With the MLB Trade Deadline passed and waiver trades no longer being allowed in August, teams have to get creative as far as adding talent for the pennant race.
The San Francisco Giants did that on Tuesday when USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that they would be signing shortstop Paul DeJong, who will join the team Wednesday.
DeJong spent the first seven seasons of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 1. He has struggled a bit this season, hitting .211 on the season and going just 3-44 (.068) in his three-week stint with Toronto.
DeJong showed plenty of promise in his first couple of seasons in St. Louis, hitting 25 home runs in 2017 and finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Cody Bellinger.
His best season came in 2019 when DeJong hit 30 home runs and was named to the NL All-Star team, the only selection in his career. He also led all National League shortstops in fielding percentage (.989).
In the time since, DeJong has struggled to find consistency, being relegated to a platoon role in his final three seasons with the Cardinals. The change of scenery to Toronto didn’t help, but perhaps another change of scenery to San Francisco could be just what DeJong needs to get back on track.