SAN DIEGO - The last hour before the deadline was about as manic as it gets for teams trying to make the postseason in the National League. The Dodgers traded for Brian Dozier and John Axford. The Diamondbacks added two good pitchers to their bullpen. The Braves acquired Kevin Gausman. The Pirates, of all teams, swooped in for Chris Archer.
The Giants? Well, they simply prepared for an afternoon baseball game at Petco Park.
For the first time in five years, the Giants did not make a move at the trade deadline. They did not buy and they did not sell, opting to stand pat and hope this roster can get hot. If that doesn't happen, they intend to be busy during the August waiver period.
About 90 minutes before the deadline, manager Bruce Bochy sat in the visiting dugout at Petco Park, a relaxed look on his face and friends waiting nearby for a quick chat, and told reporters that it was "all quiet." Bochy said he hopes his roster, which stands 5 1/5 games out of first place, takes the lack of a sale as motivation.
"That's what you're hoping for, that you do take that as how much we believe in these guys and how much confidence we have," Bochy said. "We still feel that we're in this and have a chance to get to where we want to go."
That was part of the equation. The other part was more sobering. The Giants simply didn't have room under the tax line to make additions, which kept them from being serious about players like Dozier or any starting pitching additions. They did not have the prospects for an Archer, even if they could find the budget. They would have had to sell a piece off first to clear some money for any deal, and Sam Dyson, the most likely choice there, did not draw any real interest in the days before the deadline.
The Giants also found little opportunity to adequately sell. Some teams sniffed around on Andrew McCutchen, but interest in the right fielder was said to be lukewarm. McCutchen was in the lineup as the leadoff hitter Tuesday. Will Smith was a popular target, but the Giants never intended to trade a closer they have under team control through next season. Some teams checked on Tony Watson, but it apparently never got serious.
