Giants Trade Rumors, Ideas and Acquisitions

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The Giants place Threets on waivers and now sign Munter. I have no idea what this team is doing.

Neither do they! And that is the total problem. They have no clue!

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There's my Bear!!

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The Indians are hitting just .241 as a team and they just sent down Asdrubal Cabrera. Josh Barfield was called up but is just hitting .255 in AAA. Sabean should give a call to the Indians to see if maybe they would be interested in Durham. But with a win today, the Giants will be only five games out of first so Durham is worth holding onto for now.

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The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Braves are interested in Randy Winn.
The 34-year-old Winn is hitting .298/.359/.447 and can play all three outfield spots, so he figures to be an attractive option for contending teams leading up to the July 31 trading deadline. He's making $8 million this season and will get $8.25 million in 2009, but has a limited no-trade clause.

The Braves could sure use Winn in LF but they really don't have anything the Giants need or should I say they can't afford to give up what the Giants need. The Giants need bullpen help or a third baseman. The Braves have neither. The Cubs have also showed some interest in Winn.

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Here's an idea I have come up on my own since the Giants aren't doing much yet in terms of trying to trade guys.

The Marlins are looking for a catcher and the Giants need a lot. Molina is a definite keeper so Eliezer Alonzo could be dealt for either Dallas McPherson who leads the minors in HRs or a reliever. McPherson can do no worse than Castillo who leads the team in errors and is hitting under .220 with RISP. McPherson is providing power and more importantly is staying healthy this year. This would be a move for the future plus Holm really did some good with this pitching staff. Holm called great games and did get some big hits. With McPherson comes strikeouts. He has struck out in 38.8% of his ABs but maybe Carney Lansford could help that. Its a deal the Giants should definitely be looking at. Its a move for the future and not just some short fix. If he performs, the Giants have a third baseman for a few years. If not, the Giants don't lose much or spend much and Frandsen gets his shot next year.

"The White Flag Trade has some relevance for the 2008 Giants because general manager Brian Sabean might move potential free agents such as Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel, and perhaps some relief pitchers, for prospects in deals that could benefit the team for the future at the expense of winning a weak National League West. Foxsports.com reported Monday that the Brewers, whose farm system remains loaded even after the Sabathia deal, are interested in Durham and lefty Jack Taschner. Schueler, now a senior adviser to Sabean, believes the White Flag Deal not only helped the White Sox win their division in 2000, but set in motion a rebuilding of the farm system that his successor, Kenny Williams, used to help build the 2005 World Series championship team. Older potential free agents such as Aurilia, Vizquel and Durham probably would not attract prospects labeled as future stars, but even mid-level prospects could help. For the Giants to attract the kind of power hitter they desperately need, they probably would have to dig into their store of prospects."

I wonder what the Brewers would give up for Durham and Taschner. It would have to be something pretty nice. Mat Gamel looks good as he is a SS who is hitting .381 with 15 HRs and 75 RBI. Probably overshooting that one but the Giants would be giving up two guys.

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Shortstop Omar Vizquel poses a sticky wicket for the Giants. On one hand, they surely want to see prospects such as Emmanuel Burriss and Ivan Ochoa at shortstop for the rest of the season. But with Vizquel hitting .166, he might be difficult to trade. In similar cases, the Giants simply released struggling older players, but they are loath to embarrass a player of Vizquel's stature that way. If a contending team needs a backup defensive shortstop and a strong clubhouse presence for a playoff push, regardless of his hitting, Vizquel would be a great choice. Vizquel said Sunday he prefers to stay in San Francisco for the rest of the season. He will be watching and waiting ahead of the July 31 trade deadline like everyone else.

There are attractive hitters who could be available and are not free agents this winter. They include Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre, Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins, and Pittsburgh outfielders Xavier Nady and Jason Bay. Assuming Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Tim Lincecum are untouchable, do the Giants have enough in trade to get one of those players? Would another team consider a deal centered on somebody like Nate Schierholtz or one of the Giants' super Class A pitching prospects?

Other experienced players could be moved by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline (or even afterward in waiver deals). Rich Aurilia could be attractive to a contending team that needs a versatile right-handed hitter off the bench. Tyler Walker would be a nice fit for a team that needs help bridging its starter and closer.

Giants general manager Brian Sabean should have some money to spend this winter, but on whom? There will be some good hitters available, including Aaron Rowand's good friend from the White Sox, third baseman Joe Crede, and Atlanta first baseman Mark Teixeira - but this winter's free-agent class is not going to be a grand bazaar of offensive production

A source has indicated the White Sox have been in discussions with ''more than one'' team about adding pitching help, either in the rotation or bullpen -- or possibly both -- and the major discussion is whether they dare part ways with minor-league third baseman Josh Fields. According to the source, unless they are willing to part ways with Fields, there is no deal to be made. Basically, do they forfeit the future at third base to chase October glory this season?

I will address these one at a time.

If the Giants can get rid Vizquel, they need to do it quick. He continues to struggle and his stock, the little he has, will only go down. Hopefully a contending need him because I would hate to just release him due to what he has brought to the game.

Out of the players they mentioned, only Bay and Atkins are worth trading for. I don't want Beltre and Schierholtz could be just as good as Nady. Giants need to be busy on the phones and see how they can better their team next season. Third base and middle infield need to be addressed.

Please trade/cut Tyler Walker!!

Teixeira would be ideal for this team but only on a four year deal. Teixeira, Rowand and Molina would make for a much better 3-4-5 in the weak West. No thanks to Crede.

The Giants should look long and hard at Fields. Giants do have pitching to offer but Cain, Lincecum and Sanchez should still be untouchable.

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According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants "have scouted" Hank Blalock.
The newspaper notes that the Rangers "have looked at the Giants' minor league system," but if they're like us they didn't see much. Between Blalock and Gerald Laird, it sounds like the Rangers could be sellers at the trading deadline.

I love how rotoworld doesn't see much when there are plenty of guys the Rangers would want. I liked Blalock before the season but now its clear this guy will never be healthy enough to rely on. Giants should stop wasting their time unless they are scouting Salty.

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Mike Jacobs was removed from Wednesday's game against the Mets after six innings.
It wasn't a situation in which he'd normally be pulled, so there was either an undislosed injury or a trade. Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus said he's heard talk of Jacobs being part of a deal for the Giants' Bengie Molina.

Jacobs would be nice to have since he has power but he doesn't have a good OBP which would be like having another Pedro Feliz. Bowker is no great hitter either.