The San Francisco 49ers were a big topic ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft after rumors circulated that their superstars, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, could be traded during the draft to free up salary cap space. Fortunately for 49ers fans, that trade did not happen and the team will keep its star receivers for now. However, one NFL analyst suggests that San Francisco could still trade one of the two receivers before the trade deadline in November.

San Francisco 49ers could give up superstar

February 4, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Close-up of the San Francisco 49ers helmet. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL analyst Mike Silver said Aiyuk or Samuel could potentially be traded before the deadline.

There is still a chance that Aiyuk or Deebo could be traded between now and the November deadline if the offer is good enough and/or if things have moved on with Aiyuk.

Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel could be traded before the November deadline, according to @MikeSilver

“There is still a chance that Aiyuk or Deebo could be traded between now and the November deadline if the offer is good enough and/or if things have moved forward with Aiyuk.” pic.twitter.com/0mkDYmIemP

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 4, 2024

These rumors all started just before the draft, when ESPN analyst Dan Graziano suggested that the 49ers should trade Aiyuk to fill other needs on the team.

To me, the most likely outcome is that Aiyuk will be traded to a team where he is the clear No. 1 wideout and gets the contract extension he wants, allowing the Niners to draft his replacement in the first round, which is the cleanest way for them to fill all of their other needs.

Which receiver is more likely to be traded?

December 31, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) celebrates with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half at FedExField. Mandatory Photo Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Despite not making a move at the draft, the team still seems hesitant to give Aiyuk the contract extension he wants. Samuel also became a person of interest in these trade talks after several analysts suggested Aiyuk has better future prospects than the longtime veteran, meaning it will likely come down to who can contribute more in the first half of the upcoming season.

When will the 49ers do something?

March 26, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks to the media during the NFL's annual league meetings at the JW Marriott. Mandatory Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

While these transfer talks remain speculation, it seems to be a rumor that won't go away, at least until the team either signs a contract extension with one of the stars or trades one of them for other uses. San Francisco will likely listen to a lot of good offers for both superstars, which could lead to a serious shakeup at receiver. Do you think the 49ers will trade one of their receivers before the deadline, or will they find a way to keep both guys and still be successful all over the field?

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Despite a pay raise ahead of the 2024 season, the San Francisco Giants' revamped roster has failed to deliver on its promises, and a notable MLB insider has revealed which players they could trade at the trade deadline. Unfortunately, they won't be expensive additions: Blake Snell and Matt Chapman.

Heading into today's MLB games, the Giants sit with a disappointing 29-33 record, nine games out of first place in the tough National League West and a game and a half out of a wild card spot. Despite having a top-10 payroll and making some big free agent sales before the season began, the roster has significantly underperformed.

Also read: 4 San Francisco Giants trade targets to help the club stay competitive in the NL West

Being in a division with talented teams like the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks will also likely hurt their chances of being serious Wild Card contenders later in the year, which is why there is already speculation that they could be traded before the MLB transfer deadline on July 30. If they decide to make a salary change in the next few weeks, could Snell, Chapman and their expensive contracts be on the cards in the transfer talks?

In a column Tuesday, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan took a first look at which teams could be buyers and sellers before the deadline, and in his opinion the San Francisco Giants could go either way. However, he did have some disappointing news regarding Snell or Chapman moving forward.

• Blake Snell Stats (2024): 6 starts, 0-3 record, 9.51 ERA, 1.944 WHIP, 31 strikeouts, 14 walks, 23.2 innings pitched

“As for the bigger names, both third baseman Matt Chapman and left-hander Blake Snell have exit options after this season, and teams automatically devalue players with such options, so they're likely to stay no matter what tactics San Francisco pursues,” Passan wrote.

However, the MLB insider mentioned that Michael Conforto is a “reasonable bet” to be shipped out of town, and there are several teams that “would love to sign LaMonte Wade Jr.” The next few weeks will determine what the organization does before July 30, but the loss of Jung Hoo Lee for the season and another recent injury to the 2023 C Young winner certainly doesn't help their chances of becoming buyers.

Also read: The bad mood at the San Francisco Giants continues after Jung Hoo Lee is horribly injured

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Field Level Media

The NFL landscape has rarely been so uncertain as the season nears its halfway point, and the Tuesday afternoon trade deadline did little to help.

The injury-ravaged Buffalo Bills defense found some help in defensive back Rasul Douglas via trade with Green Bay. The Washington Commanders dealt the heart of their defense, sending Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears and Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers, and the Detroit Lions boosted their receiving talent by acquiring Donovan Peoples-Jones from the Cleveland Browns.

The Bears could finish the season owning the first two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. They have their own as well as the Carolina Panthers’ first-rounder.

But Young is perhaps the biggest catch among contenders, giving San Francisco another massive boost on defense.

