Brian Giles Blocks Trade To Boston

I love this move for the Red Sox and I don't buy for a minute that they're trying to block a move to the Rays, though that's the unintended consequence. His 124 OPS+ is a huge upgrade over Ellsbury's 81 OPS+. He'd be a doubles machine in Fenway.

You gotta believe that Giles wants to play for them, even if it means limited PT, though it's clear that he'd replace Ellsbury.

iowa cubs is right. ellsbury needs to be sent back down to triple a and refind his groove. of coarse he will be back up for the playoffs but right now he needs a break. giles will be able to come in and play right away. hes a gamer no doubt and the sox could use that to their advantage. yes he will have his playing time cut in half but he'll find his time putting drew in center and giles in right. very good thinking by ep

Ellsbury had three hits the other night, including a HR. He will be fine. All rookies, and all vets for that matter, go through slumps. Look for him to run wild vs. A.J. and the White Sox this weekend.

Buster Olney says Giles will block the trade to the Sox.

A source with direct knowledge of the situation told the Globe's Amalie Benjamin that the Red Sox submitted a waiver claim for Giles on Wednesday, and the Padres and Sox have until today to strike a trade. However, Giles has the power to block a deal to the Red Sox as part of a limited no-trade clause in his contract, and, according to Olney, indications are that Giles will indeed block a trade to Boston.

While a deal is looking unlikely, might this still work out well for the Red Sox? In this morning's Boston Globe, Benjamin reported that "there are indications that part of the reason the Sox put in the claim was to block Giles from heading to one of the two teams with better records in the American League, the Rays or Angels, though the Rays would be the more likely candidate."

If he doesn't want to go to Boston because of PT issues, why in the world would he want to play for Anaheim? Isn't half their team comprised of OFs?

I figured if Boston's interest was genuine and the Pads were willing to deal him Giles would still block anything. It looked like on his blocked list were East Coast teams. I think it's a location thing rather than PT. Anyone know if Giles' family home is West Coast?

Also I agree with cmac on Ellsbury. I don't think time in AAA will help him. He's already mastered that level, he needs time with other major leaguers and to face major league pitching. Sometimes a slump is just a slump. It just means it won't be a close race for ROY... Longoria is winning by a mile and a half.

now that he has blocked Boston, do the rest of the teams after Boston (Rays and Angels) get a chance to place a claim on him?

The way I understand the rule is that Giles goes back to the Padres for the rest of the season. They can't put him on waivers again either.

SWP, yes. According to the herald article, at least: "The primary factor was family reasons, as Giles wants to remain close to his children, who live in San Diego."

I thought the rule was a team can place a player on waivers a second time but if he's claimed, he's automatically gone. Although, in the case of Giles, I guess he could block it to his NTC teams.

I don't get why nobody is bringing up Aubrey Huff. The guy has been swinging a monster bat this year. A .302/.358/.541 line with 22 homers and 73 RBI in the AL East is pretty damn impressive. I wouldn't be shocked if he got through waivers because he really doesn't belong in the field (in other words he sucks at defense) and he's not exactly cheap.

The Orioles would probably want Jed Lowrie in return though, which would muck up the situation.

Brian Giles and his family live in San Diego as well as being born there. Living in San Diego I know that he is a charity guy to the community and wouldn't likely see him wanting to move.

On the other hand I'm an Orioles fan and I hope the Orioles don't part ways with Aubrey Huff.