Recent reports from around the country have Giants GM Brian Sabean in the thick of the Miguel Cabrera sweepstakes.
But in baseball, as in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch—though who could tell from the Marlins third baseman's expanding beltline?
Giants fans everywhere know that for their team to be involved in the talks for Cabrera—an All Star with his best years still ahead of him—it must be considering paying a steep, steep price.
In fact, the steepest price imaginable in many's eyes—that of rookie phenom pitcher Tim Lincecum. And then some.
The most recent scuttlebutt has Florida not budging from its demand of four top-flight prospects from Cabrera's suitors—most often mentioned as Anaheim and Los Angeles, along with San Francisco.
For the Giants, this poses two problems. First, parting with three prospects in addition to Lincecum is unimaginable, given the team's stated reluctance to part with their prized 2006 first round draft choice.
And second—um, do we have three other top-flight prospects?And yet, the lure of the deal is unmistakable. Fans have lamented the lack of a corner infielder with power since Sabean traded Matt Williams to Cleveland in 1996. (And never before has a GM gotten so much career mileage out of a single trade.)
Plus, the Giants' current lack of pop in the middle of the lineup is stark. A 3-4-5 combination of Randy Winn, Bengie Molina, and Nate Schierholtz isn't likely to strike fear into the heart of a pitching machine, let alone Major League hurlers.
And let's face it. Talents like Cabrera—still young at 24, with a career arc trending toward superstardom, and under contract for two more years—just don't become available that often. He will still be productive for years to come when, God willing, the Giants are able to finally build a winning team around him.
Yes, Timmy Franchise's wizardry on the mound would be missed. But he's far from a sure thing in the future. Scouts continue to question this mechanics, which seem to defy the known laws of physics when it comes to pitching. He has potential burnout written all over him—and being stuck with Kerry Wood, Jr. doesn't sound appealing, now does it?
So, Sabes—I say, what the hell. If you are actually able to outbid the Angels and Dodgers, pull the damn trigger. I highly doubt your pitching-speed-and-defense manifesto offers much more hope of success than giving up our heralded right-hander and some of our already poor young positional talent.
Besides, it's time you put another trade feather in your cap, and filled that decade-old third-base hole in the process.
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7 months ago
No, no, no, no...NO.
The Giants need to build this team around their pitching staff. Lincecum could be a 15 win, 200 strike out guy for 10 years +. And for the time being, he's cheap...which matters a lot when you have to pay Barry Zito's outrageous salary.
It's not like Cabrera can carry a team by himself (see: Florida Marlins).
On Zito...if I were the Giants, I be willing to eat half his contract to unload him. That's right...half of it.
7 months ago
First off, Tim Lincecum is a torn labrum waiting to happen from a mechanical standpoint. 10+ years of production from him is completely unrealistic. Hell, I think he will break down within the next 3-5 years.
I completely agree that the Giants need to make a move for a proven offensive stud at the age of 24, even it means parting with Lincecum. They have very little developmental depth in the minors, but still, they could package some kids- Jonathan Sanchez?- along with Lincecum to make it interesting.
The fact remains, however, that Sabean has done an absolutely god awful job of stockpiling younger talent among his position players, so much so that a move for Cabrera means very little to the future of the Giants. The entire team is old and fading into mediocrity. Vizquel, Roberts, Feliz, Durham, Klesko, Winn... what was he thinking? Just such a short-sighted 5 plan for a GM to have.
7 months ago
"A 3-4-5 combination of Randy Winn, Bengie Molina, and Nate Schierholtz isn't likely to strike fear into the heart of a pitching machine, let alone Major League hurlers."
this is what a stupid, asinine, want a be area scout would say. the org has repeatedly said they are going speed, base to base, gap power. have you checked with your want to be boss, the cross checker who has all the doubles, extra base hits these three have?
bleacher report says it all. an x little league coach who's kid didn't make it and names 3 who produced at every level (schierholtz) including fall. PITCHING machine??? you're scouting at the high school level....OBVIOUSLY
from 7 months ago
Wow, a spirited defense of Winn-Molina-Schierholtz as the heart of the order for a major league team?
I never thought I'd see the day.
You must be drinking some strong stuff cause anyone who believes a team can compete with those guys batting 3-5 is clearly too buzzed to comment.
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