Coming Down the Home Stretch – Do We Have Enough?

Of all the major sports (I’m including hockey in that phrase as I’ve since been called out in the past for not including the sport in previous blog post generalization), Major League Baseball (MLB) has the most active trade deadline and player movement.  It is because of this that the MLB trade deadline produces more rumors and potential deals than any other sport, and with the deadline fast approaching, those rumors are now starting to surface and experts are making their predictions of potential trades.  Some are head scratchers, some make total sense.  As of now, everyone just has their theories on what moves teams should make or are going to make, yours truly included.     

Today, I was asked by my great friend and hash-tag master, one Adam Slavin, if I have heard of any rumors or potential deals involving our beloved San Francisco Giants.  Many, including yours truly, feel that a potential move is coming, just not sure at what position and or which players will be included.  It’s pretty evident that some players on the Giants aren’t having the statistical season we had hoped for and even though the San Francisco Giants are 52-40, 3 games up in the division, and ahead of where this same team was at this point in time last season; there is still doubt among us fans if they have enough to make another magical run like last season.  

In regards to our beloved San Francisco Giants; a lot of talk is out there circling around the Giants potentially moving Jonathan Sanchez.  The logic is with the emergence of Ryan Vogelsong and the immovable contract that is Barry Zito, Sanchez seems to be the odd man out of the starting rotation.  Sanchez is set to become a free agent after the season and it will be hard for the Giants to retain his services.  However, the reemergence of Barry Zito has caused some out there in the Baseball World to believe that some playoff contending teams may be interested in his services, but personally I highly doubt they would take on any part of his contract.  Lastly, the Giants farm system isn’t flooded with top-notch, major league ready prospects that they are willing to part with, so moving prospects for veterans may not be an option as well.     

Giants management has been on record as saying that they would not include starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez in any trade deadline deal.  But with Ryan Vogelsong pitching lights out and now Barry Zito is healthy and pitching well, rotation spots are limited.  Supposedly, Giants General Manager, Brian Sabean, has softened on his stance and has reached out to other teams and or taken calls regarding trades involving Sanchez.  Moreover, the Giants ownership group / managing partnership have also softened on their stance to not increase the teams’ payroll and have told Sabean that if there is a move out there that he feels is necessary to help the team get back to the World Series, they will increase the payroll (the payroll at the start of this season is up more than $20 million from last season and management has had a hard line to not increase that figure).  I still see Jonathan Sanchez as being the prime candidate to be moved and I think several teams would line-up for his services.  It will be interesting to see the rumors come out as the deadline nears if indeed Sanchez is on the block. 

In terms of players the Giants are trying to go after, Carlos Beltran’s name has surface in recent weeks.  Beltran is set to make $20 million this season, is 34 years old, and is due to become a free agent at the end of the season.  He is still putting up a good average and solid power numbers, but his legs are shot; and he is no longer capable of playing center field, his position of origin (he is currently playing right field for the New York Mets).  He was recently quoted as saying that he would waive his no-trade clause to come play for the Giants if he was traded to them, and people in the baseball world are speculating that the only reason Bruce Bochy picked Carlos Beltran to make the NL All-Star team and decided to put him in tonight’s starting line-up for the NL was to lobby him to waive his no-trade clause and sell him on becoming a Giant.  If this is so, what would the Giants have to give up too acquire a player of the quality of a Carlos Beltran?  The Giants have chips to play with, but not many.   

As of now, all is speculation.  I haven’t heard any rumors or trade proposals that actually name individual players or include player-for-player movement.  In my personal opinion, the Giants wouldn’t trade Jonathan Sanchez for Carlos Beltran straight up because Sanchez is much more valuable and can garner a better caliber player than Beltran.  Plus, Beltran is a free agent after this season and would be a rental player in essence for the Giants, who wouldn’t resign him after the season.  The Giants can also low ball the Mets a little if Beltran is indeed the player they want because eventually, the Mets will need to go into salary dump mode and Beltran is a prime candidate to fall victim too that.  If the Giants do trade for Beltran, it will most likely be for a prospect or two, with one close to being major league ready, but not a top-tier prospect, so Brandon Belt and Zach Wheeler are safe.  The Mets may also be asked to pay for some of Beltran’s remaining salary for this season.   

