San Francisco Giants: The Giants Need to Make a Move to Jumpstart Their Season

Do the San Francisco Giants need to make a move to jumpstart their season?

Maybe? Probably? Depends?

Yes, they do.

It's obvious the Giants offense is currently in a funk. It's also obvious that the current rash of injuries probably couldn't get any worse than it is now (knock on wood Buster, just to be safe).

However, it should also be apparent the offense is still not in the top half of the league.

Prior to his injury, Pablo Sandoval was far and above the best offensive producer the Giants have had this season. Buster Posey, Aaron Rowand and Freddy Sanchez have been okay this year.

Meanwhile Aubrey Huff, Miguel Tejada, Cody Ross and Pat Burrell have been poor excuses for baseball players thus far.

On paper, it can't get any worse. But I don't think the Giants can wait that much longer for it to get better. Colorado is off to an excellent start this season and have built a respectable lead heading into May.

Can the Giants rally? Surely. Will they with their current team? That's a more difficult question to answer.

Giants pitching this season has been solid but not brilliant. Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez have been inconsistent, Barry Zito has been injured and Madison Bumgarner appears to be in a sophomore slump so far.

Will they bounce back? Yes. When? That's another question.

The Giants are a team completely capable of pulling out of this funk with their current personnel. But if they don't start soon, within two weeks, it looks to be time for Brian Sabean to start looking through his Rolodex or whatever people are using these days.

Sabean saved the Giants season last year—by saved, I mean won a World Series by making shrewd moves to upgrade at various positions.

This year, I believe the moves must be a bit more drastic. Not a mass liquidation of players but a significant upgrade at one or two positions.

It's clear that Miguel Tejada is way over his head and should be removed from the team before he causes more damage. There are a few cheaper upgrades available, but I believe the appropriate move would be to bring in a bat that could handle the leadoff spot in the order as well as the shortstop position.

Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes are the two most viable options. While the availability of Rollins is probably limited, Reyes seems to be available for the right price.

Aye, there's the rub. The price of Reyes is going to be high. He is not the marquee prospect he was a few years ago, but he is a bona fide leadoff hitter capable of jump-starting an offense.

He won't come cheap. Now here's my idea, Most won't like it, but let me explain.

Trade Matt Cain for Jose Reyes.

Straight up, no prospects, no salary agreements nothing, just one-for-one. The Giants do not have enough of a farm system to sway the Mets with merely prospects. They clearly don't have offensive talent on their roster or we wouldn't be having this discussion. Cain is the one; he would be costly to lose, but he would net the Giants their needed offensive spark.

Matt Cain is a very good pitcher, but so far this year, is not as good as he has been in his career. Money-wise, he makes a reasonable $7.3 million this year, in 2012 he's up to $15.3 million. Cain will be a free agent after the 2012 season and given the money already committed and the need to sign Tim Lincecum to a multi-year deal, the Giants will not have the money to keep Lincecum, Cain and Jonathan Sanchez.

Either ride all three through next year and lose one for nothing or try to jump-start the team now by making a bold move. The rotation certainly wouldn't be as strong, but if Ryan Vogelsong can contribute and Zito pitches admirably when he returns, the offense should be able to back up the boys on the hill.

It's time to make bold move—the question is, will they make move before it's too late?