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The San Francisco Giants announced Thursday they acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the Minnesota Twins in return for minor league pitcher Adalberto Mejia.

Entering Friday’s slate of games, Nunez is batting .296 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI and a league-leading 27 stolen bases. 

The 2016 American League All-Star spoke with MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger about leaving the team with which he’s spent the past two-plus seasons:

The 29-year-old has been enjoying his best year in the major leagues and was one of the only bright spots on a Twins team that is one of the worst in the big leagues. 

His 110 hits led the team, and his 12 home runs were tied for third behind Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano, respectively. Nunez has experienced a major jump in the power department, as he had never hit more than five home runs in a season since coming up with the New York Yankees in 2010.

He collected one of his homers in an unconventional way:

Nunez will hit his third year of arbitration after the campaign ends, per Spotrac. He’s set himself up for a nice payday, after earning the first All-Star appearance of his career this season.

Now on his way to San Francisco, Nunez is joining a contender that enters Friday with a 2.0-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. That’s a major change compared to playing on a last-place Twins team that improved to 38-63 after Thursday’s win over the Baltimore Orioles.

This acquisition addresses a big problem the Giants have been dealing with for over a month. They have been without starting third baseman Matt Duffy since June 19 because of a strained Achilles, which has forced the team to use a platoon of Conor Gillaspie and Ramiro Pena in his place.

Nunez will likely slot into the starting third base role until Duffy returns. According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, Duffy will begin playing minor league rehab games Saturday. 

The Giants will be able to take advantage of Nunez’s versatility and play him all over the infield when Duffy returns.

But to get him, San Francisco had to part with its seventh-best minor league prospect in Mejia, per MLB.com.

Twins interim general manager Rob Antony told Bollinger that six teams were interested in Nunez, adding that Minnesota was looking for “close-to-MLB-ready pitching.”

Mejia is 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 18 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season, as he’s rebounded from a 50-game suspension in 2015 for testing positive for a banned stimulant.

MLB stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Five players capable of handling the middle infield made the Yankees‘ Opening Day roster. Eduardo Nunez was not one of them.

Surprise rookie Yangervis Solarte made the roster after a very impressive spring training, while fellow rookie Dean Anna will presumably be filling in on the Yankees bench until Brendan Ryan comes off the disabled list. Regardless, the surplus resulted in the Yankees designating Nunez for assignment.

Now, the Yankees have eight more days to decide what to do with Nunez. They could send him to the minors, trade him or release him. He makes a quality depth option, but there may be a job for Nunez on one of the American League‘s best teams.  

With Jose Iglesias out for most, if not all, of 2014, the Tigers went out and acquired Alex Gonzalez from the Baltimore Orioles to take the reigns at shortstop. Gonzalez proved Dave Dombrowski right quickly, playing hero in the Tigers’ 4-3 win on Monday. However, the 37-year old has played in just 65 games over the last two seasons, and in addition to putting up average defense (-3.1 UZR in 2012, 0.5 UZR in 2013), Gonzalez struggled at the plate in 2013, hitting just .177 in 113 at-bats with the Brewers last season. 

So a strong Opening Day aside, Gonzalez isn’t exactly a strong option at short when put into the context of his last two seasons. And if the Tigers are going to pursue Stephen Drew, it seems at this point like they will wait until after the draft in June to avoid giving up draft pick compensation. So unless they want to ante up to acquire Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks or Nick Franklin from the Mariners, there aren’t exactly a plethora of quality shortstops available at a reasonable price.

Nunez is average at best as a defensive shortstop, but at the dish, his bat is a significant upgrade over the .177 average Gonzalez posted in 2013. While Nunez is as far from a power hitter as there is, he did hit 17 doubles in just 90 games in 2013, also stealing 10 bases (out of 13 attempts) in just over half a season. And even if the Tigers want to give Gonzalez a shot, having Nunez there to platoon with him will give Brad Ausmus a reliable option when Gonzalez needs a day off, which he will at some point.

Nunez is not as young as Gregorius or Franklin, nor does he have nearly as high a ceiling. But while there aren’t currently any reports indicating that the Tigers will claim Nunez if he makes it to their spot in the waiver order, he was once considered the heir to Yankee legend Derek Jeter, and while he’s certainly not a game-changing acquisition, the fact that he is both cheap and an upgrade makes swinging a deal for the 26-year-old a no-brainer for Detroit. 

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This week’s acquisition of outfielders Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco, recently released from their respective squads, means only one thing concerning the New York Yankees‘ attempts to improve their roster: They continue to be content with picking from the scrap heap rather than trusting  their young upcoming prospects. 

In the offseason, starting catcher Russell Martin and starting right-fielder Nick Swisher, along with important bench pieces in Eric Chavez and Raul Ibanez all left to free agency. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Curtis Granderson have all suffered injuries and will be out for at least a month and a half (In A-Rod’s case, perhaps the entire year). 

