Minnesota Twins: Nunez Traded to Giants for Pitcher

Jun 7, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez (9) hugs third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 7, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Eduardo Nunez (9) hugs third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins have made their first significant trade deadline move of the year as they’ve sent All-Star shortstop Eduardo Nunez to the San Francisco Giants for a minor league pitcher Adalberto Mejia.

Nunez was in the lineup for Thursday’s makeup game with the Baltimore Orioles and went 0-for-4 in his last hurrah with three strikeouts.

Nunez is expected to add some much-needed depth to an already depleted Giants infield.

An All-Star for the first time, Nunez has been enjoying a career year hitting .296 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI’s and an American League-leading 27 stolen bases.

Mejia has spent the year between the Giants’ Double-A and Triple-A teams combining for a 7-3 record with a 2.81 ERA through 18 starts.

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Through 105 2/3 innings, Mejia has established himself as a strikeout pitcher, posting 101 strikeouts vs. 27 walks.

He’s had significantly more success at the Double-A level with a 1.94 ERA compared to his 4.20 ERA at the Triple-A level.

However, Mejia will bring the Minnesota Twins another power arm and a lefty starter that should combine nicely with Jose Berrios.

It should be noted Mejia did serve a 50-game suspension for Performance Enhancing Drug use last season.

According to MLB.com, Mejia is the Giants’ No. 7 prospect and features a fastball that ranges from the low-to-mid 90’s with a changeup and slider as well.

He is set to join the Triple-A Rochester club and should be fun to watch as the Red Wings will now feature Mejia and the aforementioned Berrios.

Perhaps a nice glimpse into the future.

Perhaps this trade was perfect timing for the Minnesota Twins as it now opens up the spot for a healthy Eduardo Escobar as well as Jorge Polanco who was called up after Nunez was traded.

The Twins were also likely to not get as high a value for Nunez as they would have received this year.

And maybe after failing to move Trevor Plouffe this offseason for a solid prospect, the Twins learned their lesson to not tempt fate and sell high.

That said, all signs now point to the Twins believing Polanco can be a solid contributor at the major league level.

We’ll just have to see about his defense.

With Nunez gone, the Minnesota Twins will need to search for a new lead off hitter.

I can’t imagine Brian Dozier getting the slot as he has been productive lower in the order.

But either way, Nunez’ scrappy style of play as well as his helmet-flying ways will surely be missed.

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But a power arm like Mejia is a very nice prize for the Minnesota Twins.

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