SF Giants Trade Options: 5 Deals for a Bat If They Don't Sign Reyes, Fielder

The San Francisco Giants are in win-now mode.  Or at least they should be.  If Brian Sabean doesn't know, someone should tell him.  The championship window gets smaller with every one of Tim Lincecum's 200-inning efforts.  

As a result, the 2012 Giants have to be better than the punch-less 2011 version.  But how?  Where are the new players going to come from?  

Every offseason, baseball fans fill the winter void by stocking their team's roster with hypothetical dream acquisitions.  If fans were in charge, I'm pretty sure the Giants'  2012 opening day lineup would look something like this:

 C - Buster Posey

1B - Prince Fielder

2B - Freddie Sanchez

SS- Albert Pujols

3B- Pablo Sandoval

LF- Barry Bonds

CF- Melky Cabrera

RF- Babe Ruth

That lineup would do the trick.  Unfortunately, the front office will probably go in a different direction.  Stepping back into reality, here are the Giants' biggest holes: 

SS- Brandon Crawford

RF- Nate Schierholtz

LF- Open for tryouts

Let's take a flying leap and assume the Giants don’t sign Jose Reyes and/or Prince Fielder.  The Giants have a self-imposed budget with little wiggle room and Sabean recently said the team will not make "a big splash" to get a hitter.  Let's hope he's at least willing to make some ripples.  The trade market has historically been Sabean's method of choice.

Giants fans have had more than enough time to digest the not-so blockbuster acquisition of Melky Cabrera.  What's next?  I am not talking about the Bumgarner for Bautista deals that will never happen.  We'll leave leave those for your fantasy squad.  Here are six real trade possibilities:  

Chone Figgins

How it would work: I include Figgins mostly because he has been linked to the Giants in trade rumors.  He can play second base when Freddy Sanchez gets hurt, third base when Sandoval gets hurt and outfield in the six games when those guys are both healthy.  Plus, according to FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi, the Mariners would probably include cash to help lighten the anvil that is Figgins' $17 million dollar salary over the next two years.  

Reasons for caution: This little speedster had a horrendous 2011, getting on base at a .241 clip over 81 games.  That's 43 points lower than Chris Stewart.  Figgins is also 33 years old.  Plus, that salary is hideous.  Oh, and this:

2010-2011 Stats		Games	Avg.	OBP	SLG.	Salary
Chone Figgins		242	.236	.309	.285	$9 mil
Aaron Rowand		213	.237	.277	.363	$12 mil

Verdict: Yuck. The Mariners would have to eat most of Figgins' salary for this to happen.  By most, I mean all of it.  

B.J. Upton

How it would work: The Giants have been linked to Upton in trade rumors seemingly since 1994.  Long labeled as a potential superstar, Upton is now a known quantity; a true three-tool player.  He contributes power, good outfield defense and speed on the base paths.  Offensively, he would be Juan Uribe with base-stealing potential.  In other words, a major upgrade.  

Reasons for caution: Too expensive.  Not everyone has figured out that Upton strikes out almost three times for every walk, or that his average hovers consistently around .240.   Upton continues to be over-hyped and the Giants are almost certain to be outbid by a team hoping to make a splash. 

Verdict: The Giants would have to cough up too much to make Upton worth their while.  Upton has also expressed interest in playing for the Nationals.  He must have heard about their penchant for overpaying outfielders. 

Eduardo Nunez

Brandon Crawford is likely not the answer at shortstop.  I have no reason to believe otherwise.  He has never hit above Double A and was a black hole in a Giants lineup that included many a black hole.  It's easy to be blinded by the contrast between the fresh-faced Crawford and the AARP Giants shortstops of recent years.   

For a team that aspires to rings and banners, the Giants must do better.  It's time to spring for the shortstop of the present and future.  That shortstop's name is not Jimmy Rollins.

Hopefully.  

How it would work: Nunez tore the cover off the ball when Derek Jeter was out last year. The Yankees also seem intent on rewarding Jeter's contributions to Yankee lore and mystique by paying him until he's 50.  Nunez believers see him as an up and coming star with Robinson Cano-like potential at the plate.    

Reasons for caution: The problem with using the Yankees as trading partners is they want big league talent in return and the Giants are currently buyers, not sellers of such talent.  Further, not everyone is sold on Nunez.  His sample size is small and his minor league numbers are nothing special.  He might be Brandon Crawford in pinstripes for all we know.  

Verdict: The Yankees have no incentive to work a fair trade for Nunez.  They will want starting pitching, and the Giants' prized workhorses are untouchable.  If the price goes low enough, Nunez may be worth a look.  

Hanley Ramirez

How it would work: Yes, this is admittedly a reach.  But not as much as it was six months ago. Ramirez's 2011 season could not have been much worse.  He was anemic with the bat and a destructive force in the locker room.  Considered an untouchable superstar only one year ago, Ramirez may never be more available than he is right now. 

This is because the Marlins are openly pursuing Jose Reyes, and, according to one source, Ramirez has already hinted at an unwillingness to change positions.  Assuming 2011 was anomalous, Ramirez is franchise cornerstone material and would be a much needed power boost. 

Reasons for caution:  Ramirez makes $11 million next year and with the Giants' self-imposed salary cap, he likely won't fit in.  File that in the "what if we hadn't signed Zito" folder.  

Verdict:  Disregarding money constraints, is Brandon Belt a legitimate trade prospect for someone of Hanley's caliber?  The Giants kept Belt hidden just enough last year for him to retain phenom status.  Perhaps if he was dangled, the Marlins would bite.  

Jed Lowrie

How it would work:  The Giants have not started an Opening Day shortstop under the age of 30 since Rich Aurilia in 2001.  Lowrie is a low-risk, high reward guy who is under team control for three more years.  Right now the Red Sox are desperate for pitching and are fine playing Marco Scutaro and Mike Aviles at short. 

At times, Lowrie looks like a budding All-Star.  In 2010, he posted a .904 OPS in limited playing time.  Last April, he started hot with a .962 OPS before he cooled off and battled multiple injuries.  Lowrie also plays solid shortstop and can fill in at other positions.   

Reasons for caution: Unfortunately for Lowrie, good health has been the exception rather than the rule.  He has yet to play a full season and questions about his durability linger.  On the bright side, Lowrie's injury history may have dropped him into the Giants' price range.  

Verdict: The Red Sox need pitching and the Giants have plenty.  Sergio Romo seems an ideal fit for the Boston bullpen after the departure of Jonathan Papelbon.  With Lowrie's upside and the Giants' need for offense, a deal centered around Lowrie and Romo would be mutually beneficial.