Hunter Pence is the San Francisco Giants' best trade options and teams are asking about the right fielder. The latest teams interested in Pence were the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds, but as of right now, the rumors just have them inquiring, rather than dealing. Why can't Pence find a new home in these cities?
The Yankees don't have much to offer. It's that simple. Their farm system is depleted and they are trying to restock and develop their minor league talent, so they won't be trading much of their young prospects. Then at the major league level, the Yankees have a bunch of guys on their disabled list and struggling veterans trying to get their groove back.
Many around baseball are giving the Yankees the ax. Many believe their season is over as the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are healthy and at the top of the A.L. East. Pence is an ideal player for a team in the Yankees' situation. He sparked the Giants' run last year, helping them win a championship.
The Reds are another team in playoff limbo. They are right behind the dominant St. Louis Cardinals and the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates. At 59-48, the Reds are just five games behind first place, and only 4.5 games behind the Pirates. The good news for the Reds is that they at least have their foot on the door as the second place team in the N.L. Wild Card.
Cincinnati could use a righty with power to add somewhere in the order amongst Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Shin-Soo Choo and Jay Bruce. The problem with adding Pence is that Bruce is the team's right fielder and the adding Pence would create a logjam.
The Yankees could offer Phil Hughes in a deal. They are really trying to get rid of their once prized possession. The Giants could use the pitching and AT&T Ball Park could suit Hughes well as the righty is a flyball pitcher and has surrendered 20 home runs, the ninth most in baseball. However, the Giants are not interested and it seems as though the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers are the top bidders at the moment.
