SF Giants fall to Padres in final game before Monday’s trade deadline

SAN DIEGO — The play was likely one final parting gift from Luis Arraez, a reminder of what the Giants will miss when they almost certainly trade him away.

With two outs in the third inning of the Giants’ 5-4 loss on Sunday afternoon, the San Diego Padres’ Gavin Sheets smashed a 106.9 mph one-hopper directly at Arraez. It was the type of play that Arraez couldn’t consistently make before he joined the Giants and became one of infield coach Ron Washington’s greatest success stories. But as he’s done so many times the past four months, Arraez not only made the play, but made it look routine.

Arraez made a short half-dive to his right, picked the ball out of the dirt, spun against the grain and rose to his feet. Seeing he had plenty of time, Arraez shuffled twice before zipping the ball to first base, adding that extra bit of flair that’s endeared him so much in San Francisco.

The loss on Sunday afternoon was likely the final game Arraez will play in the orange and black. For all his hits in a Giants uniform, Arraez flew out to end the game in what could be his final at-bat with San Francisco. Arraez was on the team flight to Arlington, Texas, for the start to the Giants’ series against the Rangers. But he’s almost certain to be headed to his fifth team in five years by the 3 p.m. Pacific trade deadline.

“I heard a guy boo when (Arraez) came up to bat,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said, “probably because he just played for the Padres” the past two seasons before signing as a free agent with the Giants this winter.

Vitello continued, “Just one person, and I was like, that person must be insane because you can’t not enjoy watching a baseball game if he’s involved. He made everybody’s day better.”

Starters Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle are likely to be shipped out as well. Heliot Ramos has also been the subject of trade speculation, as have about half the bullpen.

“It’s going to suck for sure,” Giants starter Landen Roupp said of the possibility Arraez and Ray being traded. “You get to know guys and you play with them, especially two guys of that caliber. Robbie’s been awesome to me from the mental standpoint. He’s been a great friend, great teammate. So has Luis. He works as hard as anybody, and and you can see it on the field.

“So I’m going to be happy for them, obviously, but it’s going to suck losing guys like that.”

San Francisco, which is 47-65 and matched its season low of 18 games below .500, has been tagged with the “sellers” label for weeks. The selling is close to commencing.

“I don’t want to think about the trade deadline,” Arraez said. “If San Francisco trades me, I go do my job.”

Assuming San Francisco trades Arraez, one Giant who stands to receive more opportunities is infielder Osleivis Basabe, who has put on quite the power display over the last 24 hours.

After hitting his first homer in nearly three years on Saturday, Basabe hit his second in the last two games on Sunday, clearing the left-center field fence with a 404-foot solo shot. Along with the homers, Basabe delivered a game-tying, two-run double off Mason Miller on Saturday, the 109.6 mph exit velocity being the hardest-hit ball off Miller this season.

Sunday, Basabe’s afternoon ended with two outs in the top of the ninth when he was hit on the left elbow by a 100.8 mph sinker thrown by Adrian Morejon.

Roupp labored through an erratic outing, allowing five runs and walking four batters over 4 2/3 innings. It was the eighth time this season that Roupp has walked at least three batters in a game.

Roupp threw 39 pitches in the second inning, allowing four runs on a two-run homer by Jackson Merrill and a two-run single by Jake Cronenworth.

First baseman Rafael Devers, who likely won’t be moved at the deadline, hit his 23rd home run of the season, bringing his OPS to .805 on the season.

Worth noting

San Francisco announced pregame that they claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy, who was designated for assignment by the team on June 28. Left-handed reliever Matt Gage (left elbow strain) was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Up next

The Giants will travel to Arlington for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. The trade deadline is at 3 p.m. PT (first pitch on Monday is at 5:05 p.m.), and San Francisco’s roster will likely look considerably different in the coming hours.