 2-for-5 and aside from driving in the game-winning run, Nunez also scored a run to knot the game at 1-1 after a Buster Posey single.
Though Posey’s single trickled into center field and should have allowed Nunez to score easily, the Giants’ third baseman slowed up coming around third base. However, on Tuesday, Bochy confirmed Nunez thought Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor had actually scooped up the ball in short center field, and didn’t slow down around third base due to his hamstring issue.
The Giants acquired Nunez in 2016 in a trade with the Minnesota Twins, and even though he’s proven to be one of San Francisco’s most consistent hitters this season, general manager Bobby Evans could be looking to part with Nunez at the deadline because he’ll be a free agent after the season.
Nunez plays a position –third base– that the Giants have multiple prospects like Christian Arroyo and Ryder Jones capable of playing in the future, and Nunez isn’t considered a significant building block for the future. Even though he’s sporting a .295 average and leads the Giants with 17 stolen bases in 21 attempts, San Francisco may be able to find a suitor for Nunez that would allow the team to add a different type of asset who projects as a future contributor.
The Giants are sitting a number of regulars on Wednesday in their series finale against Cleveland including Posey, right fielder Hunter Pence and second baseman Joe Panik. Even though Bochy is giving a handful of veterans the day off, he said all of them, including Nunez, will be available late in the game.
“They’re all available,” Bochy said. “I could’ve put Nunez at third base; I wouldn’t hesitate. If there’s double switches, he’ll be involved.”
One starter who will remain in the lineup despite a three-strikeout effort on Tuesday evening is first baseman Brandon Belt, who has struck out 13 times in his last 26 at-bats. Belt missed Sunday and Monday’s contests with a sprained wrist, but returned to the lineup on Tuesday and Bochy said that it’s possible the injury was still hindering Belt’s ability to put the ball in play.
“He (Belt) had a couple days off, the wrist could have played a factor in yesterday,” Bochy said. “Hoping he’s a little more comfortable up there today. He hasn’t said that he’s not seeing the ball.”
First career start for Miguel Gomez. Kelby Tomlinson playing his sixth career game in left field. pic.twitter.com/BASRXNN8Ww
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) July 19, 2017