Trade Talk/Free Agent Signings

by FreshPrince712 on Aug 3, 2008 4:10 PM PDT

Although the Giants have unquestionably fallen out of contention this year in the pathetic NL West, I can't help but hope that the team may be able to finish around .500, which may just give them a chance to win the division! I love reading posts regarding potential trades or free agent signings that could improve the re-building Giants. Recently I was intrigued by the idea of trading some of our young pitching (eitherAlderson, Bumgarner, etc.) in exchange for Angles super-prospect Brandon Wood, a hitting machine. Maybe this could get the conversation started...

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SF does need help in the infield and with power bats, however, tread lightly with Brandon Wood. Some consider Wood a AAAA player and would hope the Giants get a ML ready player if they were to trade either of the kid pitchers. The Angels will have many roster and contract decisions to make this winter.

by wilriv21 on Aug 3, 2008 4:25 PM PDT 0 recs

atlanta couldnt get wood in the teixera deal

so i would assume the angels still hold him up high

proud father of the newly acquired Brandon Crawford..

by Azmanz on Aug 3, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

hehe...Atlanta couldn't get wood...

Giants Cove: You'll be a better person for reading

by Chulk on Aug 3, 2008 8:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Brandon Wood

Is the single most overrated prospect in baseball. I would say that Khalil Greene is his ceiling and it’s far from guaranteed that he’ll make that. It would be unforgivably poor decision making to trade Alderson or Bumgarner for Wood. I’m not sure I’d even trade Nate for him and we have a glut of lefty corner outfielders.

by Change Up on Aug 3, 2008 8:21 PM PDT up 0 recs

Can’t tell if Brandon Wood is the next Matt Williams or Dallas McPherson

by wilriv21 on Aug 4, 2008 11:17 AM PDT up 0 recs

The perception of Brandon Wood has flipped so dramatically, it’s insane. He’s a 23 year old SS that is slugging almost .600 in AAA. He is by no means perfect, but his ceiling is monstrous and he’s not terribly far from it.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Aug 4, 2008 4:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wood

I think is an example of the limits of statistical scouting. He has put up good lines, generally speaking, throughout the minors. I thought he was this fabulous prospect until I actually saw video of him. He has average to below-average raw bat speed and gets power by using a really, really long swing. In short he’s the kind of hitter that major league pitchers will eat alive.

He’ll have some hot streaks and I could see him having one really good season and hitting 25 Home Runs. But I think we’re looking at a guy who’s basically a 240/280/400 hitter with average defense at Short and a tick above average at third. He’s hitting well this year, but it’s his second full season in AAA.

by Change Up on Aug 4, 2008 10:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

As I understand it, the scouting community likes him quite a bit too. Baseball America had him as the #16 prospect coming into the season. The offensive profile Wood has is usually found in CO, 1B, DH types. He can play SS.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Aug 5, 2008 7:53 AM PDT up 0 recs

18 games under .500

Are you watching the same Giants I am?

by slcgiant on Aug 3, 2008 4:47 PM PDT 0 recs

this

The Giants will not finish anywhere remotely close to .500 this year.

They haven’t even had a winning month.

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com and on it I make jokes about things.

by groug on Aug 3, 2008 5:27 PM PDT up 0 recs

I think he means they might finish around .500 next year – since he’s talking about free agents, and since he says at the start that the Giants are out of contention. It’s not very clear, though.

by jcb9 on Aug 3, 2008 5:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Alderson and Bumgarner would be worth more on the trade market once they prove themselves in the upper minors. If you’re going to trade players of that caliber, the strategy is to get maximum value for them. At the earliest, that will happen next July. So don’t expect either of the Giants few blue-chip prospects to be moved this off season.

Noah Lowry is the most pivotal figure in the Giants’ ability to pull off a blockbuster this off season. If Lowry projects to return in ‘09, that gives the Giants leverage to deal he or Jonathan Sanchez. I have become a great fan of Sanchez, and don’t want to see him go. He is the most likely to be dealt though because he is special.

