Grading Brian Sabean's Last 10 Deadline Deals for the San Francisco Giants

Brian Sabean and the San Francisco Giants have been a lot busier than usual during this past month, acquiring Jeff Keppinger, Carlos Beltran and Orlando Cabrera. With these moves, the Giants are making it clear that they want nothing more then to repeat as champions in 2011.

Last season, Sabean looked like a genius after he picked up Cody Ross off waivers from the Florida Marlins in order to prevent the San Diego Padres from taking him. Ross ended up being one of the best players for San Francisco down the stretch and was even named NLCS MVP.

In past years, many of the moves that Sabean has made have looked very questionable and didn't turn out well for the Giants. In case you forgot, here are the last 10 deadline trades Sabean has made, so decide for yourself what grade they should get.

No. 10: Orlando Cabrera

Trade: July 30, 2011: Traded Thomas Neal (minors) to the Cleveland Indians. Received Orlando Cabrera.

Grade: C

I can see why Sabean made this trade. Orlando Cabrera has been in the playoffs in the last four years and has a tremendous amount of experience. The only problem is that he isn't that good.

Cabrera, similar to Miguel Tejada, isn't great on defense and doesn't move well. Similar to Brandon Crawford, he isn't an offensive threat either.

While the experience is always a good thing to have, I think the Giants would be better off starting Crawford and keeping the young Thomas Neal.

No. 9: Carlos Beltran

Trade: July 28, 2011: Traded Zack Wheeler (minors) to the New York Mets. Received Carlos Beltran and cash.

Grade: C+

Let me start off by saying Carlos Beltran was a great player five years ago. Today, he's just about as average as you can get.

Again, I understand why Sabean made this move, as he obviously wants experience. Plus, Beltran is pretty streaky and could be fantastic if his bat gets hot.

I haven't seen anything from him this season to make me think that giving up the best pitching prospect in Zack Wheeler is a good idea. On the other hand, the Giants' offense has been so pathetic that any mix up is probably not a bad thing.

No. 8. Jeff Keppinger

Trade: July 19, 2011: Traded Henry Sosa (minors) and Jason Stoffel (minors) to the Houston Astros. Received Jeff Keppinger.

Grade: A

At first, I wasn't too happy when I saw that the Giants traded for Jeff Keppinger, but after looking deeper into the transaction, I think it's great.

What San Francisco gave away to get Keppinger is meaningless. Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel aren't anywhere near the cream of the crop in the Giants' farm system.

Keppinger is a player who makes contact nearly every at bat, which is something that the Giants desperately need. With Freddy Sanchez on the disabled list, putting Keppinger at the second spot is a perfect fit.

No. 7: Jose Guillen

Trade: Aug 13, 2010: Traded a player to be named later and cash to the Kansas City Royals. Received Jose Guillen. The San Francisco Giants sent Kevin Pucetas (minors) (October 14, 2010) to the Kansas City Royals to complete the trade.

Grade: C

Again, the Giants didn't give up too much to get Jose Guillen, but he ended up being worthless for the Giants.

Guillen would have been great five years ago, but he was too slow and toward the end of his career to make an impact in SF. He didn't even end up on the playoff roster and was essentially a waste.

No. 6: Mike Fontenot

Trade: Aug 11, 2010: Traded Evan Crawford (minors) to the Chicago Cubs. Received Mike Fontenot.

Grade: C

Notice a trend here? Sabean has been known to give up relatively good prospects for relatively average major league players.

Acquiring Mike Fontenot hasn't done the Giants any good, but it hasn't hurt them either. Ever since Fontenot arrived, there's been talk of his potential and how much he can help the Giants.

In reality, Fontenot has been pretty terrible and hasn't produced anywhere near what he's capable of.

No. 5. Ramon Ramirez

Trade: July 31, 2010: Traded Daniel Turpen (minors) to the Boston Red Sox. Received Ramon Ramirez.

Grade: B+

The Giants made a great move acquiring Ramon Ramirez at the end of July, and it ultimately helped them have one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Ramirez was pretty much unknown before he came to the Giants, but he really put in a good effort and was a major contributor down the stretch.

No. 4. Javier Lopez

Trade: July 31, 2010: Traded John Bowker and Joe Martinez to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Javier Lopez.

Grade: A

It was sad for me to see John Bowker leave, but what the Giants got in return was definitely worth it.

Javier Lopez was relatively unknown as well, but he is now one of the best relievers in baseball. When the Giants brought him to San Francisco, he was supposed to be a lefty specialist, but he has turned into an all around reliever who could easily be a closer in the future.

Lopez was one of the best Giants in the playoffs, and has been amazing this year as well. This was probably one of the best moves that Sabean has ever made.

No. 3: Bengie Molina

Trade: July 1, 2010: Traded Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers. Received Michael Main (minors) and Chris Ray.

Grade: A

The only reason this trade gets an A is because the Giants got rid of Bengie Molina.

Chris Ray and Michael Main haven't done anything, but the trade allowed Buster Posey to start behind the dish, and we all know how that turned out.

If Molina had stayed with the Giants, Posey wouldn't have gotten the majority of the playing time, and who knows how that would have affected the standings.

No. 2: Freddy Sanchez

Trade: July 29, 2009: Traded Tim Alderson (minors) to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received Freddy Sanchez.

Grade: B

Freddy Sanchez has never been that great for the Giants, but he's consistent and his experience as a major league player helped the Giants tremendously.

Tim Alderson was a great prospect, though, and has a bright future, which is why this trade doesn't get an A. Still, Sanchez was a big part of the Giants' success in 2010, and his absence is very noticeable.

No. 1. Ryan Garko

Trade: July 27, 2009: Traded Scott Barnes (minors) to the Cleveland Indians. Received Ryan Garko.

Grade: C

Ryan Garko was never supposed to be a savior for the Giants, and he never really did anything spectacular in SF.

Scott Barnes wasn't anything much to give up, so I can't say this trade was a failure. There was nothing special about Garko, and this is the type of trade that Sabean typically made in years prior, with the Giants acquiring somebody who never really did anything.