The days leading up to the trade deadline have been surprisingly busy, but as the Giants and 29 other teams woke up Sunday knowing they had about 24 hours to make deals, they got a reminder of how tricky all of this still is.
Part of the uncertainty at this year's trade deadline is that team executives can't be sure that they'll actually get a month out of any big name they acquire because games consistently have been shut down. The A's and Houston Astros became the latest to go through the process, with Sunday's game being postponed after the A's learned a member of their traveling party has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Giants have not had a positive test since July 6, and that includes the alternate site, which rarely is talked about when people around the game discuss testing. As the A's dealt with a positive with their major league club, the Astros had to shut down their alternate site in Corpus Christi because of a positive test, but it reportedly was reopened last week.
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Manager Gabe Kapler talks to Kyle Haines, the farm director in charge of the Sacramento site every day. In addition to scouting reports on potential call-ups, they continue to discuss safety protocols. Haines talks often with L.J. Petra, a big-league trainer who is the Infection Control Prevention Coordinator for the Giants.
"We're all just kind of staying connected and continuing to try and do everything that we're doing at our home and on the road for the Giants, and try to keep the same protocols in Sacramento," Kapler said Sunday.
The Giants thus far have been tremendously successful with protocols at both of their sites and on the road. While it was an adjustment for players at first, it now has become something they're proud of. Starter Kevin Gausman could be dealt by Monday's deadline, and he said earlier this week that part of the reason he hoped to stay in San Francisco was because of how much he appreciates what the training staff is doing.
San Francisco Giants
"It's just weird. If I get traded to a team and show up, I could show up the first day with a new team and just not like the protocols that they're going through," Gausman said. "I feel like the Giants have done a really good job of making it go as smoothly as it can. If I'm with a different ballclub they could not be doing half of the stuff that we're doing. Every organization is doing their own thing. That definitely adds a different element to (the deadline)."