People are also reading…

The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs put in a pedestrian performance last Sunday in a loss to the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles have shown vulnerabilities while winning seven of their eight games, and the 49ers have seen the wheels come off over the past three weeks in losses to Cleveland, Minnesota and Cincinnati.

Top 15 NFL teams per BetMGM

San Francisco did itself a huge favor, dealing a third-round pick for Young. This Niners’ front is going to be a problem in December and January.

In the wake of the deal, the 49ers rate as a strong value pick among the top three — that is, if quarterback Brock Purdy solves his recent troubles in a timely manner.

Speaking of a monstrous defensive presence, the Eagles figure to improve as the weather cools. A bet on Philadelphia, which holds the inside track in the race for home-field advantage, could be considered high value at the current number.

The NFC is not overly strong, and the Eagles are a proven postseason commodity.

The Chiefs’ betting attractiveness would be more secure if sports-betting fans knew whether Taylor Swift will be in attendance during the last weeks of the season. (Check Travis Kelce’s “with Tay-Tay” and “without Tay-Tay” stats if you think we’re joking.)

The Bills have to remain under consideration for a play at +1200, if only for their ability to outscore opponents.

Buffalo dumped Miami 48-20 earlier this season.

Douglas, 28, heads to an AFC contender that lacked cornerback depth after Tre’Davious White sustained a torn Achilles and was lost for the season.

Douglas had one interception, one fumble recovery and 32 tackles in seven starts for the Packers (2-5) this season.

The Lions, a similar value to Buffalo at +1300, appear to have a nice path toward winning the NFC North title and picked up offensive depth by acquiring Peoples-Jones.

With Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie standout tight end Sam LaPorta, Lions quarterback Jared Goff has a wealth of targets — not to mention the tough one-two punch from running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Peoples-Jones, 24, has eight catches for 97 yards in seven games this season for the Browns, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He hails from Detroit and played his college football at Michigan.

“We feel like he fits our style,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He’s smart and he can play multiple positions. … We just felt like he’d be a good fit for the team and the room.”

In four seasons with Cleveland, Peoples-Jones amassed 117 catches for 1,837 yards and eight touchdowns. His best season was 2022, when he finished with 61 catches for 839 yards and three touchdowns.

The Cincinnati Bengals, now +1600, showed last Sunday that they might be ready to announce their presence once again. A convincing win at San Francisco was more in line with the dangerous team that dominated last season’s second half and reached the AFC title game.

Get the Bengals while they’re still at a high-value number.

The Seahawks are in first place in the NFC West, a half-game ahead of the 49ers. And they’re still +3000 to win it all.

Seattle is tucked away in the Northwest, away from a ton of national scrutiny, but is certainly a stealth contender.

The Seahawks stated their intention by acquiring New York Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams, a real boost for the run-stopping prowess needed to win as the season winds down.

So, +3000? That’s quite a gap between the Seahawks and the +600 49ers.

Jump on the Bengals and Bills as a nice counter to heavy AFC favorite Kansas City. Catch the price while it still carries value.

The post NFL odds after commerce deadline: Bengals, Payments provide worth appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Photos courtesy: Netflix/Andy Brown/Nicholas Dyke

EXCLUSIVE: The cultural phenomenon that is Netflix’s hit drama Bridgerton will impact London Palladium pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk with the casting of Louis Gaunt — he played dashing Lord Lumley in Season 2 of the frothy Regency-era drama — who will take on the title role of the farm lad who trades in the beloved family cow for magic beans.

Lord Lumley was one of the young blades in Bridgerton who made the acquaintance of Charithra Chandran’s Edwina Sharma, while also being at the beck and call of Jonathan Bailey’s Lord Anthony Bridgerton. In one scene Lord Bridgerton spots Lord Lumley escorting Edwina to the races. He quickly gets rid of him by ordering him to fetch lemonade.

‘Bridgerton’ Reveals Season 3 Opening, Premiere Episode Title

Jack and the Beanstalk also stars Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley), Julian Clary, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Gary Wilmot. Natalie McQueen and Rob Madge, an actor and social media superstar, also have joined the cast.

McQueen will play the panto’s Princess, while non binary Madge, well known for they comic timing, will play the cow, Pat.

Michael Harrison, the top executive at Crossroads Pantomimes, told Deadline that Clary, the panto’s main writer and principal dame, will add a flavor of Bridgerton to the script. “You can be sure that Julian will throw in a few references to Bridgerton,” he said. “There’s much to make merry of. One minute Louis Gaunt’s in Bridgerton, the next he’s climbing up a beanstalk. The jokes won’t rest there because Julian has 12 costume changes in lavish gowns.

‘Bridgerton The Musical’ Lawsuit Tossed By Netflix As UK Performances Of Live Show Cancelled – Update

”He’ll be sweeping on stage like Queen Charlotte,” said Harrison, referencing the mischievous monarch played by Golda Rosheuvel in the Netflix show. The actress also will star in Bridgerton spinoff Queen Charlotte.

