A big homage to Big Papi.

The San Francisco Giants acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night in exchange for Minor League pitching prospect Adalberto Mejia.

Opening Day. The All-Star Game. The playoffs and the World Series. These are Major League Baseball’s crown-jewel events. Major League general managers, though, have their private crown-jewel event, even if they are delineated. It’s the Hot Stove season and the weeks and days leading up to the annual non-waiver Trade Deadline.

The Mets will recall outfielder Brandon Nimmo from Triple-A Las Vegas for Friday’s game against the Rockies, with outfielder Juan Lagares likely to go on the disabled list with a thumb injury, a source confirmed to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. The club has not confirmed either move.

Here’s a look at top prospects to watch in Friday’s Minor League action.

When the Twins and Orioles were originally scheduled to play on May 9 before the game was rained out, neither Robbie Grossman nor Max Kepler were on Minnesota’s roster. Baltimore likely wishes it stayed that way, as the pair combined to reach base safely seven times and score four runs to lift Minnesota to a 6-2 win in Thursday’s makeup game at Target Field.

Or was it?

Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre has denied the Los Angeles Angels’ formal protest in regards to their loss Wednesday to the Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.

Nobody wants their favorite team to be a seller in midseason. It’s a sign that something’s gone wrong or the team hasn’t rebuilt quickly enough to be in a playoff race. But getting it right when you are a seller is just as important as landing the right pieces as a buyer, maybe even more important.

Giants second baseman Joe Panik was finally activated off the disabled list on Thursday and will assume his role in the infield with the Giants for the first time since June 27.

Who needs a glove?

Indians prospect Francisco Mejia became just the 16th player in Minor League Baseball history to hit in 40 consecutive games when he singled in his third at-bat for Class A Lynchburg at Winston-Salem on Thursday night.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he knew Aroldis Chapman would be fine as soon as he threw his first pitch. Now, Maddon just needs to get to know his new closer.

The Rangers optioned pitcher Nick Martinez back to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday to make room for newly-acquired reliever Dario Alvarez. The move leaves the Rangers with an opening for a starter on Sunday against the Royals.

A Mets team that has not won consecutive games in three weeks is reeling. A Rockies club looking to establish itself as a postseason contender was more than happy on Thursday to take advantage. The Rockies scored the game-tying run on a fielding error and the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning at Citi Field, tagging Jeurys Familia for his second blown save in as many days in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

The D-backs are close to dealing reliever Daniel Hudson, a source told MLB.com on Thursday. It is not known which team Hudson might be headed to.

D-backs left-hander Robbie Ray may have set a career high with 11 strikeouts, but it was the Brewers who came away with a 6-4 win on Thursday afternoon as they took three out of four games in the series at Miller Park.