Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Giants Pick Up a Bat

From "Sanchez to Giants for Alderson" at ESPN.com:

The San Francisco Giants, taking another step to upgrade the National League's 15th ranked offense, acquired three-time All-Star Freddy Sanchez from Pittsburgh on Wednesday for pitching prospect Tim Alderson.

Sanchez, 31, won the National League batting title in 2006. He's hitting .296 this year and ranks fifth in the major leagues in doubles. He helps upgrade a San Francisco offense that ranks 15th in the National League in runs scored.

The Giants, 54-46 and tied with Colorado for first in the NL wild card race, have remade the right side of their infield leading up to Friday's trade deadline. They acquired first baseman Ryan Garko in a trade with Cleveland on Monday, and will now plug in Sanchez at second base.

The Giants paid a big price for Sanchez in surrendering Alderson, who was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 4 prospect in the San Francisco organization entering this season. Alderson, 20, is 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds. He has a 7-2 record and a 3.65 ERA in two minor league stops this season.

Even though the Phillies were able to retain their most-valued minor leaguers in acquiring Cliff Lee, that it still took four of their top ten Baseball America prospects is a sign that difference-making players cost a lot. You can bet some Giants fans are upset at having to give up Alderson for Sanchez. Which is why it shouldn't cost the Dodgers current major-league players to acquire help. The currency du jour is baseball is prospects. Let's see if Ned Colletti follows the direction of the market.

2 comments:

JL said...

Giants fans are fuming especially since Pittsburgh will not pay a cent of Sanchez's contract from here on out.
steal for them

as for us, idk. we'll get someone and probably be fuming later on lol

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It would be foolish of Toronto to continue demanding 25-man players when the market is clearly for prospects. In business, you can't make a living selling 5 megapixel cameras for $300 when a 4 megapixel goes for $150.