Reflecting on the Giants Midseason Trades

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I love baseball trades, especially in midseason. They are exciting! You just do not know what you are going to get. of course, it also depends on whether your team is a buyer or a seller. Is your team competitive and trying to build for the post season? Or, is your team auctioning good players to get prospects to build for the future?

The Giants have been hit hard by injuries throughout the season. And yes, at times, the team has been difficult to watch. The injuries have necessitated trades to shore up the team. After Freddy Sanchez was lost for the year, the Giants picked up Bill Hall, who had been released by Houston. Hall was unproductive and was sent down to Fresno. The Giants then picked up Jeff Keppinger from Houston, who was playing well until he too got hurt.

The team supposedly won the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes by trading their 2009 1st Round Draft Pick Zack Wheeler for him. Wheeler was a good pitching prospect who was still developing. Everyone’s expectations were that Beltran would pick up the Giants’ offense. Unfortunately, he started off cold before he too got hurt. It remains to be seen what level of productivity the Giants will get from him over the remainder of the year. I do not even know if the Giants will sign him this offseason and I hope that they don’t.

The Phillies further strengthened themselves by trading for Hunter Pence. As did the Braves when they acquired Michael Bourn. Now, the Giants are dealing with injuries and nicks and dings to other players. It is truly stiffling their offense. While I recognize that it took the Giants most of last year to get on track, I just don’t feel the magic that surrounded the team last year. One issue that the 2010 team never had to deal with was health, as the only major injury they had to endure was to Mark DeRosa. The loss turned out to be a blessing as it led to the signing of Pat Burrell, who sparked their offense. Of course, he too has been injured this year.

The team then went and picked up Orlando Cabrera from the Indians. This was a smart pickup. Cabrera is a veteran with playoff experience, including playing on the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. The Giants needed him because of the infield injuries and the inabilities of Miguel Tejada, who was supposed to help the offense but has not been the player that the fans, myself included, or the team expected they were getting.

What do I see happening for the Giants the rest of the year? That is a very difficult question to answer. I don’t know if their offense can pick things up. We know that their pitching is solid. It is similar to last year, except that magic, which was so apparent last year, is still lacking.

It was great to see so much midseason trading activity this year, but generally, it is quite lacking. I firmly believe that it is due to the amount of money being paid to athletes in general, and baseball players specifically. Owners and General Managers are always trying to figure out if they can afford to take on another contract. Last year worked out well for the Giants because Tampa Bay was still paying the majority of Burrell’s salary while he played for the Giants. The team also got their value’s worth from Cody Ross, who the team had wanted to keep away from the Padres. The additions of Ramon Ramirez and Javier Lopez solidified their bullpen for the rest of the year and through the playoffs. Now, with some trades, it is trading one huge contract for another in the hopes that the player acquired with a huge contract will benefit from a change in scenery.

So, in my history of being a Giants fan, what midseason trades do I remember fondly? Of course, in 1978 the Giants traded for Hector Cruz, Jim Dwyer, and Roger Metzger. All solid players, but not quite good enough to get the Giants past the more talented Dodgers and Reds and into the post season. In 1987, then GM Al Rosen picked up Dave Dravecky, Craig Lefferts, and Kevin Mitchell from the Padres and Rick Reuschel from the Pirates – two trades that helped lead to the ’87 NL West Division and 1989 NL Pennant winning teams. The Padres did receive a Cy Young Award winning closer, Mark Davis, out of the deal, amongst other players. In 1997, the Giants picked up Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez, and Danny Darwin from the White Sox for Keith Foulke and Bobby Howry. The Giants won the division, only to lose to the Marlins in the playoffs. In 2000, the White Sox won the AL Central with help from the players they received in that deal.

In baseball terms, you have to give up something to get something. Are you playing for right now or for the future? It looks like the Giants and their fans may have to continue to suffer through the rest of the 2011 season while waiting for a hopefully healthier 2012 season. I still believe that the biggest piece of the offensive puzzle missing in 2011 has been Buster Posey, but hope does spring eternal.