Giants Trade Rumors, Ideas and Acquisitions

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• Aaron Boone is drawing interest from the Giants, Nationals and Brewers. The key question is what kind of role he will play.

1:57 p.m., from Jayson Stark
• The Giants and Blue Jays have a deal on the table that would send outfielder Alex Rios to San Francisco for pitcher Tim Lincecum. But the Blue Jays appear to be more motivated to make that trade than the Giants. Two baseball men who spoke with the Giants describe them as being "indecisive" about whether they really want to move Lincecum for a big bat -- and, if they do, about whom they would be willing to move him for. Toronto has decided its best strategy to survive in the loaded AL East is to stockpile as many power arms as possible. So the Blue Jays would sacrifice offense if they could pick up an arm like Lincecum.

What the **** would we do with Aaron Boone?
Rios is not enough for Lincecum.

[GiantsFanatic]

Why not try to get Conner Jackson? Will AZ even make a trade within our division? What would the price be for him?

And I agree Rios for Lincecum straight up will not do!

[love_that_reefer]

I wouldn't feel comfortable trading within our division. Garrett Atkins is very appealing. Jackson would probably cost Sanchez and another small piece. The fact that the DBacks will not give him full-time play at first scares me. Rather go for Nady or Broussard who are out of the division and cheap.

My question is are we even trying to dump guys like Durham, Roberts or Kline? Haven't heard any of their names yet.

[love_that_reefer]

• Clifton and partner Terry Bross said they've talked to Texas, Minnesota, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox about Luis Gonzalez.

We are supposed to be getting younger.

[GiantsFanatic]

Dude, who the hell are Clifton and Bross? I swear I have never heard of those before in baseball!

[love_that_reefer]

Those are the agents for Gonzalez.

[GiantsFanatic]

Oh Jaun-Gon right?

[love_that_reefer]

Luis Gonzalez.

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Giants GM Brian Sabean indicated that the Jays' offer of Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum remains on the table.
It's being considered, but no further discussions are scheduled at this time, meaning that if it happens, it will probably take place after the winter meetings. It's clear the Giants would much rather use Noah Lowry to get a young bat, but there hasn't been much interest after his late-season elbow woes.

I say no to the trade and yes to waiting to see who is non tendered. There are still big bats out there and a whole list of guy that can help.

[love_that_reefer]

New Edited Version of Wants and Needs: Another big bat bites the dust, Andruw Jones is signed by the hated Dodgers. The latest news on players are in Italics.

Chris Duncan-1B: This is just speculation on my part basically because of the rocky situation in St. Louis. LaRussa looks to walk with Jocketty gone and if that happens, Dave Duncan is likely to leave too. If so, Duncan would not be too happy and could push for a trade. Plus the Cards don't really need him now with the emergence of Ankiel. He is a first baseman with 20-30 homerun power without a real position in STL. We have some young pitching to possibly lure him away. Duncan is also a lefty which this team needs at first. The Giants have the position he wants and have some pitching that St. Louis might like. Definitely something to look at if Dave Duncan is fired or steps down. I am leaving him in despite LaRussa staying just because he still doesn't have a full time position and the Giants have one for him. Duncan has been rumored to be on the block.

Richie Sexson-1B: Sexson could be the diamond in the rough. He is coming off a horrible season and makes a lot of money so he won't cost much in a trade. We could possibly dump some salary like Aurilia on them if we take on some more salary. He made $14 mil last season and hit just .205/.295/.399 with 21 homers and just 63 RBI. He is owed $14 mil and is a FA after the 08 season. If he does well he can get him a good 3-4 year deal. I think he has a lot in the tank left and he still has an average of 37 HRs a season. Sexson won't cost a lot in a trade if we take on more salary of we can make a trade where they take on most of the salary. Either way it won't cost us anything of importance and gives us a big presence in this weak lineup. Oh yeah, he's right handed which is a huge plus in this ballpark. The Giants were interested in Sexson last season. There was a rumor involving Sexson and Lincecum but nothing materialized.

Brian Fuentes-RP: Fuentes has been on the market for some time now but I don't know why. Maybe they feel he will make too much for a setup guy since he is arbitration eligible. Fuentes will be a FA after the '08 season and will be 32 years old. Fuentes had a 3.08 ERA last season to go along with 20 saves. He posts a 3.53 ERA over seven seasons and has 398 SO's in 359 IP. Fuentes would add another proven lefty reliever to go along with Kline if he himself is not traded. Fuentes would battle Wilson for the closing role and give a boost to any bullpen. The biggest problem here is trading with the improving Rockies inside the division. Giants are a couple of seasons away and helping the Rockies improve doesn't help our cause. Giants should at least call and see what they want. Brewers and Astros are looking into Fuentes.

Mark Prior-SP: Prior isn't going to be ready until late May and is a huge gamble but one the Giants can make. Prior will likely make $3-4 mil in arbitration and would make for a good backup plan in case Lincecum is traded. Giants have a great pitcher's park unlike Chicago. Prior hasn't done anything worth talking about since 2005 where he had 27 starts and a 3.67 ERA. Even if the Giants do not trade Lincecum, the Giants could have a rotation of Zito, Cain, Lowry Lincecum and Prior. Talk about potential domination!! If the price is right, we can take a chance since we aren't going to win anything in 08 anyway. The Rangers are looking at Prior.