With no ML starting catcher, no regular CF (Brett Gardner will switch from LF to the 8 spot for Grandy), and half the infield gone, the Yankees are in dire straits, and have done a very poor job to replace them.

With Teixeira and Rodriguez out, former Red Sox nemesis Kevin Youkilis looks to carry the load at 1B and 3B along with Eduardo Nunez and returning Yankee Juan Rivera. Rivera, Matt Diaz, and the recently signed Boesch and Ben Francisco will compete for the fourth outfielder spot. The catching duties will be apparently shared between Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart.

I don’t think I have to pull up any numbers to make it clear that all these guys are mediocre at best. Even Youkilis struggled in 2012 with both Sox squads, hitting .235 with a 99 OPS+, both career lows. Injury plagued for the last couple of years, he could still be a good pickup if healthy

But the fact is, the Yankees could have simply brought some youth up to help deal with these injuries rather than waste what little money they allowed themselves to spend this past winter. 

Keith Law’s 2013 edition of his annual Top 100 prospects has four Yankees prospects on it. Catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielders Mason Williams, Tyler Austin and Slade Heathcott could have helped the Yankees in their situation if they were ready, but they all seem to be another year or two or perhaps three away. 

As a result, the Yankees should look for help from less touted players, preferably right-handed to off-set the likes of Ichiro, Granderson, and Hafner. There are a few players in Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre that can easily fill the empty spots on the Yankees’ major league roster in the Bronx until those injured can return. 

Of course, the favorite to help fill in the holes the Yankees have is Eduardo Nunez, a lazy choice at best. His 88 OPS+ is not nearly enough to make up for his atrocious, Chuck Knoblauchian defense. He is not the answer at third base with both Teixeira and A-Rod out. 

One guy that can fill some holes in both the OF and 3B is Ronnier Mustelier, a 28-year-old Cuban defector with just 150 games and 595 at-bats under his belt. However, he has impressed with the bat, putting up an impressive .324/.378/.488/.859 line with 18 HR, 96 RBI and 19 stolen bases in those games climbing up the system.

Despite being mediocre or average at best with the glove, Mustelier can still play both 3B and LF, so Brett Gardner can take over CF with Ichiro in right. Mustelier‘s hitting skills are too solid to ignore, and he more than deserves to come up with the big league club in April, especially over Nunez.

A guy who deserves a chance to become the Yankees’ fourth outfielder is Melky Mesa. Yes, that’s right. Another Melky. He is just 26 years old and broke out in 2012 at Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 23 HR, slugging .480, stealing 22 bags, and putting up an .805 OPS. What you also get with him, however, is a long swing causing a lot of strikeouts and not a lot of walks. Still, he’s still a very good option as a fourth OF and should win the job over the likes of Matt Diaz, Juan Rivera, Boesch or Francisco.

Another OF option is Zolio Almonte, 23. He hit 21 HR in 2012 at Trenton and could find his way to the big leagues if he continues to improve. He has played all three OF positions regularly, primarily right, but should have no problem if asked to play left at Yankee Stadium, as difficult as it surprisingly is. Like Mesa, however, he strikes out a lot and walks very sparingly. 

If Nunez is not the answer (most likely) at utility infielder, another kid may be a better option. Corban Joseph, just 24 years old, could eventually find himself as the starting second baseman for the New York Yankees if Robinson Cano leaves after this year. Joseph has only played second in recent years but improved with the bat in 2012

If he ever (that is, EVER) gets healthy, a potential dark horse option for the infield eventually could be David Adams. He has been plagued by injuries for much of his professional career, which caused a potential Yankee trade for Cliff Lee in 2010 to be killed. 

Lastly, and most unlikely is the catcher’s spot. The job looks as if it will be shared by Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart, two seriously flawed and poor at best MLB players. Both have absolutely no business starting for the New York Yankees. They’re both backups at ABSOLUTE BEST. 

The best option the Yankees have right now at catcher may be another minor leaguer, 24-year-old Austin Romine. He was limited last year due to back problems, and so far hasn’t fully developed his hitting skills. But between him, Cervelli and Stewart, Romine may be the best option defensively, so it makes sense after dealing with Jorge Posada starting for over 14 years.

Sadly, it’s likely that these guys won’t be able to get a chance to help the club, as the Yankees continue to go with the scrap heap to fill their holes. Worked out sometimes and sometimes not. They basically replaced Johnny Damon with the likes of Randy Winn and Austin Kearns in 2010. Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon somehow managed to replace Andy Pettitte’s production in 2011. Andruw Jones, Raul Ibanez, and Eric Chavez did well as bench pieces last two years. 

But now should be the time for that to end, with the core players of this team aging and getting ready for the end of their careers (Mariano Rivera). The Yankees can’t plug their leaky holes with old vets anymore. There needs to be a youth movement in the organization, eventually centering around the likes of Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams and Tyler Austin.