Gaunt ended a run as Bert the chimney sweep in stage musical Mary Poppins at London’s Prince Edward Theatre last weekend. He made his West End stage debut as a dancer in the Dick Whittington panto at the Palladium in 2017.

The Palladium pantomime, a lush extravaganza, has become a seasonal tradition in recent years. Harrison has spoken to Broadway theater owners about the possibility of introducing pantomime to American audiences. “It’ll happen one day,” said Harrison. “Though we’d need to tailor it to American tastes, oh yes we will,” he added gleefully.

Jack and the Beanstalk will begin rehearsals in November with a first performance on December 10. The season will last for five weeks.

The post A Contact of Bridgerton Will Permeate The London Palladium Pantomime – Deadline appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Buckle up, this won’t be the only defensive end on the list.

The Randy Gregory trade probably takes the 49ers out of the running for a player like Hunter, who is a free agent after this season. He’s been dominant in 2023 though with 21 pressures and eight sacks per Pro Football Focus.

Adding him to an already strong pass rush would set the 49ers up to withstand either an injury on the defensive front, or an injury offense where Hunter could help elevate their defense significantly enough that they can withstand a major offensive step backward.

Had the 49ers wanted to snag Hunter they probably would have done so by now, but it’s something worth keeping an eye on if Gregory or any of San Francisco’s other DEs struggle at some point in the two weeks before the trade deadline.

The post 6 gamers San Francisco 49ers ought to commerce for at deadline appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

ESPNJul 19, 2023, 07:00 AM ET11 Minute Read

Two weeks before the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, the Los Angeles Angels are hovering around the .500 mark, which leaves one question hanging over the entire sport: Will the Halos trade free-agent-to-be Shohei Ohtani?

Though we don’t yet know what the Angels’ decision will be, we aren’t about to let that stop us from trying to find the best trade partner for a potential Ohtani blockbuster.

We asked our MLB experts to play GM for nine teams that could potentially pull off a deal for Ohtani, making their best possible offers to land the two-way superstar, and we enlisted Jeff Passan to decide which proposals are worth the Angels’ time.

Sorry, you must have the wrong number

Proposed deal: RHP Shane Baz, 2B/3B Curtis Mead, 1B Xavier Isaac, RHP Marcus Johnson

An Ohtani trade wouldn’t constitute a rebuild for the Angels; they’d want to try to win again next season, and they’d be looking to add players who are (1) controllable for several years and (2) ready to contribute in 2024. That’s why this is the perfect package.

Baz has the ability to become one of the most dominant pitchers on the planet, and he should be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery for the start of 2024. Mead, No. 34 on Kiley McDaniel’s latest prospect rankings, boasts a nice combination of contact ability and power and can be the everyday second baseman next season, plus he provides insurance for an injury-prone Anthony Rendon at third base.

This is an aggressive package, especially when you consider the lower-level, higher-ceiling guys tacked on. But the Rays are a championship-caliber team that could use a boost and would never have a chance at a superstar player like this if not for the trade market. Who knows — maybe Ohtani, who has taken to analytics since working out at Driveline three winters ago, falls in love with the infrastructure in Tampa, and the Rays, trying to finalize a new stadium in the area, do the impossible and sign him long term. Wilder things have happened. For now, though, Ohtani for the rest of this season alone would place them head and shoulders above everybody else. — Alden Gonzalez

GM Jeff says … If Junior Caminero isn’t in this deal, I’m hanging up. As good as Baz could be, as well as Mead has hit, as much as Isaac’s numbers show he wasn’t an overdraft, as gaudy as Johnson’s strikeout to walk ratio may be (74-to-6), I need a no-doubt carrying piece. Caminero’s rocketing stock — .330/.386/.588 between High-A and Double-A as a just-turned-20-year-old — and his ability to play both positions on the left side of the infield make him a must in any trade. If not him, at least give me Carson Williams, also a shortstop and also mighty dynamic. The Rays have a robust enough farm system to get Ohtani, no doubt, but for an organization that knows it has no chance of re-signing him, the offer will only go so high, even if he is the sort of player who can get them to the World Series.

Proposed deal: CF Everson Pereira, SS Trey Sweeney, RHP Chase Hampton, RHP Drew Thorpe, 2B Jared Serna

I prioritized including multiple prospects who could be on a top 100 list this winter or next rather than just one top player and skewing most of the value toward (1) position players and (2) being in Double-A now or soon. Pereira (power-over-hit outfield tweener) and Sweeney (hit-over-power lefty-hitting shortstop) are probably both in the back half of the top 100 right now. Hampton and Thorpe are arrow-up starters with above-average stuff and enough feel to start, while Serna is a nice late-blooming power/speed performer. — Kiley McDaniel

GM Jeff says … This feels a lot like the Joey Gallo deal, which, in hindsight, turned out pretty well for the Rangers. But this is Shohei Ohtani, man. I want Spencer Jones, the leviathan outfielder. I want Jasson Dominguez, The Martian. The Yankees certainly can deal in bulk, and they’re the team that might benefit most from Ohtani’s presence. And because — unlike the Rays — they’re plenty capable of signing him as a free agent, this would be as much a showcase to him as it is a rental to the club. So, sorry, Fake Cashman. Get back to the drawing board and bring me something better.