Xavier Nady-OF/1B: The Pirates are trying to move Nady but will not non-tender him. Nady could play LF, RF or 1B for the Giants. Giants could have a Nady/Ortmeier combo at first which could provide 30+ HRs from the position. It would be a major upgrade over Klesko but Nady hasn't played all that much at first. Nady had 20 homers, 72 RBI and a .278 BA last season in 125 games. He would be a cheap option allowing them to spend on Andruw Jones or whoever they make a trade for with more ease and help save money for next year.

Chad Cordero- CL: The Giants are waiting for either Wilson, Walker or Hennessey to emerge as the next closer. I say why wait? Why not get a proven closer now? Cordero averages a 2.70 ERA and 29 saves a year. He had 37 saves last year for a team with a slightly weaker offense than ours. The Nationals are shopping him and we might have some attractive starters for them in Sanchez, Misch or Correia. Cordero will only be 26 years old next year and a proven closer. The Giants bullpen was one of the worst and had the most blowns saves. Matt Cain would love this idea I can promise you that. Cordero isn't a FA until 2010. The Astros turned down a trade proposal for him that was quite doable. So did the Brewers.

Hank Blalock- 3B: Last offseason I wanted the Giants to pursue him but they went with Feliz instead which they might do again this year. Blalock is coming off a season where he had rib surgery so he should be at full health come Opening Day. Blalock is under contract for 08 and has an option in 09 and comes very cheap in today's market. Blalock might have to move to first in a couple of years if we decided to extend him. Blalock averages 26 HRs and 97 RBI over a 162 game season and has a much better OBP than Feliz. Hank alos does well with RISP. He's a lefty who can't hit lefties so Aurilia can play against left handed pitching. Rangers pulled off Blalock trade talks so that causes a problem. Lincecum or Cain will not be in the deal which the Rangers will want. Blalock's road stats are also a downside. That said, Blalock is only 27 and provides more offense than Feliz.

Joe Crede- 3B: There is a good possibility Crede will be non-tendered by the Sox if he is not dealt. Crede is probably going to make around $5 mil next season, his last season before free agency so he is worth the risk. Crede averages 25 HRs and 85 RBI but doesn't his average is slightly better than Feliz's over a 162 games season. Crede is a good fielder and is a guy who should have won WS MVP back in 2005. He made great plays at third in big situations and also had some big hits. He doesn't walk a lot or strike out a lot so he puts the ball in play. Crede would be an ideal #5 hitters if we ever got some big boppers. Crede in a contract year would be worth the risk.

Ben Broussard- 1B: Broussard will likely be non-tendered by the M's if they can't find a deal for him but could keep him if they trade Sexson. Broussard is a lefty that has some pop in his bat. He's not the masher this team needs but could be a role player on this team. Broussard has the ability to hit 20+ HRs and drive in 70 Runs. He's coming into his prime at the age of 30 and will be on the cheap side. He's only hit over .280 once which isn't good at all. Trouble also lies when Ortmeier is also left handed so no real platoon option. Broussard would be a nice bat in the lower half of the lineup.

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Tadahito Iguchi's agent said Wednesday that his client has talked to the Giants about a multi-year contract.
The San Francisco Chronicle speculates that Iguchi could play third base in 2008 and then slide back to second base in 2009 once Ray Durham's contract is up. Offering himself up as both a second and third baseman appears to have increased the market for Iguchi quite a bit.

Frandsen will be our second baseman come '09 or earlier so I don't like this idea.

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Giants selected LHP Jose Capellan from the Red Sox with the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft.
Capellan, 21, spent last season in short-season ball, finishing with a 3.69 ERA and a 71/11 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 innings over 14 starts. He's an intriguing prospect, but he's a very long way from being major league-ready, and even in a rebuilding year, it seems like a long shot that the Giants will cary him.

Order your WS tickets now!

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The Journal News confirms that the Yankees and Giants have had discussions involving Hideki Matsui.
If the Giants trade for Matsui, it'd be because they care more about getting a few additional fannies into seats in 2008 than putting together a contender. Matsui remains a fine player, but he's had just one great season in five years in the majors, he's below average defensively and he's entering his age-34 season. He's exactly the player the Giants should be avoiding. Instead of giving up talent and then paying Matsui $13 million per season for the next two years, it'd make far more sense to make a big run at Kosuke Fukudome. They also could have beaten the Dodgers' bid for Andruw Jones.

I'd rather sign Rowand. Matsui has a no trade clause so no way this happens.

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The Giants are no longer interested in Miguel Tejada, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
There's a good chance Tejada wouldn't have wanted to move to third base for a non-contender anyway. The Giants haven't ruled out going with Kevin Frandsen at third and Ray Durham at second next season. They'll know tonight whether Pedro Feliz is going to accept their offer of arbitation.

I removed Rolen and Tejada from the list and added some more. Tejada had a steroid cloud which we are trying to get out of and the Cards do not want to eat any money. Let's hope Feliz doesn't accept arbitration.

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A source familiar with the early discussions told Newsday that Hideki Matsui and a prospect might be enough to net Noah Lowry or Jonathan Sanchez from the Giants.
The Giants should be looking in a different direction, but it that's really the way talks have proceeded, than a Matsui acquisition wouldn't set the franchise back a lot further. Tim Lincecum apparently won't be on the table in a Matsui deal. If something is worked out, Matsui could still veto it with his no-trade clause. However, some believe he wouldn't, mostly out of deference to the Yankees.

If it happens, it better be for Sanchez and not Lowry. Sanchez would be the better fit for the Yankees since he has experience out of the pen. Sanchez and Fred Lewis should do it since we are taking on the money. Giants would gain fans and money from the Asian culture so it would make sense on the financial side of it. Matsui would have good power to the gaps but he's 35 and the Giants need to be getting younger.