As for potential trade targets, I think Brian Roberts is do-able. If the Giants feel like gambling, Jeff Francouer could be made available. I wouldn’t mind taking a chance on Juan Rivera, though not at the price of Sanchez. And, so far as the free agent market goes, I have to make the obligatory Dallas McPherson hiccup … excuse me.

by StickRat on Aug 3, 2008 5:19 PM PDT 0 recs

No way in hell does Lowry get traded. He wasn’t drawing much interest LAST offseason – and then he missed a whole season and there are questions about as to whether he’ll ever pitch again. His value couldn’t be lower.

As free agents go, there aren’t many I want. Mark Ellis would be a solid pickup. Mark Teixeira is a great first baseman, but I don’t see it happening. Pat Burrell is tempting because he puts up a very good OBP and has home run power to spare – two things the Giants sorely lack. But he’s not a great fit, as he already have a surplus of outfielders. Maybe he could play first.

by jcb9 on Aug 3, 2008 5:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Burrell

Yeah, maybe he can play first. He certainly can’t play left field.

by StickRat on Aug 3, 2008 5:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

As opposed to the gold glover we’ve got out there now eh?

(Disclaimer: Fred Lewis is my third most favorite Giant. I kid because i love.)

by jcb9 on Aug 3, 2008 5:41 PM PDT up 0 recs

Aaron Roward must love Lewis too. He never backed up Burrell on any of the balls that squirted out of HIS glove last year.

by StickRat on Aug 3, 2008 5:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

Some metrics have him as one of the best defensive LFs in baseball.

His fielding percentage might not be great, but that’s a pretty poor defensive measure.

Neglectful father of David Quinowski

by marcello on Aug 4, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up 0 recs

why go with ellis?

wouldn’t he just block burriss, denker, frando, etc?

Rafael Rodriguez: Pretty young!

by BrianBokake on Aug 3, 2008 6:23 PM PDT up 0 recs

Burriss is the closest thing we have to a starting shortstop for next year – Vizquel’s done, I don’t believe in Ochoa at all, and the best options on the free agent market are likely either over the hill, overpriced, injury prone, or all of the above.

As for Denker and Frandsen, I like ‘em both, but I think they’re both backups. And both could be in the mix at third base as well.

by jcb9 on Aug 3, 2008 6:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

Despite my jokes I am not down on Ochoa yet. I don’t think he is long term ( say over 2 seasons) but he has the potential to not be a too embarrassing placeholder without tying up lots of money and /or roster slots. I am definitely in the give IvanO more rope and see what he does with it camp.

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

by daveinexile on Aug 7, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up 0 recs

ummmm

rat was saying that IF Lowry is healthy, then Sanchez could be traded for a bat. That’s the way I’m reading it, anyway.

by tyrannoman on Aug 4, 2008 7:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

In this line, it looks like he’s suggesting either could be traded: “If Lowry projects to return in ‘09, that gives the Giants leverage to deal he or Jonathan Sanchez.”

by jcb9 on Aug 4, 2008 8:47 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm saying either, but likely it will be Sanchez

As jcb pointed out, Lowry’s value is low right now. As of right now, I see three plausible strategies:

1) If Lowry is ready to pitch next season, the Giants have leverage to trade Sanchez for a younger player with potential such as Jeff Francouer as part of a gradual rebuild.

2) If Lowry is healthy, and the Giants sign a centerpiece bat like Teixeira or Burrell, the Giants trade Sanchez for a more established bat like Brian Roberts or Carlos Guillen.

3) If Lowry is not healthy, the Giants keep Sanchez and contiue a gradual rebuild, counting on bats like Travis Ishikawa, Pablo Sandoval, and/or Buster Posey to set the bar as to when the Giants are ready to legitimately compete.

by StickRat on Aug 4, 2008 5:51 PM PDT up 0 recs

Scratch Carlos Guillen. I just looked at his contract, and he is drawing eight figures per season, and has a no trade clause.

by StickRat on Aug 4, 2008 6:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

Why not #4 ?

Let Noah prove his health for the first couple months of ‘09 then entertain offers?

Ivan Ochoa - Heir to the legacy of Rob Andrews & Rikkert Faneyte!

by daveinexile on Aug 7, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up 0 recs

Absolutely

I was locked into the idea that there can only be two lefties in a rotation, but Lowry taking over for Correia as the five starter would certainly work. Correia has proven himself as a swingman in the past, and if it works out, will give the front office more stock to deal with in the future.

by StickRat on Aug 7, 2008 5:18 PM PDT up 0 recs