Proposed deal: SS Ronny Mauricio, 3B Mark Vientos, C Kevin Parada, RHP Mike Vasil

You think owner Steve Cohen believes his team is too far out of contention? C’mon. DH Daniel Vogelbach and rotation filler David Peterson aren’t exactly All-Stars, and half of this team is over 34 years old. The Mets have no interest in melding these top prospects to the big club, and each is blocked. Ohtani can join former teammate Kodai Senga and see what it’s like in the top media market. Oh, and which team can spend the most money this winter? Yep. — Eric Karabell

GM Jeff says … I get it. There are a lot of names in this deal. But Mauricio and Vientos, for all their power, have troubling plate-discipline numbers, Parada is redundant with Logan O’Hoppe — a catcher in the midst of a breakout before a brutal left shoulder injury — and Vasil is more a back end of the rotation type than a top dude. This feels like a missed opportunity, frankly. If the Angels really were to move Ohtani, they could use him as the carrot to wheedle a team into taking on the rest of Rendon’s deal, which will cost about $127 million. Yes, Rendon has a no-trade clause, but he also could be in search of a change of scenery after 3½ middling years in Anaheim. Considering owner Arte Moreno operates on a finite budget, financial flexibility really would be meaningful as I try to rebuild this team post-Ohtani.

Call back when you’re ready to get serious

Proposed deal: OF/1B Heston Kjerstad, 3B Coby Mayo, LHP Cade Povich, LHP DL Hall

With the Rays faltering and the Rangers and Astros having some of the same pitching concerns as Baltimore, now is absolutely the time for the Orioles to make the biggest trade in franchise history since they acquired Frank Robinson. If they acquire Ohtani, they would be the best team in the American League — and no team is better equipped to make a deal than the Orioles, who have the best farm system in the majors. Heck, it’s so deep they won’t be able to play all these guys anyway. It’s more loaded in position players and the Angels probably want some pitching, so we’re including two hitting stars and two potential lefty starters. And, no, don’t even ask about Jackson Holliday. — David Schoenfield

GM Jeff says … So, how about Jackson Holliday? OK. Fine. But what you’ve got here isn’t enough for the Angels … and probably is too much for the Orioles. They have built their stout major league roster with patience, a plan and the understanding that as great as 2023 has been, their future competitiveness rests on a player-development run that’s almost too good to be true. Keeping their young core together is imperative. That said: I love Kjerstad’s left-handed swing, Mayo’s production is elite and in Povich and Hall you get two lefties with premium stuff. Perhaps plumbing the big league roster is in order. Colton Cowser is the sort of headliner who would make this more attractive.

Proposed deal: LHP Kyle Harrison, SS Marco Luciano, LHP/DH Reggie Crawford, OF Mike Yastrzemski

It’s painful to give up two top-20 prospects in Harrison and Luciano, but a San Francisco trade for Ohtani isn’t just about 2023. This gives the Giants a leg up on signing him long-term. We already know they have money to spend — see their pursuits of Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge for evidence. The Angels get back a few home runs in Yastrzemski while the Giants open up a spot for Joc Pederson to play the outfield when Ohtani is the designated hitter. Putting Crawford in the deal just seems right considering he’s doing an Ohtani in High-A. Yes, I’m proposing a two-way player gets traded for another two-way player. Fun. — Jesse Rogers

GM Jeff says … Not bad, but I want left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, too. And I suppose that’s my problem here. Trading for pitching prospects is scary, and this deal revolves around them. Yes, the Dodgers’ deal below does, too, but the volume — and Rushing being better than Luciano — exceeds the Giants’ offer, even if they were to include Whisenhunt. Remember, too, the Giants’ big league roster is extremely deep, and while I wouldn’t expect them to offer Patrick Bailey for a rental — even Ohtani — grabbing Luis Matos, Casey Schmitt or maybe Blake Sabol would turn this deal from an afterthought into a competitor.

Proposed deal: SS Cole Young, CF Jonatan Clase, RHP Emerson Hancock, RHP Darren Bowen

I focused on trying to offer the single best prospect, because the quality depth that I’m dealing with here isn’t enough to just pick a couple players from the options at each prospect tier. It’s up for debate whether Young (or Harry Ford if you prefer) would be the best single prospect on the table, but that would at least be a discussion, with all of the players in that discussion ranking in the 26-50 tier of a top 100 list. Clase is an 80-grade runner with big tools and a big arrow up this season (now at Double-A), while Hancock is a former top-10 overall pick who is turning the corner (in Double-A) to becoming a rotation player as soon as 2024.

