Freddy Sanchez Likely To Start Year on DL for Giants

Just what the offensively challenged San Francisco Giants need, one of their starters not being ready for Opening Day.

According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News , Giants’ second baseman Freddy Sanchez might not be ready for Opening Day. As a matter of fact, Baggarly thinks that Sanchez will start the season on the DL.

Sanchez underwent offseason shoulder surgery in late December and had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee in late September. That is one rough offseason, my friends.

The 32-year-old hasn’t picked up a bat so far this offseason and isn’t expected to do so for another week. Chances are Sanchez won’t be rushed and will start the year in Triple-A getting some work in.

The Giants acquired Sanchez in a July trade deadline deal that sent pitching prospect Tim Alderson to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .284 with one home run, one double, and had a .295 OBP in 25 games. Sanchez wasn’t exactly the offensive boost they thought he would be.

In all fairness to Sanchez, he was battling a knee injury for a majority of the second half of the season. Regardless of the production Sanchez gave the Giants, I wasn’t a fan of the trade when it happened , and I am not a fan of the trade now.

I just don’t believe you give up a top pitching prospect for a a guy on the downside of his career who doesn’t do anything different than five other guys you have in the lineup. It doesn’t make much sense.

If Sanchez does start the year on the DL, look for Juan Uribe, whom the Giants brought back this offseason, to fill his shoes at second base.

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