The San Francisco Giants have a short window to prove they should not be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline, and instead, add some pieces to help push them towards the playoffs.

Based on how they have played so far this year, that’s a tough pitch.

Coming out of the All-Star break, they sit with a 47-50 record and are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, but with the Wild Card race so tight, they are just three games back from the final spot.

Farhan Zaidi has some pressure on him to make the postseason, suggesting he is going to avoid selling at all costs, but if they aren’t able to put together a good showing during the next 10 days, then he might be forced to start trading away some pieces.

That will be determined by what happens on the field, but if the front office is confident this group can turn things around and contend for a spot in the playoffs, then they could look to a major upgrade at first base.

According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Tampa Bay Rays “will listen” to offers on packages surrounding their star first baseman Yandy Diaz as it looks like they will begin to start selling.

The one-time All-Star would be a huge addition for the Giants.

Even though he’s having a down year with a .273/.329/.396 slash line and 109 OPS+ compared to his past performances, Diaz would be a massive upgrade in the platoon split if he replaced Wilmer Flores.

He would pair perfectly with the left-handed hitting LaMonte Wade Jr., who is an on-base machine. Having these two in the mix would give this lineup a boost no matter if a lefty or righty is on the mound.

There has been no information about what it might cost to acquire the 2023 Batting Champion, but with him not scheduled to hit free agency until 2027, with a club option being available for 2026, then there’s a chance any deal would be pricey.

Still, this is the type of acquisition that makes sense for San Francisco.

They would bring in someone who is cost-controlled compared to other top hitters at his position, giving them an established player at a spot where there isn’t a star prospect ready to take over.

SAN FRANCISCO — A 38-year-old San Francisco man has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for chasing down and firing a gun at a U.S. Postal Service worker.

On May 2, Vo Nguyen pleaded guilty to assault upon a federal employee with a deadly or dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence.

The incident happened on April 1, 2023. Nguyen yelled at a postal service worker who was delivering mail to his home, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

Nguyen admitted he “aggressively approached” the postal worker and “acted like he wanted to fight,” according to prosecutors.

The postal worker ran away. Nguyen followed him and the postal worker sprayed him with pepper spray.

Nguyen went back to his home, grabbed a 9mm pistol, got into his car and went looking for the postal worker.

After finding the postal worker, Nguyen fired five to six shots at him, paused and then fired another five shots, prosecutors said.

The postal worker ran in the opposite direction that Nguyen was driving. Nguyen made a U-turn and drove after the postal worker, who took cover behind a parked SUV.

Nguyen stopped in front of the SUV and fired another three shots, according to prosecutors. He then got out of his car and chased the postal worker, who sprayed him with pepper spray again.

Nguyen was arrested the same day. A federal grand jury indicted him on the charges the following month.

The sentence was handed down Thursday. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick sentenced Nguyen to a three-year period of supervision following his release from prison. A restitution hearing has been set for Oct. 10.

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco features some of the ritziest homes in the country and it has some unique real estate jewels but none of them may compare to one particular property in the city’s Miraloma Park neighborhood.

The 3 bedroom, 1 /2 bath home was built in 1930. Moss-green, velvety couches, crossbows, swords and countless other medieval items are carefully placed throughout the home

In the first week on the market, roughly 650 people have showed up to take a tour.

“We have a little half-bath,” said listing agent. Charlie Mader. “There’s a feature that has taken the internet by storm. The toilet paper holder.”

Even taking a tinkle comes with a suit and armor. 

“On Sunday, the influencers started showing up,” Mader said. “I know I’m on TikTok and Instagram. I knew I had a hit when, Monday morning, I got a call from Zillow Gone Wild requesting permission to run the photos.”

Mader says this listing came to him from a former client after Father Rodriguez passed away in April at the age of 93. The client is one of 12 beneficiaries of the Rodriguez trust.

“To be perfectly honest, I recommended we empty the house first,” Mader said. “Have everybody come collect and then paint it and stage it with smaller furniture to make the rooms look bigger. That’s when I was told ‘Oh no. We have to show it exactly as father had it because those were his wishes.’”

Now people are mesmerized by the carefully hand-painted windows, stained glass, the fine crystals and other artifacts that Father Rodriguez brought back from his travels to Europe. For just under $1.2 million the house is priced for someone else to call it home.

“He did die here on the property of old age, peacefully, in his sleep,” Mader said. “That’s part of the reason why its price is a little low because some people are concerned about that. But he died happy and he’s looking down on us smiling right now. I’m sure.”

All the items are not included in the sale of the home but anyone interested can come to an open house and submit an offer to take home a piece of 999 Portola Drive.