But with those three two years away, less touted guys need to step in and help. Who knows? Ivan Nova did well in 2011 and David Phelps looks to make his mark now. There could be guys just like them waiting for their chance, but the Yanks need to give it to them. 

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For the last several years, everyone keeps waiting for Eduardo Nunez to get a shot at being a regular in the New York Yankees everyday lineup.

Ever since being called up during the 2010 season, he’s served as mostly a utility infielder and defensive replacement with the occasional start.

But from the comments that Yankees GM Brian Cashman made to New York Post‘s Mike Ramondi, it doesn’t really seem like Nunez is going to be a starter anytime soon for the team.

“I’ve had a lot of people say, you’ve got to get 500 at-bats for this guy, find a position for him as if he’s some sort of offensive juggernaut.”

Cashman pointed out that Nunez had just a .678 on-base-plus-slugging percentage as a minor leaguer.

“That’s not a great offensive player,” Cashman said.

Usually, teams and their general managers hype up their up and coming players, but Cashman really doesn’t seem to be going that way with the 25-year-old.

What has hurt Nunez as a professional is his lack of defense and making some blunders in the field.

Before seeing him, a lot of fans thought Nunez could be the heir to Derek Jeter at shortstop whenever the Yankees captain decides to hang it up for good.

Hell, back in July of 2010, the Yankees nearly had a trade with the Seattle Mariners for Cliff Lee, but the deal fell apart because the Yankees didn’t want to part with Nunez.

That’s how high the Yankees used to think of him.

Now, Nunez is lucky if Joe Girardi puts him into games because he’s seen as a liability out on the field.

That being said, Nunez is still a very young player who might have value elsewhere to another team, and it might be time Cashman thinks about trading him.

If the Yankees don’t see Nunez as an everyday player, then I think it’s time he gets a little bit of value back in a deal and gives Nunez a chance to be an everyday player elsewhere.

I’m sure there’s some team out there in baseball who wouldn’t mind giving one of their starting infield spots to Nunez, who has shown in the past that he can swing a decent bat.

Nunez hit a big solo home run in Game 3 of the 2012 ALCS against Tigers ace Justin Verlander in the top of the ninth inning back in October that pulled the game to 2-1.

Some felt with the injury to Curtis Granderson in which the left fielder broke his forearm on a hit by pitch this past week, Girardi and Cashman might insert Nunez into the outfield and try him there.

But they have no interest in making Nunez an everyday outfielder on this team.

To me, it just shows that the Yankees don’t see Nunez as part of their future like they once did.

And if that’s the case, then for any opposing GM’s who have interest in Nunez, now would be a good time to call the Yankees to strike a deal.

It would be better to do it now than waste away a young talent on the bench during the time of his career when he would be breaking in as a starter.

With the Yankees, I don’t think Eduardo Nunez will ever be the star some thought.

Somewhere else, he very well could get that opportunity.

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Eduardo Nunez will play shortstop for the New York Yankees Tuesday night in Game 3 of the ALCS, following a hit-less night from Jayson Nix in Game 2.

Neither player can be expected to replace Derek Jeter in the clubhouse, in the field or at the plate, but a little production would be nice. Justin Verlander is tough enough to hit as it is, pulling an unproductive bat around makes winning even more difficult.

It’s not that Nix is the only problem in the Yankees’ lineup right now, but it was time for a change. Inserting Nunez into the starting lineup gives New York a different look, and keeps Nix’s 1-for-11 career numbers against Verlander on the bench.

Nunez has started 17 games at shortstop this season. In 38 total games, he hit .292 with one home run and 11 RBI. He also stole 11 bases.

In the divisional round, he went 1-for-5 and scored two runs against the Baltimore Orioles. He was initially left off the ALCS roster in favor of carrying more pitchers, but he was added following Jeter’s injury.

The Yankees’ lineup has struggled so far in the ALCS, continuing its struggles from the ALDS. That prompted Joe Girardi to not only bench Nix, but to sit Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher as well.

There’s something to be said for continuity, and Nix is a consistent fielder, but Tuesday night is a must-win game. When you’re facing a legitimate ace like Verlander, you can’t afford to have any weak moments.

New York will have to hit if they want to win on Tuesday. If they can’t hit for power, manufacturing runs will be in order. Nunez’s speed could give the Yankees an added element on the basepaths, especially with Brett Gardner batting after him in the leadoff spot.

Nunez is 1-for-3 with a double against Verlander for his career. He doesn’t bring a lot of experience to the table, but that could be a good thing. After being demoralized by Verlander’s dominant stuff over and over again, that can play against your psyche.

Don’t expect a power surge from the nine-hole with Nunez slotted in, but Girardi made the right move. Nix’s defense could be useful late in the game, and a change was needed.

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