San Francisco Giants 2009 - Possible midseason trades

The Giants have had a better than expected season up to this point thanks to their pitching, and because they've winning of late, they have a legitimate opportunity to trade for a bat that could help propel them into the playoffs and possibly beyond. Let's look at some theoretical trade candidates San Francisco might be looking at in the coming month and a half.

Note: The battling consists of batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. Example: .284/.368/.477. All stats as of June 14, 2009.



Infield:

Jorge Cantu, 1B/3B, Florida Marlins

Age: 27

2009 line: .271/.328/.452 - 9 HR, 43 RBI
Career line: .274/.318/.459 - 83 HR, 347 RBI

While he's a mediocre fielder, Cantu has had a consistent bat the past year and a half, and he would give the Giants a power hitter who's under team control through the 2011 season. He and Pablo Sandoval could switch off at the corner infield positions for the remainder of the year if need be, and Cantu would be a relatively cheap investment for the next two and a half years. It's unclear what San Francisco would have to give Florida to acquire him, but Jonathan Sanchez and a mid-level prospect might do the trick.

Recommended: Yes

Dan Uggla, 2B, Florida Marlins

Age: 29

2009 line: .218/.335/.423 - 11 HR, 40 RBI
Career line: .257/..340/.483 - 101 HR, 310 RBI

Uggla is an adequate second baseman with a good amount of power, and another Marlin who is under control through 2011. He's having a bad year statistically, but a change of scenery might do him so good. It seems as if he could only get better at this point in the season. There were rumors Florida wanted Matt Cain in exchange for Uggla, which if true, would not be a fair trade. Jonathan Sanchez seems like a fair trading piece instead.

Recommended: Yes (only if the Giants don't give anymore than Sanchez)

Mark DeRosa, 3B/2B/1B/SS/LF/RF, Cleveland Indians

Age: 34

2009 line: .277/.347/.459 - 11 HR, 44 RBI
Career line: .279/..348/.424 - 79 HR, 394 RBI

DeRosa is a super utility player who can play almost every position. He's currently starting at third base for the Indians, and he could play that for the Giants, as well. A late bloomer, DeRosa has become one of the best utility players in the league the past three years, and he has a clutch bat that could help San Francisco for the remainder of the season. He becomes a free agent at the end of the year. Cleveland might be in the need for pitching, so Sanchez would yet again become a possible trading chip. It's hard to know how much Sanchez is actually worth, but the fact that he's only 26 who has had some great starts might mean he has a moderate amount of value.

Recommended: Yes

Aubrey Huff, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 32

2009 line: .261/.324/.432 - 8 HR, 41 RBI
Career line: .285/.343/.480- 196 HR, 707 RBI

A run of the mill first baseman who has had a history of hitting for power. Huff would be a rental as he is a free agent after the season. He would be an upgrade at first base for the Giants, but his price might be too high for just three months.

Recommended: No

Nick Johnson, 1B, Washington Nationals

Age: 30

2009 line: .315/.417/.437 - 5 HR, 30 RBI
Career line: .273/.398/.455 - 86 HR, 347 RBI

Nick Johnson isn't so much a power hitter but rather a moneyball person's dream; his .398 career OBP is a fantastic statistic and he can work the count. He is an injury concern and is also a free agent next year, so whoever the Giants have to give up for him shouldn't be a future all star caliber player. He'd be a good protector in the lineup for Bengie Molina, however. If the price is low, he'd be worth it.

Recommended: Not a strong no, but more of a no than a yes.

Others:

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Chris Davis, 1B/3B, Texas Rangers
Hank Blalock, 1B/3B, Texas Rangers

Most of these guys are decent power hitters and below average defenders. Not bad rentals, and Chris Davis has a shot to being a good long term player.

Outfield:

The Yankee Trio

Nick Swisher, RF/CF/LF/1B - Age: 28 - 2009 line: .247/.392/.521 - 12 HR, 35 RBI
Xavier Nady, RF/LF - Age: 30 - 2009 line: .286/.310/.429 - 0 HR, 2 RBI
Hideki Matsui, LF - Age: 35 - 2009 line: .257/.352/.492 - 10 HR, 28 RBI

The Yankees have had a logjam in the outfield this year with three of their outfielders becoming free agents next year. Nady has been injured since April, but there's a good chance he would be ready to go by the end of July when the tradeline is. Matsui is also an up and coming free agent and near the twilight of his career, but he could the Giants a good amount of offensive production for the rest of the year. He's been DHing with New York for much of the season because of injury, but he would also probably be ready to play in the outfield in July. Swisher seems like the most untouchable of the three, but the Yankees would probably listen to offers for him. He's under contract through 2011 with a team option for 2012. He would give San Francisco at least two and half years of being near his prime and would cost fair market value contract wise.

All three of them would probably carry a high price in a trade, but there's always a chance Sabean might offer a package for one of the three, and it probably wouldn't involve one of the Giants elite prospects.

Recommended: Swisher: Yes
Nady: No
Matsui: No



Matt Holliday, LF, Oakland Athletics

Age: 29

2009 line: .274/.372/.438 - 8 HR, 37 RBI
Career line: .316/.385/.543 - 136 HR, 520 RBI

Acquired from Colorado by Billy Beane in a blockbuster trade this past winter, Holliday has yet to meet expectations this season. However, he is highly talented and has been one of the best outfielder's since 2006. He's still in his prime, and while he'll probably never do as well outside of Coors Field, he would still be an elite player for the Giants for the rest of the year. The A's would ask for a lot in exchange for Holliday, and the fact that he's represented by Scott Boras means that he'll take the best contract available next year. San Francisco shouldn't mortgage their future by surrendering an elite prospect just for 3 months of having Holliday.

Recommended: No

Others:

Cody Ross, RF/CF, Florida Marlins
Jeremy Hermida, LF, Florida Marlins
Jeff Francoeur, RF, Atlanta Braves
Adam Dunn, RF/LF/1B, Washington Nationals
Josh Willingham, LF, Washington Nationals

Jeremy Hermida and Jeff Francoeur are both only 25, and both have been shopped by their respective teams. Hermida seems to have a steadier bat than Francoeur, but Francoeur might be available in low buy situation. Cody Ross has had a very good season offensively, but he'll be 29 next season and he wouldn't be a good long term option unless he's taken in a low buy trade (which is unlikely). Adam Dunn is an awful fielder, but he has an outstanding bat; he'll hit 40 homers and knock in 100 runs a year. He's under contract through 2010, and the Nationals might jump at a trade if they got some pitching from the Giants. Not Matt Cain-level, but maybe Sanchez and a pitching prospect not named Bumgarner or Alderson. Josh Willingham, 30, is an average fielder with some pop in his bat, and while he's the least attractive of any of the outfielders, he might still add some offensive skill to the Giants lineup.