You get two obvious big leaguers and one intriguing lottery ticket, and none are more than two years away. Other than the already-good-in-the-big-leagues Bryan Woo, these are the best prospects I can offer who are close to the majors. Oh, and I’ll throw in the biggest arrow-up pitcher in the system this year in Bowen, who has two plus pitches and starter traits, but he’s a late-bloomer with limited pro innings. — McDaniel

GM Jeff says … This is a good offer, but if I’m the Angels — er, I am the Angels — I want a sure-thing leading man, and that doesn’t exist here. Seriously, you have a big league rotation full of productive starters, and you’re not going to even offer me one? Start with Logan Gilbert or George Kirby and you leap to the top of the list. Woo is plenty intriguing, too.

As for the names included: Young can really, really hit, Clase’s power-speed combo belies his short stature and Hancock and Bowen are both tooled-up arms. The problem with any Mariners offer, of course, is that they’re just not good enough this season to warrant selling the farm. So this trade would essentially be: a bunch of very promising players for the right to put the hard sell on Ohtani over a two-month period. And as ridiculous as this sounds, it’s the sort of gamble the Mariners might consider worth taking — and they wouldn’t be wrong. The “Come to Seattle” chants at the All-Star Game said everything the Mariners need to know. If there is anybody in baseball worth getting stupid over, it’s Shohei Ohtani.

Now we’re talking

Proposed deal: SS Jordan Lawlar, OF Alek Thomas, RHP Slade Cecconi, LHP Yu-Min Lin

The Diamondbacks are building something really nice here, so they’ll be reluctant to deal away future talent, but given Ohtani is favored to land with the Dodgers or Giants as a free agent, 2023 might actually be their best opportunity to win a division title over the next five years. Added bonus: They might be the only National League team with both the resources and motive to make a deal — the Braves and Phillies don’t have the prospects, for example, and the Dodgers could prefer to just sign Ohtani. The D-backs have two premium prospects in Lawlar and outfielder Druw Jones, and Geraldo Perdomo’s breakout could allow them to include Lawlar in a deal. Thomas gives the Angels a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder who could be the next Kevin Kiermaier — great D, good enough at the plate. That’s a strong package right there, and we’ve included two solid pitching prospects as well. — Schoenfield

GM Jeff says … This is a strong offer — and I’m still inclined to say no. While Lawlar is a top-25 prospect, some scouts have doubts that he’s the sort of player around whom a deal of this magnitude could be built. Lin is a favorite, already up to Double-A having just turned 20 years old, but Thomas simply hasn’t hit in 600 big league plate appearances and Cecconi is faltering in Triple-A. If you want to consider shortstops Blaze Alexander and Jansel Luis in the deal, I’d be a lot more willing to listen.

Proposed deal: RHP Brock Porter, RHP Jack Leiter, UT Ezequiel Duran, 2B Justin Foscue, OF Yeison Morrobel

It’ll take a lot for any team to pry Ohtani away from the Angels, especially within the division. It’ll almost assuredly require at least three of this deep farm system’s top six prospects, a budding big league star and a promising younger pitching prospect. Might it take six players? Perhaps, but Texas has more of an in-season rental feel among prospective Ohtani destinations, which is why OF Evan Carter and SP Owen White are off-limits. Or, at least, that’s the part that’s for Jeff’s ears. The part that’s not: If it needs to be White in place of Porter or Leiter, or SS Luisangel Acuna in place of Foscue, so be it (though probably not both). When you’ve got a chance to win, you take it, and Ohtani would fill the injured Jacob deGrom’s shoes as staff ace nicely. Ideally, we keep Jeff on the line and haggle on those final pieces. — Tristan Cockcroft

GM Jeff says … Now we’re starting to talk. Perhaps some don’t know much about Duran — who, incidentally, came over in the Gallo deal — but he’s quite a good big leaguer already. He just turned 24, isn’t a free agent until after the 2028 season, is hitting .300/.336/.514 and is capable of playing every infield position and both corner-outfield spots. He’s the best current player offered so far, and Alden’s point about the Angels wanting close-to-the-big-leagues contributors makes this deal very attractive. Foscue could be a productive major leaguer right now. Porter is the best pitching prospect in Texas’ system. Leiter has the pedigree. Want a definitive yes? Flip Morrobel for Sebastian Walcott, the 17-year-old Bahamian shortstop who is wowing scouts as he destroys the Arizona Complex League.

