Why Won’t The San Francisco Giants Go For It?

The other day I wrote about teams that should or shouldn’t try to take the proverbial leap.  The Giants are one of the few teams I believe that are just pieces away from being a world series contender.  Their pitching is simply that good.  In a playoff series any team is going to have trouble matching up with a Lincecum/Cain one-two punch.  Of course what the Giants lack is hitting. In fact their offense is comically bad, they rank second to last in the MLB in OPS (.693)  It’s clear that for the Giants to take the leap they need to trade for a bat.

If the Giants wanted to make a blockbuster trade they certainly have the resources.  They have a very solid farm system loaded with, not surprising, high upside power arms. Top prospects  Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey are likely untouchable in any trade.  Bumgarner is an ace in the making and has dominated the minors at every level.  A three headed monster of Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner is downright scary.  Posey on other hand is an offensive catcher who is likely on the fast track and optimistically being penciled into a starting job next season.  After those two the Giants have plenty of other resources.  Angel Villonova is a five star prospect with a world of potential, the 19 year old projects as a big time slugging first basemen.  Tim Alderson might not be the caliber of prospect as Bumgarner but he’s had similar success in the minors.  He’s a legit front of the rotation starter.

So what kind of bat should the Giants be shopping for?  The Giants should not be looking for a “rental.”  Players like Aubrey Huff, Nick Johnson, Matt Holliday fit the Giants needs short term but not long term (all have one year remaining on their contracts.)  Is it really worth it to part with Alderson for a couple months of Aubrey Huff?  There isn’t an MLB ready bat in there farm system and the only sound offensive players on the current club are Aaron Rowand and Pablo Sandoval.  The Giants need a bat that they can control for the future.

Option A: Victor Martinez

Martinez can catch and play first, that versatility would ease the burden off Posey next season.  He’s hitting a robust .321/.400/.534 on the season.  He’s under control for two years, $5.7 million this season and $7 million next.  The Indians are in sell mode but the cost to acquire Martinez would be very high.  Would Alderson and Villonva (and other assorted less valuable prospects) be enough to get it done?

Option B: Adam Dunn

You know what you are getting with Dunn.  A lot of walks, strikeouts, home runs and terrible defense.  He’s hitting .257/.396/.518 on the season.  He’s making a reasonable $8 million this season and $12 million next.  Everyone had a shot to sign this guy and everyone passed, it was a tremendous mistake at the time and in hindsight it looks even worse.  Keeping Dunn serves no purpose for the Nationals and if they can get Alderson for him they should take it.

Option C: Adrian Gonzalez

This option makes the most sense…but it will never happen because the Padres share a division with the Giants.  Gonzalez is under contract cheaply for three more seasons and Bumgarner in a pitchers park would make him a Cy-Young candidate in the future.  But again, it will never happen so why waste our time.

I don’t get why Brian Sabean won’t make a move.  The team is locked into a rotation of Lincecum, Cain and Zito.  While in an ideal world you could trot out Lincecum, Bumgarner, Cain, Alderson, Zito it’d be overkill.  Alderson and others are best served to this tream as a trading chips.

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