My question is: where do the Giants play Beltran?  Right now, you can’t bench Nate Schierholtz, the Giants current right fielder.  He’s swinging a hot bat, is finally hitting for power, and plays a great defensive right field.  I, for one, truly believe Schierholtz can be the Giants’ right fielder for the next 5-7 years.  So right field is out of the question for Beltran.  You can move him to left field, but then what do the Giants do with Cody Ross when he comes back from the disable list?  Ross wasn’t exactly lighting up the world when he was healthy, but he was hitting for a decent average and also plays good defense.  One option may be to move Ross to center field, play Beltran in left, and keep Schierholtz in right.  But then the Giants have Ross playing a position that he is not accustomed to playing, and he can’t move as well as Andres Torres, so you lose some ground defensively with this potential outfield. 

I’m hesitant on a deal for Carlos Beltran.  If the deal forces the Giants to decrease the playing time of Nate Schierholtz, than I wouldn’t make the deal.  I’ve always been a huge Schierholtz fan for years and have always though Bochy gave him a raw deal.  The guy just does everything right and plays the game well.  I think a lot of Giants fans feel the same way about Schieholtz, which makes his play of late even more special and exciting.  If they make the deal and play Beltran in center, I’m not thrilled, but I can live with it.  Andres Torres is good defensively in center field and his style of play provides a stark, but I’m not sure if he is an everyday center fielder and leadoff hitter.  If the Giants do deal for Beltran or another outfielder, I can see Torres being the odd man out and assuming the same role Schierholtz had last year; coming into games late as a defensive replacement.

Other chatter involving the Giants and potential trades involves the unlikeliest of players.  The re-emergence of Barry Zito has caused some to think that there may be some playoff contending teams, or teams that will likely make the playoffs and are looking for a veteran starting pitcher to help solidify their starting rotation, that could use his services.  Can anyone say New York Yankees here?  It may be still too tough to move Zito with his huge contract and track record despite his recent good performances of late, and expect to get much in return.  But I guess its always worth a phone call.    

Pundents think that the Giants should also look into acquiring a starting shortstop or second baseman, see Jose Reye.  I disagree on the shortstop portion.  I’ve actually been impressed with the play of Brandon Crawford as of late and feel that he has been taking much better at-bats.  And we all know that he can play defensively at the big league level.  I would like to see him play a little bit more in the second half before making that trade call.  I do agree however that I don’t see what Bruce Bochy is trying to do with playing Miguel Tejada at second base and feel that he is not the answer there.  If Emmanuel Burris could ever learn to swing the bat for contact and put the ball on the ground, I still have faith in his potential and think the kid could play.

I would really like to see the Giants trade for a true leadoff hitter and or center fielder, someone like BJ Upton (does both) or Colby Rasmus (not a leadoff hitter, but plays center).  I would gladly trade Jonathan Sanchez for either player as well if that's what it took to acquire them.  These guys are still young and have talent, but are under-performing in their current situations and could use a change of scenery.  I think Upton in particular would be a great fit for the Giants.  Young, fast, defensive sound center fielder, who could bat leadoff.  If he ever finds his swing, he will be lethal.  A true five-tool player.  Rasmus also plays a good center field and also hits for power from the 2 spot in the lineup.  Or if the Giants can find a leadoff hitter who plays second base, I’m not opposed too that as well.  If Chone Figgins is availble for cheap, and I mean really cheap, I would consider taking a flier on him.  He is someone who really needs a change of scenery, as he has been nothing but terrible since joining the Seattle Mariners.       

It’s a tough call, but I agree that the Giants need to add a bat to the lineup that helps generate some runs for their awesome pitching staff.  Giants fan don't want to see management part with any contributing member of last years team, but it has to happen.  It’s hard because us fans can't separate our emotional attachment with these players because we’ve grown an affinity with most of them.  We want the Giants to repeat with the same players, same team, but the more and more we watch them this season, the more we are slowly coming to the realization that that may not be possible.  So coming down the home stretch - do we have enough?

Mr. Armchair Speaking