You had me at hello

Proposed deal: OF Josue De Paula, RHP Nick Nastrini, RHP Ryan Pepiot, C Dalton Rushing, RHP Emmet Sheehan, RHP Gavin Stone

I’m not listening to suggestions that we can just wait until the winter to blow the Ohtani market out of the water. I want him in Chavez Ravine and I want him now. There is a title out there to be won — this season — and Ohtani could well be the player who gets us over the top.

But make no mistake: This is not a mere short-term splash. We have been angling for this player since last season ended. Getting him now only enhances our ability to keep him for the rest of his Hall of Fame career. How is he going to resist a market-value offer from the Dodgers after a deep postseason run that unfolds in a setting that doesn’t require him to move house, with a club that has more than a decade of proof that every single season we are in it to win it? I don’t want him to experience the playoffs with another team. And I don’t worry about our system — it’s deep. Our scouting and development operations are fecund. We are the Dodgers. Resistance is futile. — Bradford Doolittle

GM Jeff says … Um. Yes. I almost feel bad about this, because the Dodgers would not do this in real life, but you know what? That’s cool, because it serves as a wonderful illustration of how good their farm system actually is. Rushing might be the best player offered in any deal, and while the O’Hoppe factor exists, you don’t say no to a player with his talent. Even if only two of the pitchers pan out, the upside is so high — from Sheehan’s fastball to Stone’s and Pepiot’s changeups to Nastrini’s slider — that you absolutely bet on any of them. And to get De Paula, the 18-year-old who is more than holding his own in full-season ball, as an add-on?

Perhaps this offer is a function of the reality, which is that there’s almost no chance Moreno ever would move Ohtani to the Dodgers. Then again, however rough those optics would be — especially if Ohtani fell in love with the team and signed there this winter because he so enjoyed his post-deadline time — taking six elite players, all with six years of major league control, is a far better consolation prize than not dealing him and losing him in free agency for a middling draft pick after the second round.

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The San Francisco Department of Building and Inspection says it has been unable to inspect a new black “X” logo on the roof of Elon Musk’s social media company formerly known as Twitter for two days in a row after the company declined access to the structure.

It’s the latest in the push and pull between the city and Musk since he formally changed Twitter’s name to X this past week as part of the company’s overhaul following Musk’s $44 billion acquisition in October.

On Tuesday, an attempt to remove the company’s iconic blue-bird sign and logo from its Market Street headquarters was rebuffed by city officials who said there was no permit filed, leaving only the “er” remaining from the Twitter logo and one of the birds de-blued.

Fast forward to Friday, when a large black X was erected on the roof of the building, prompting a notice of violation filed with the city for work done without a permit. Any replacement letters or symbols require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building” and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, said Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection.

According to the department’s complaint page after a “notice of violation” was filed, the inspector assigned to the case on Friday “spoke with Tweeter [sic] representatives and Building maintenance engineer representatives. I explained BID’s complaint investigation process and requested access to roof area. Tweeter [sic] representative decline to provide access but did explain that the structure is a temporary lighted sign for an event. I explained to all representatives that the NOV requires the structure to be remove with a building permit or legalize.”

On Saturday, the same inspector reported a “2nd attempt to gain access was performed on 7/29/23 after conversations with property manager on 7/28/23. However, upon arrival access was denied again by tenant. The original NOV document issued on 7/28/23 was redrafted and issued on 7/29/23.”

Despite all of it, Musk pinned an post atop his X page overnight showing the lit X logo on the roof — and wrote he was committed to X staying in San Francisco despite the city being in a “doom spiral with one company or another left or leaving.”

“Many have offered rich incentives for X (fka Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco,” he wrote. “Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving. Therefore, they expect X will move too. We will not. You only know who your real friends are when the chips are down. San Francisco, beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we will always be your friend.”

The post San Francisco Inspectors Nonetheless Can’t Examine Elon Musk’s New ‘X’ Signal on HQ – Deadline appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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X doesn’t mark the spot anymore.

The intensely bright “X” sign that was placed on top of the San Francisco headquarters of the social platform formerly known as Twitter has now been removed.

Several outlets have reported that the sign was taken out on Monday after complaints from resident neighbors. According to CNBC, the San Francisco Department of Building Inspections received 24 grievances that went from the sign being a nuisance to it being unsafe.

“This morning, building inspectors observed the structure being dismantled,” Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the SFDBI said in a statement to the outlet. “The property owner will be assessed fees for the unpermitted installation of the illuminated structure. The fees will be for building permits for the installation and removal of the structure, and to cover the cost of the Department of Building Inspection and the Planning Department’s investigation.”

A notice of violation was issued on July 29 citing working without a permit and the building being unsafe. The citation indicates that officials tried to inspect the metal structure on several occasions but access was denied.

Over the weekend, Elon Musk said that despite all the challenges in San Francisco he was not moving X’s headquarters out of the city.

“Many have offered rich incentives for X (fka Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco. Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving. Therefore, they expect X will move too,” Musk shared.

