Adrian Beltre, huh? Henry Schulman says Brian Sabean isn’t adverse to acquiring players who can help the team win next year.
Before we get our panties in a bunch about this infuriating lack of willingness to rebuild, let’s gather Sabean’s direct and indirect statements from Schulman’s article.
Sabean has said he is willing to acquire major-league players, not merely sell those he has, if the deal makes sense for the present and future… [which] Sabean said could be 2009, so even if the Giants will not rent a player who is eligible for free agency this winter, they would consider a player who is signed for one more year. "I think you have to be open minded because of the division we're in."
Whether this is short-sighted idiocy or pragmatism depends on what Sabean is willing to trade. From the noises he’s made in recent weeks it seems clear he won’t trade top young pitchers. That’s good. Unfortunately he also seems unwilling to move Randy Winn and, less unfortunately, Bengie Molina. (I’ve given my opinion on a possible Molina trade here, and it hasn’t changed.)
So what if Seattle is willing to dump Adrian Beltre and his $12 M in 2009 — and Schulman says the Giants think he’ll improve in a return to the National League — for a middling prospect and lots of salary relief? He wouldn’t be blocking anyone in the Giants’ system. One year of Beltre in ‘09 also keeps the Giants from dipping into the free agent market — lie back and visualize 4 years and $44 M worth of Joe Crede — and it gives them a better option than Castillo or Aurilia (or Denker or Frandsen or Velez). They might even benefit from a contract-year surge. Remember the last time Beltre was on the cusp of free agency? He nearly won the MVP.
Beltre won’t turn this offense into a juggernaut, or even a mid-sized fuel-efficient sedan. It will still wheeze and sputter if Bowker doesn’t improve, Winn remains in the middle of the lineup, and Molina is asked to bat fourth again. So no Jonathan Sanchez for Beltre, please. But I feel fairly confident that Sabean has drawn a circle around certain players who won’t be traded. If a reasonably good player becomes available on the cheap, he’s absolutely right to be open minded about it.
However — and it’s a big However — holding on to people like Randy Winn because he might help the Giants compete next year is a silly notion. Same goes for Jack Taschner, who should attract interest but whom the Giants are now reluctant to trade, according to Schulman.
One last note for the day: this article notes how Bochy is playing Jose Castillo more at second base because “we want to take somewhat of a look at him.” How’s this for a look: .308 OBP / .406 SLG, which puts him next to last among qualifying MLB third basemen. Among second basemen, he’d be among the bottom five OPS. (But ahead of Jeff Kent, Robinson Cano and Freddy Sanchez.)
This contradicts the promise to play Velez, Burriss and Ochoa more often at 2B after the Durham trade. But I suspect the move is a showcase to give teams a chance to evaluate Castillo as a utility infielder. Let’s reserve judgment ‘til after the deadline; I’ll be cheesed off if Castillo the first week of August is still forcing Velez to the bench.
