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  6. article_body => "<p>It's been a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/giants\/farhan-zaidi-already-making-subtle-changes-giants-modern-approach\" target=\"_blank\">relatively quiet offseason<\/a> for Bay Area baseball teams. And unless you're the Mets or the Mariners, you more than likely had a still offseason as well.<\/p>\n<p>But as far as the Giants go, the question remains whether or not the team will trade Madison Bumgarner.<\/p>\n<p>Well, despite multiple reports that this unicorn of a trade might not happen, the discussion has never gone away -- especially for Duane Kuiper.<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/giants\/mlb-rumors-giants-actually-not-serious-about-madison-bumgarner-trade\">MadBum trade talk not actually serious<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.knbr.com\/2018\/12\/19\/duane-kuiper-thinks-giants-are-going-to-trade-one-of-their-left-handed-pitchers\/\" target=\"_blank\">KNBR on Wednesday<\/a>, the Giants broadcaster said he believes MadBum isn't the pitcher that will be dealt away.<\/p>\n<p>\"To me, just reading by what Farhan (Zaidi) and the Giants executives are doing, is they\u2019re going to make a trade,\u201d Kuiper said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m convinced that they\u2019re going to end up losing \u2014 and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be Bumgarner \u2014 but I do believe they are going to lose one of their two left-handers. And they\u2019ll get a really good player for either (Tony) Watson or Will Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Watson boasted a 2.59 ERA last season in 66 innings accumulating 72 strikeouts, and he almost matched his career-high strikeout\/walk ratio that he set in 2014 (5.40) -- the same year he earned an All-Star selection.<\/p>\n<p>Smith's numbers from last season also are impressive. A 2.55 ERA with 71 K's in 53 innings and a 12.06 strikeouts per nine inning rate. Which is probably why the Giants have been receiving calls on him. Specifically the Cardinals:<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/cardianls?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#cardianls<\/a> are pushing Martinez in a bid to get <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SFGiants?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SFGiants<\/a> closer Will Smith, too. I hear Martinez is a better outfielder than first baseman, tho not a good defender at either. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FBWd1808Qi\">https:\/\/t.co\/FBWd1808Qi<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hankschulman\/status\/1072721146125025281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 12, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>Kuiper also praised having both Smith and Watson on the team.<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/giants\/giants-will-smith-attracts-trade-interest-crowded-relief-pitcher-market\" target=\"_blank\">Smith drawing interest from teams<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love both those guys, they\u2019re great,\u201d Kuiper said. \u201cThey\u2019re great in the clubhouse, they don\u2019t want to leave, they love the organization and the city, but things can\u2019t stay the same if you\u2019re not generating enough offense. World championships bring people to the ballpark, but if you\u2019re not winning world championships then a few wins and scoring runs will bring people to the ballpark.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He's not wrong. It's pretty apparent the Giants don't have immediate plans to take home a World Series ring, but while they build up to that process, having a team that can hit balls over the fence is imperative -- that's what the fans want, it's what they need.<\/p>\n<p>Getting some power bats, like Martinez, for these strong arms could change the entire attitude of a season that is looking a bit meek at the moment.<\/p>\n"
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Giants

Giants

It's been a relatively quiet offseason for Bay Area baseball teams. And unless you're the Mets or the Mariners, you more than likely had a still offseason as well.

But as far as the Giants go, the question remains whether or not the team will trade Madison Bumgarner.

Well, despite multiple reports that this unicorn of a trade might not happen, the discussion has never gone away -- especially for Duane Kuiper.

[RELATED: MadBum trade talk not actually serious]

In an interview with KNBR on Wednesday, the Giants broadcaster said he believes MadBum isn't the pitcher that will be dealt away.

"To me, just reading by what Farhan (Zaidi) and the Giants executives are doing, is they’re going to make a trade,” Kuiper said. “And I’m convinced that they’re going to end up losing — and I don’t think it’s going to be Bumgarner — but I do believe they are going to lose one of their two left-handers. And they’ll get a really good player for either (Tony) Watson or Will Smith.”

Watson boasted a 2.59 ERA last season in 66 innings accumulating 72 strikeouts, and he almost matched his career-high strikeout/walk ratio that he set in 2014 (5.40) -- the same year he earned an All-Star selection.

Smith's numbers from last season also are impressive. A 2.55 ERA with 71 K's in 53 innings and a 12.06 strikeouts per nine inning rate. Which is probably why the Giants have been receiving calls on him. Specifically the Cardinals:

 

Kuiper also praised having both Smith and Watson on the team.

[RELATED: Smith drawing interest from teams]

“I love both those guys, they’re great,” Kuiper said. “They’re great in the clubhouse, they don’t want to leave, they love the organization and the city, but things can’t stay the same if you’re not generating enough offense. World championships bring people to the ballpark, but if you’re not winning world championships then a few wins and scoring runs will bring people to the ballpark.”

He's not wrong. It's pretty apparent the Giants don't have immediate plans to take home a World Series ring, but while they build up to that process, having a team that can hit balls over the fence is imperative -- that's what the fans want, it's what they need.

Getting some power bats, like Martinez, for these strong arms could change the entire attitude of a season that is looking a bit meek at the moment.