When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

03.03.2008
Crede With Caveats

Slap me silly for inhaling early-spring optimism like it was helium from a rose-colored balloon, but the emergence of Eugenio Velez and the injury to Omar Vizquel give me reasons to stump for Joe Crede. There are several conditions, however:

1) Crede must be healthy. Any sign of his back injury, or diminished range or power, and no deal.

2) No fat contract extension. If Crede plays well and will take a one-year extension for 2009 at a reasonable price, I could live with that. He won’t be blocking anyone’s path next year. But if he wants a multiple-year extension, no dice.

3) In the same deal or separately, the Giants must unload Rich Aurilia and the $4.5 million he’s owed this year — nearly the same as Crede’s salary. With Velez playing all over the infield, Aurilia is superfluous. Well, not entirely superfluous: if Dan Ortmeier flames out or gets injured, Aurilia is currently the only other option at first base. Ah, but we’ll always Scott McClain.

4) Chicago GM Kenny Williams must take someone other than Jonathan Sanchez. Noah Lowry? Maybe, but the Sox would need to do something to even things out, either send the Giants back a prospect or take on some of the Giants’ veteran salary — Dave Roberts, perhaps. Either of those permutations will be tough as long as the Giants are selling low on Lowry. And they are, until he proves he’s healthy and effective.

But once in a while I allow myself a fanciful trade suggestion. How about this: The Giants get Crede and a low-level hitting prospect, the White Sox get their pick of Correia, Misch or Hennessey, take on a veteran salary (their pick: Roberts, Aurilia or Durham), and a pitching prospect not named Sosa or Alderson. If they insist on a top pitching prospect to help fill the gaps left from the Nick Swisher trade, insist on a better hitting prospect.  
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[March 3, 2008 5:53 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Rickhouse said

By all accounts Crede is healthy right now. I doubt Boras would be willing to take a one year extension for 09', but if Crede's healthy and plays like he did in 2006, there is nothing wrong with giving him a long term deal. He's relatively young, one of the best defensive third basemen in the majors, and can hit 30 homers. I fear the Sox will trade Crede without getting value because Josh Fields needs the at bats.

I'm not too familiar with the Giants system but would Freddy Lewis plus a pitcher be fair? The Sox need a CF.

[March 3, 2008 7:01 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

I agree that Crede, at age 30 and with Boras as his agent, will not take anything less than a 4 yr/$50 mil contract. The better angle, I think, would be to take him for a year, and get the draft pick. I would not trade any young or top 15 prospects; I would do it if the Sox wanted to trade salaries, ie, Durham, Roberts, or Aurilia, with the salaries being evened out by "cash considerations."

[March 3, 2008 7:15 PM]  |  link  |  reply
bigO said

and here I thought your first blog following the weekend would be about Zito's fine outing. Well now you and include Lowry's no hit inning.

[March 3, 2008 8:28 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

If Noah keeps throwing like that, he won't just be untradeable - he'll start the year in Fresno.

[March 3, 2008 9:36 PM]  |  link  |  reply
wcw said

"[I]f Crede's healthy and plays like he did in 2006," is a nice one. 2006, of course, is the only season among the last five (5!) in which Crede was an above-average hitter.

Now, his defense makes even his below-average bat useful -- which is exactly the same as Pedro Feliz.

This team let Feliz walk. Actually *trading something* for an equivalent player is..

..well..

..positively Sabeanesque.

Holy hannah, the man is an idiot about free-agent signings.

[March 4, 2008 3:39 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Bill In Fresno said

Here is what I don't get...

What the hell is wrong with Scott McClain. We watched this guy absolutely tear up AAA last year (and years prior in Sacramento) with 30+ bombs every year and does a decent job at first. This guy was the player of the year two years ago. Why in gods name doesn't this guy get a shot? Yea, he's a little older, but so is the dumbass playing to his right, who couldn't hit his way out of the opened end of a paper bag. Can somebody give me a legitimate argument other than McClain being in his 30's as to why he doesn't get 400+ AB's in a Giants Uni this season.