In what originally seemed to be nothing more than a depth trade, the San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Lamonte Wade Jr. from the Twins in exchange for pitcher Shaun Anderson. Prior to the trade, Farhan Zaidi, Giants President of Baseball Operations, said the Giants were “still looking for a LH hitting OF and might look for someone in a trade who has options left.” This description pretty much described Wade Jr. When the Giants acquired Wade Jr., I doubt they believed he would turn into the player he has become this season.
Across 42 games with the Twins in 2019 and 2020, Lamonte Wade Jr. hit .211/.336/.347 with a .306 wOBA, .326 xwOBA, and 90 wRC+. In 81 games this season with the Giants, Wade Jr. is hitting .253/.324/.518 with a .355 wOBA, .352 xwOBA, and 125 wRC+. It is clear that Wade Jr.’s approach at the plate has changed with the Giants. Although his OBP is down .012 points, Wade Jr.’s SLG is up .171 points and ISO is up .128 points from 2019-2020 to 2021. Additionally, Wade Jr.’s K% has jumped from 15.9% to 24.0% and his BB% has decreased from 13.3% to 8.5% from 2019-2020 to 2021. Wade Jr. has also made much better contact at the plate as his average exit velocity has increased 3.6 miles per hour (87.3 –> 90.9), hard hit% has gone up 7.8% (35.8% –> 43.6%), and his xwOBACON has increased by .120 points (.312 –> .432).
In return for Lamonte Wade Jr., the Twins received Shaun Anderson. As a starter and reliever with the Giants from 2019-2020, Anderson had a 5.17 ERA, 4.90 FIP, 4.99 xFIP, 5.26 SIERA, 24.0 CSW%, and 7.7 K-BB% across 111.1 innings pitched. In 8.2 innings pitched for the Twins this season, Anderson had a 9.35 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 6.45 xFIP, 5.04 SIERA, 26.0 CSW%, and 9.1 K-BB%. On June 18th, the Texas Rangers claimed Anderson off waivers from the Twins. Anderson is currently in the Padres organization (which is his fourth organization of the season).
It’s safe to say that I would give the Giants an A+ and the Twins an F for this trade.
I am a freshman studying magazine, news and digital journalism at the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications
