Trade deadline: San Francisco Giants are reportedly interested in Vaughn Grissom

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel has reported that the San Francisco Giants are looking for middle infield help, and their attention was focused on two players: Royals infielder Nicky Lopez and Braves infielder Vaughn Grissom.

Given that Atlanta's just traded for Nicky Lopez to be their backup infielder, that leaves them with Vaughn Grissom (if the report is correct.)

There's just one problem: They supposedly need a strong defender.

From Kiley:

Will Giants get infield help from Braves or Royals? The San Francisco Giants are looking for middle infield help, particularly one that comes with a steady glove. Atlanta Braves shortstop Vaughn Grissom and Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez have been connected to the Giants by industry sources. Giants catcher Joey Bart (out of options next year, probably needs a change of scenery) appears to be available, but Kansas City and Atlanta seem flush with catching so that likely wouldn't be a fit. -- Kiley McDaniel

It's hard to see a match if they want defense (which Grissom is famously...not known for) and they're offering a catcher (when Atlanta has two good ones signed for multiple years in Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud).

But, there could be a match between these teams: San Francisco's got almost too many starting pitchers, enough where they're using some of them in bulk roles. Let's make a deal.

San Francisco gets: INF Vaughn Grissom, OF Luis Guanipa
Atlanta gets: SP Alex Cobb, LHP Luke Jackson

Atlanta could go out and get a starter and a reliever for Vaughn Grissom, arguably their biggest "expendable" trade chip.

Alex Cobb's a 35 year-old who is in the midst of one of his better seasons in recent history - he's 6-3 with a 2.97 ERA in 106 innings, striking out 100. He's had nine quality starts in his nineteen outings, including one complete game shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals back in April. Cobb is in the 2nd year of a 2 year, $20M contract with a 2024 $10M club option with a $2M buyout, so Atlanta would have the option to retain him for another season.

Coming along with Cobb could be old friend Luke Jackson, who played with Atlanta from 2017 through 2021. Fresh off of Tommy John surgery that took his 2022 season, Jackson is in year one of a two year, $11.5M contract that with a $7M club option for 2025. H's been used only sparingly as he completed rehab from the procedure, appearing seven times for San Fran since debuting on May 31st and sporting a 1.74 ERA in his 10.1 innings pitched.

I'm not sure if San Francisco's prepared to trade away either guy - rumors are that they'd rather move starter Sean Manaea than Cobb, but both guys would give Atlanta controllable assets past this year, which is what Alex Anthopoulos typically looks for when dealing for arms at the deadline.

If needed, Atlanta could sweeten the deal with another lower-level prospect, but I wouldn't expect to see any top prospects move in a deal when Grissom is already part of the package.

What say you? Would you make this deal for Atlanta?

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