A Win, Winn Situation For Giants

The San Francisco Giants really want to win. In order to do so, they may need to lose Winn. Randy Winn, that is.

The Giants are in the thick of the playoff race, 11 games over .500, and tied for the Wild Card lead.

This team is leaps and bounds ahead of where they were supposed to be: One small step for San Francisco...one Giant step towards a playoff run and the possibility of doing some damage with their dominant starting pitching.

San Francisco really built this year's team to give their fans a quality product to watch, but the focus was on next year or 2011 as far as being in contention. Heck, they even brought in home-grown product Randy Johnson as a side show to sell tickets for his trek towards 300 wins.

There is one glaring issue the Giants need to deal with: their outfield.

Starting pitching is anchored by possible repeat Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, and supported by Cain, Zito, Sanchez, and whoever pitches 5th.

Their infield is producing well with the best-hitting Molina, Kung Fu Pablo, a veteran Rentaria, and new acquisitions Ryan Garko and Freddy Sanchez.

Brian Wilson is a serviceable closer. Howry and Affeldt are solid in set up roles.

But their outfield is a mess!

Aaron Rowand has been mediocre since his big contract and has just nine HRs this year, but his attitude and leadership is immeasurable.

Randy Winn, consistently a good combination of power and speed, has just two HRs and 10 SBs.

The last starting spot is being occupied by a surprisingly rejuvenated Eugenio Velez, who is batting .395 since his recall.

Fred Lewis has been losing playing team despite a solid showing last season and Nate Schierholz, who has decent power and is batting .295, is coming off the DL on Tuesday.

How does a team find playing time for five outfielders (not to mention reserves Bowker and Torres)? They don't. They need to get rid of one: Randy Winn.

Winn doesn't factor in the plans for their future. Statistically, this season Winn hasn't impressed...

Randy Winn: .264 avg; 2 home runs; 10 stolen bases; 42 RBI; 406 at bats.

Schierhotz has been producing very well for a player who has been used mostly in a reserve, platoon, and pinch-hitting role. He has a lot of upside with decent pop in his bat and could be hit for a high average.

Velez is on fire since his recall. He magically learned how to hit over his stint in the minors and although this might be an aberration, he may have just figured out pitch selection and using his speed as an asset in his hitting approach. He has the potential to steal 40-plus bases over a season if he can get on base like he has been lately.

Winn is older, slower, and losing his power. His power and speed numbers are not up to his standards this year, but he still may have value on the open market. Isn't there some team out there that would take a chance on a player who hit .306, with 10 homers, and 25 stolen bases just last season?

The Giants could use one more starting pitcher just in case the Big Unit can't come back this year and trading Winn could be the easiest way to acquire one. They could even package Travis Ishikawa in the deal since they picked up Garko at first base.

A good fit for Winn: Seattle. 

Wouldn't it be amazing to put a package together for Felix Hernandez. Can you imagine Hernandez, Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain in the playoffs?

San Francisco could move Velez to his normal 2B position (they also have Emmanual Burriss in AAA) and include Freddy Sanchez in the trade to reunite him with Jack Wilson. Winn, Sanchez, Ishikawa, and a really, really, really good pitching prospect (Madison Bumgarner)? Is that enough for King Felix?

It seems like a good fit for Seattle as well. Wilson and Sanchez reunited. Ishakawa on a team with a strong Asian connection (Ichiro, Sasaki, Johjima, Wakamatsu). An elite pitching prospect they can add to the rotation next year who won't be arbitration eligible for a few years.

Seattle probably won't be able to sign Felix to a long term deal anyway, and Eric Bedard is probably done for the year, so the M's can start to focus on the future.

This blockbuster trade may not be feasible, since the trading deadline has passed and Hernandez has almost zero chance of passing through waivers. Maybe it's something they can look at during the hot stove league.

Regardless, the Giants need to do something with their outfield. Trading Winn will clear up the outfield log jam, give playing time to their young guys, and is the best option to bring in a middle of the road starting pitcher in return for this year.

The Giants' season has been a huge success, but the present and future roster should produce more wins without Winn.