SF Giants Trade Rumors: 5 Players Who Will Improve the Giants Offense

The MLB trade deadline is just days away as teams are trying to iron out the kinks of crucial deals.  The San Francisco Giants currently sit atop the NL West standings but are looking for some offensive pop in their batting order.

There are several talented hitters available on the market but each come at a price.  The Giants will need to decide whether a certain veteran is worth giving up a top prospect.

Here is a list of five players who would instantly help the Giants offense if they traded for them.

5. Josh Willingham, LF, Oakland A’s

The San Francisco Giants might not need to look very far to find the outfield bat they need. Just across the Bay, A's outfielder Josh Willingham has been having a solid season in Oakland.

Since the A's are out of the race in the AL West, they are shopping Willingham, among other players. Although Willingham isn't having a career year, he could see his production improve by moving back to the NL.

The Giants would welcome his bat in their batting order, as well as his presence in the clubhouse. Willingham is a good option for the Giants if they don't want to pay the big price to get someone like Carlos Beltran.

4. Melky Cabrera, OF, Kansas City Royals

Playing in Kansas City, most baseball fans have not seen the 2011 statistics that outfielder Melky Cabrera is putting up.  With 12 home runs, 57 RBIs and 15 steals, Cabrera would easily be having the best season of all of the Giants' hitters.

Last week, Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports reported that the San Francisco had "light interest" in Cabrera.  This likely means that he is just one of the other back-up options, should a trade for a bigger name player fall through.

3. B.J. Upton, CF, Tampa Bay Rays

There has been speculation for a while now that B.J. Upton might be playing his last few games for the Tampa Bay Rays, as the trade deadline looms. Upton has not had a good season for the Rays, batting a mere .239, but he could be re-energized by switching teams.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the difficult position of being stuck behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays are still in contention but are having a hard time separating themselves from the pack.  Since the Rays are by no means out of the AL playoff chase, they will not be sellers at the deadline and will want good value for Upton right away.

Upton has all of the physical tools to be an outstanding outfielder and would be a huge addition for the Giants, as he helps fill short and long-term needs.  I believe Upton would improve by switching to the NL and would enjoy playing his home games at wide-open AT&T Park.

2. Carlos Beltran, OF, New York Mets

Very few hitters on the market have better career numbers than Carlos Beltran. Although Beltran has not lived up to his monster contract, he is having a very good season in 2011.

There is speculation that teams like the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are talking to the Mets about Beltran, who is in the final year of his seven-year contract.

New York is not going to contend this season and is definitely in selling mode and ready to move Beltran. With Francisco Rodriguez already gone, the Mets will likely have a very different roster by Opening Day next year.

The Giants aren't the only team bidding on Beltran, so it will likely take a top-flight prospect such as Zack Wheeler or Gary Brown to pry him away from New York.

1. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants

As the trade deadline approaches it is hard to ignore the obvious.  The Giants have been hampered by injuries all season, none worse than Buster Posey’s season-ending lower leg injury.

The 2011 season is far from lost as the Giants sit atop the NL West standings, but they have been far from dominant this year.  San Francisco is lacking the offensive punch that Posey helped provide down the stretch last season.

It is interesting to wonder if the Giants would be searching for another bat at this point in the season had Posey not been lost for the year.