He continued, “We will not. You only know who your real friends are when the chips are down. San Francisco, beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we will always be your friend.”

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Many have offered rich incentives for X (fka Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco.

Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving.

Therefore, they expect X will move too.

We will not.

You only know who your real friends are when…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2023

The post Elon Musk’s Intensly Brilliant X Signal Taken Down From San Francisco Headquarters – Deadline appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

I have no idea what the San Francisco Giants are up to at the close. I suspect none of us do. The team is also not in a situation where they absolutely have to do something; It’s only logical that they should. But how do you improve on a team that has the third-best record in the National League (sixth-best in MLB) as of May 1?

Based on FanGraphs-style wins over substitutes alone, the team has an 8.1 WAR and is the fifth-best pitching team in baseball since May 1, when the team turned hot. Her bullpen was the absolute best with 4 WARs on the same course. If you think they could do with tweaking some of the indicator numbers, their 0.89 HR/9 is the best #1 overall, their 2.64 BB/9 is the #1 in the NL (No. 2 in the MLB), and they’re evenly matched at a tepid 8.59 K/9 (#18) with a sport-leading groundball percentage of 48.1%.

That rate also easily exceeds the second best team at inducing groundballs (the Marlins) (46.8%) and it’s not just thanks to Logan Webb and Alex Cobb who were so impressive (with the exception of Cobb’s launch this morning in Cincinnati). but also the fourth-best defense in the Netherlands (+8.2, #9 in MLB) based on FanGraphs Defensive Runs Above Average.

These two factors in the success of the team are the formation. With 451 runs this season, the team is more or less in the middle (7th in NL, 13th in MLB). Even with the “as of May 1st” adjustment, they still rank 6th in the NL and 11th in the MLB with 324 runs scored. Worse yet, a 97 wRC+ puts them in a three-way battle with the Yankees and Phillies; an ISO of 0.144 (#25) and a BABIP batting average of 0.305, indicating Giants hitters are getting the results they deserve.

So they just need better batsmen, right? Should not be a problem. Farhan Zaidi is one of the greatest minds in professional sports. His system has managed to get Blake Sabol and Patrick Bailey up and running, they’ve already acquired and outperformed the likes of Darin Ruf, LaMonte Wade Jr. and JD Davis (at least for a while) for very little money. Adding a key club makes a lot of sense.

The problem is that even if the Giants have the smartest front office ever, they’re also competing against clubs with fairly smart front offices, and those who might not fit that description, a dozen or more contenders for one of these have players who may be willing to switch by the August 1st trading close.

Then there is the question of how long a player will actually stay on the team. The Giants will play 54 regular-season games after the deadline, almost as many games as Casey Schmitt played as a major league player prior to the start of the Reds streak. A third of the season remains. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a significant number of games that would require a big move, or a number of games too small to warrant one.

Every decision made by the front office takes the risks into account. The Giants will almost certainly have to make a compromise to keep fans interested and to convey to their clubhouse that they believe in this year’s team. The move has to make sense – the right personality for the clubhouse has to be proportionate to the talent needed and driven by cost.

The cost… the cost…

It is logical to consider the cost of doing business in the trading market. The Giants have taken a number of actions across all regimes as of the deadline. Wheeler for Beltran didn’t end up beating the Giants — even though they ran Beltran in the offseason and could have used Wheeler during his team-control years — because they still won titles in 2012 and 2014. The mate-for-mate, Duffy-for-Moore trade, combined with relinquishing Mark Melancon when he had the chance, set the stage for the end of Bobby Evans’ baseball managerial career. The Kris Bryant deal didn’t help or hurt them much in the end, and it’s up to you how you feel about the Prelander Berroa-Donovan Walton deal.

I say all this to point out that trade deadlines are almost as much a coin toss as postseason. Brian Sabean once got Jason Schmidt for Ryan Vogelsong. Farhan Zaidi brought in JD Davis and Giants #28 contender Carson Seymour for Darin Ruf. Is there a Kris Bryant deal instead, or are we in the Carlos Beltran/Andrew McCutchen zone where the Giants will end up making a trade that will cost them dearly in the future?

It’s a big field of competition. The Braves, Phillies, Marlins, Brewers, Reds, Dodgers, Dbacks, Rangers, Astros, Twins, Orioles, Rays and Blue Jays are all tied when it comes to playoff spots, but there are also teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees, Guardians, Angels, Mariners, maybe the Cubs and maybe the Padres, all are at least still in the running for the wild card. There are over 60 games left of the season. That’s a good part of the league competing with the Giants.

It’s debatable how hot and hard teams would be for players from the A’s, Rockies and Royals – as far as there would be multiple teams that would start a bidding war – but beyond those three, the Tigers, White Sox, Mets and Cardinals, either have impact pitching or hitting that could potentially be on offer, and if fringe teams like the Mariners and Yankees (just to knock two teams out) decide to put up signs for sale, that could tip the scales as well.

