Sanchez has funky mechanics - this could be a career year for him. I would pull the trigger and try to lock up Beltre in the off season for 3 years. Moves Molina out of the #4 spot.

Beltre + Ryan Feierabend? Too much? Throw a scrub in from our side?

Tell us about Feierabend.

well, aren't I a fool? I've been listening to you for over 2 years and (mistakenly) thought you were worth listening to. Thanks you for setting me straight
I like Beltre but I do not think we need him for one and only one year. Giving away Sanchez for 1 year of Beltre would be a terrible waste of a valuable trading chip. I don't think Sanchez should be moved until next July when his value is likely to be much higher.
And that is if we do trade Sanchez. I think our O is creeping dangerously close to respectability and I am not averse to a Sandoval/Aurilia platoon at 3b and an Ishi/Sandoval/Aurilia platoon at 1b. I think Burriss/Frandsen/Velez will play the MI.
Sanchez seems to promise long term high value. I would think it a mistake to trade that for short term high value - that is how you deplete your system. I am more in favor of protecting/stocking the system than I am in getting a big name for 1 or 2 years.

I don't consider Beltre to be a big name, he only has a big salary. Never understood the hype, and he had that one great year (which smells suspicious because it was his contract year). He's basically a step above Pedro Feliz offensively with great defense.

So that's probably why he isn't a Giant yet, the Mariners actually still think he's worth something when other teams view the Mariners as owing them something more because they are getting salary relief.

Frankly, I wouldn't even give up Correia for him.

But since the scenario is Sanchez for Beltre, I would probably want Carlos Truinfel. Sanchez has a lot of years of control, whereas Beltre doesn't plus costs $12M, so I would want a top prospect like Truinfel, who could be SS, maybe 2B or 3B if he grows out of the SS position.

They would probably rather keep Truinfel and give us Matt Tuiasosopo, but there's no way I would want to give up Sanchez for Tuiasosopo.

If you take out Beltre's "peak" career year, his overall OPS is basically the same as the league average plus maybe 4-5 points (755 OPS league average; he's around 760 OPS). Add that he'll be 30 and probably expects a raise over the $12M he's making now, tells me that he's not worth risking losing Sanchez without getting a top prospect like Truinfel, as his agent is Boras and he'll probably want $15M for 3-4 years. NO WAY!

I would rather trade with the Indians and try to get Wes Hodges plus a throw-in or two, like Andy Marte or Josh Barfield or Adam Miller.

OGC is right to say that Beltre is not a huge upgrade over Feliz. I should be clear that I don't advocate trading Sanchez for him, certainly not one for one.

But if the Giants could get back a legitimate prospect --- good luck getting Triunfel, pal -- in addition to Beltre, the risk could be worth it. There's also the possibility that Beltre flips the contract-year switch like he did in '03 and puts up monster numbers.

At the end of '09, when he walks, the Giants will probably get two comp picks for him, too. (He'd have to really tank next year not to be an 'A' free agent.)

So the Giants would lose Sanchez and all his potential upside, plus $11.5 M, the rough difference between the two players' salaries, in exchange for one year of excellent D and perhaps well above average O from the 3B position; a legitimate prospect; and two high draft picks.

I'm not sure it's worth it. It all hinges on the quality of the other player(s) Seattle throws in.

I'll throw my 2cents into the ring.

I actually think Beltre is underrated because of his 2004 season that he's never approached again. Most just look at his offensive numbers and turn off to the idea of him because he hasn't been close to repeating his '04 season.

He plays very good defense and he's hitting in a tough park in Safeco.

Chris Dial of BBTF released his OPD (Offense Plus Defense) numbers today and Beltre ranks as the 2nd best 3B in the AL behind A-Rod. OPD essentially judges a player on more complete scale by also adjusting for defense, something that most people either ignore or they don't weight properly.

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/dialed_in/discussion/al_mvp_race_offense_plus_defense_opd_through_sept_02_2008/

He'd be a fine addition to the Giants. I'm not sure who I would try to trade for him, I like Sanchez, so I'm not sure there is a match. But, I do think he's a fine player that's been underrated.

I'd rather keep Sanchez and try to land Beltre with a package of arms -- Correia/Sosa/Snyder, say. But I don't think the Mariners particularly want to trade him. They know he's good, they know his history in contract years, and they know the draft picks they'll get if he walks at the end of the year are valuable.

Beltre? Really?

I know I've heard this rumor around, and I know Beltre is having a good year. But him? As a Giant? It's enough to make you start watching the A's. If he was extremely cheap, like say for a AA scrub that may or may not make the majors I'd take him. But other then that forget it. I wouldn't give up anyone with major league experience for him. There are better trade options out there at 3rd. Heck, even Aubry Huff is a better option, at least he has shown he still has 30+ HR power.

Note to Sabean: Forget Beltre . . . no matter the cost. Look elsewhere for 3B help.

Now the move I'd like to see them try is go after Texiera and failing that try to get Pat Burrell to play first. Then make Bowker and Ishikawa his backups and give him regular rest ala Barry Bonds last season. Then let the kids battle it out for who gets to start at 3rd, SS and 2nd between Frandsen, Velez, Burriss, McClain and Ochoa. Surely one of those middle infielders can play a decent 3B, and if not McClain is pretty good for a 36 year old rookie and Ochoa has done pretty well.

Beltre is one of the most underrated players in all of baseball. Safeco Field has destroyed his overall output, like it has for many right handed power bats, but if his home splits looked like his road splits, he'd be hitting around .300 with 30 homers and over 100 RBI right now.

Even with the nasty home splits, he is only bettered by third basemen ALex Rodriguez, Evan Longoria, Chipper Jones and David Wright this season when you add the runs created offensively and the runs saved defensively.

Also, his BABIP this season suggests (and if you watched him play everyday you'd agree) that he is having horrible luck this season. He has been smashing the ball all season, only to hit it right at someone.

I doubt Seattle would trade Beltre for Sanchez, which isn't a legit rumor, only speculation by MLBTR. Seattle will hold onto Beltre and take the comp picks rather than trade him for less than he is worth.

Also, whoever said they'd want Carlos Triunfel thrown in for Sanchez is crazy. Triunfel is far and away Seattle's number 1 propsect, and Seattle wouldn't give him up for Johan Santana or Erik Bedard. Seattle is now rebuilding, so they wouldn't give ANY prospects for Sanchez, let alone a top-20 prospect.

Really? You wouldn't trade Beltre for a young, cheap, left-handed starter with one of the best strikeout rates in the game?

What's the point of keeping him?

Maybe I'm underrating Jonathan Sanchez. Is he legit?

Beltre is a 25-30 HR guy with a smooth Gold Glove. Sanchez has potential, but is far from achieving it and could be a big bust. Lowry, on the other hand, is dead meat.