San Francisco Giants: The Likelihood of the Rumored Trade Bait

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The now infamous "untouchables" list of Giants GM Brian Sabean took a little twist a few days ago when the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman tweeted that Sabean had told him that his "untouchables" list may be different than public perception.

What does that mean?

Public opinion says that the Giants' top prospects of Brandon Belt, Gary Brown, Zack Wheeler and Francisco Peguero are at the forefront of players that Sabean would hate to part with since they have such big futures apart of this team.

However, Schulman's tweet makes it seem as though Sabean has something up his sleeve this week, and it may be one of those top prospects.

Here is the speculated "untouchables" list ranked in order of how likely they are to not be traded.

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6. Jonathan Sanchez

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Sanchez may find himself on the short-end of this trade deadline. He is, of course, being shopped buy Sabean, as it seems he always is. However, Sabean may not have a choice other than to trade him.

There is simply no room in the starting rotation.

The Giants would gladly move Barry Zito's gargantuan contract if there were any takers, but that will never happen ever, and so he remains the fifth starter.

Sanchez will be coming back from the DL shortly, and it has been suggested that he take up the long-relief role. However, how often does San Francisco ever use that?

If Sabean can somehow package Sanchez in the Carlos Beltran deal, mixed with a prospect or two, the Giants would be in good shape.

5. Dan Runzler

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The San Jose Mercury News' Andrew Baggarly reports that teams are inquiring about Dan Runzler down in AAA-Fresno, and he may be a part of a trade deadline deal sometime this week.

Runzler has yet to pan out in San Francisco, and they recently sent him to AAA-Fresno in order to get him long outings as a starter. Although he has not impressed so far, several teams seem to like his stuff.

The 26-year-old is considered part of the "untouchables" list because of the fact he is a young, hard-throwing lefty with the potential to have good stuff in the big leagues one day.

If Sabean can somehow package him with someone like a Wheeler or Peguero, then the Giants could come out of the Beltran deal a winner.

4. Zack Wheeler

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Now we get into the meat and potatoes of Sabean's "untouchable" list.

If there was a Giants' top prospect that Sabean would be willing to trade, it would be Wheeler. The 20-year-old has promise, but many scouts feel that that may be all that he has.

It is hard to tell at such a young age, but Wheeler is a good two or three years away from the big leagues, and the murmurs are that he is a No. 3 starter at best in future.

Do not think Sabean does not hear that. He may try to pull one over on the Mets in the Carlos Beltran deal.

3. Francisco Peguero

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Peguero is another huge part of the Giants' future, along with Belt, Brown and Wheeler.

The 23-year-old outfielder is batting .278 in AA-Richmond, but his potential is why he could be packaged in a trade deadline deal.

While Wheeler may be the main part in a blockbuster deal, Peguero is the prospect that could seal the trade.

He is in no way the main attraction for a huge deal, but paired with another player, he could be enough to land someone like Carlos Beltran or B.J. Upton.

He could even be enough to land someone like Jeff Francoeur.

2. Gary Brown

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There are two definite untouchables that the Giants are not willing to trade unless worst comes to worst, and Brown is one of those two.

All that can be said is that if a deal does not get done between the Giants and Mets for Carlos Beltran, it will be because Sabean did not want to give up Brown.

The Mets are hot for Brown, and the Giants are hot for Brown's potential future as the next Michael Bourne or Shane Victorino.

If push comes to shove, the Giants will keep Brown and turn their attention towards another player this week.

One other player that could come into play for the Giants in which Brown could be a main focus is Hunter Pence.

Pence is who the Giants want Brown to be, just with more power and an even higher ceiling.

The Astros will want a lot, but a package of Brown, Wheeler, and either Runzler or Jonathan Sanchez could do it.

1. Brandon Belt

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It is weird even putting Belt on this list, as I figured it was obvious that Belt will not even be considered for a trade.

However, we still see reports from New York saying that they want Belt in a package for Beltran.

Beltran is good, but he is nothing to jeopardize the future of the Giants over.

There is not much else to say other than that Belt is the future offensive threat of this team, and it will take a whole lot to steal him away from the Giants.

Throw in Ike Davis, and then we're talking.