Does the team see Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano as untouchable or could it be motivated to switch one of them for the right one? What about Joey Bart (.333/.395/.538 in July) and Heliot Ramos (.341/.362/.750) – do they still have the prospect of becoming alternative trading chips?

The Giants have the financial flexibility to make a move. They’re about $18.5 million below the unofficial/official salary cap, colloquially known as the “competitive balance tax.” That puts them in a good position to take pay back to reduce potential capital, but we’ve increasingly seen teams prioritize potential capital over financial relief. Could that be different this year as regional sports network Diamond/Bally Sports’ cable deals collapse?

And above all: what would “the right one” look like? It’s obviously not just about the cost. The fit is also a pretty important part of this.

batsmen

Presumably looking for someone with twice the power and speed — on top of the team’s depressing isolated performance, it sits 29th in stolen bases (45), ahead of just Colorado.

Because of the injury situation (Thairo Estrada) and the performance situation (Schmitt, maybe JD Davis), does it have to be an infielder, or could you look for an outfielder? It’s going to be difficult because as bad as Mike Yastrzemski looked at times, he’s had a good time this season. Austin Slater is a solid draw racquet. Michael Conforto was fine. Blake Sabol isn’t available for pick just yet and I’m confident the team is committed to keeping this Rule 5 guy on the roster. You also probably don’t want to sign an infielder who could block Marco Luciano if he proves fast-moving in the Triple-A.

All of these considerations narrow the field. By mid-June, Thairo Estrada was the top second baseman in the National League. He was the team’s top positional player for most of the season. It’s always difficult to replace the best player on your team.

pitchers

I firmly believe that the team should try to get a starting player. The bullpen probably won’t be able to maintain its dominant work, but the best way to get into that future spin cycle is to slip another arm into the rotation. The eventual return of John Brebbia and Luke Jackson also reinforces the urgent need to snag another man who can pitch at least five innings a start. Sure, there’s Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn in Triple-A and the possibility of a coin toss from Kyle Harrison in September, but at this point, given their level of experience and perhaps their stage of player development, they really are just a hair’s breadth ahead of the veteran quartet of Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling Quartet; and if the Giants had a chance to pick, say, Jack Flaherty (1.5 fWAR) or Corbin Burnes (1.6 fWAR), I think each of us would pick one of the two over the other six.

I assume the likes of Anthony DeSclafani and Sean Manaea have little or almost no trade value, but we live in a world where the Darin reputation trade actually happened. Where Drew Pomeranz became a standstill helper in time and became a sales representative. Maybe some team out there really loves David Villar or Heliot Ramos, or the Giants are ready to replace Darin Ruf. Perhaps Sean Sean Manaea’s badminton efficiency boosts will wow Rays scouts.

Anything can happen, but what do you think will happen?

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The post Evaluating the San Francisco Giants’ wants forward of the commerce deadline. Ought to they goal for a pitcher or a hitter? appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Video footage shows Samayoa, who was on his fourth day of a field training program, shooting dead O’Neil during a police chase in December 2017 after O’Neil allegedly stole a California Lottery van.

Samayoa is shown firing his gun through a squad car window, hitting O’Neil, a 42-year-old black man, as he attempts to flee on foot. Samayoa was then released.

Boudin, who was recalled from office last summer, charged Samayoa with multiple counts of manslaughter and assault, marking the first murder charge in San Francisco history against a police officer for an on-duty murder.

Jenkins, however, chose to dismiss the case, arguing in a Feb. 8 letter to Bonta that Boudin erroneously pursued manslaughter charges against Samayoa for “political reasons and not in the interests of justice.”

Cleo Moore, whose son Sean Moore was shot dead by San Francisco police in 2017, attends a rally in support of the family of Keita O’Neil and her own son March 6 in front of the California Supreme Court building in San Francisco , 2023. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

Jenkins also said her office had “discovered an internal conflict in the case that is affecting our ability to handle the matter,” citing conflicting statements from the attorney in Boudin’s office who originally handled the case and of the DA investigator who signed the warrant.

In a Feb. 28 letter, Bonta’s office disagreed that there was a conflict preventing Jenkins from taking the case under her jurisdiction.

Prosecuting Samayoa would be a historic step for Bonta, who promised when he took office to increase police accountability.

“We need to restore trust between law enforcement and communities. And I believe that law enforcement is an invaluable part of our communities and that the vast majority want to build and earn that trust,” Bonta said at his inauguration ceremony in 2021. “Accountability is part of that trust.”

Kaylah Williams May speaks on the steps of the California Supreme Court building March 6, 2023 in San Francisco. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Beth LaBerge contributed to this story.

The post Demonstrators Demand State Take Up Keita O’Neil Murder Case Forward of Tuesday Deadline appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.