Here's some news items from what might be baseball's most competitive division next season….
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says that despite John Bowker's big spring, he's not likely to get regular playing time in the majors unless there's an injury in San Francisco or unless "the Giants trade him to an American League team looking for a cheap DH."
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that Giants infielder Emmanuel Burriss will be out until June due to foot surgery, leaving the team in need of a utility infielder. This tracks with the information reported yesterday about the Giants looking for such a player in exchange for Fred Lewis. If a deal isn't out there, San Fran might be best served to just hang onto Kevin Frandsen. He's no whiz with the glove (Fangraphs lists him with a career UZR/150 of -13.5 at shortstop, albeit over just 198 innings), but this might not be a problem in the short-term if the Giants just need him as a reserve SS until Freddy Sanchez is healthy and Juan Uribe can move into the reserve middle-infield role.
- Speaking of middle infielders, the Diamondbacks have a surplus of them and Augie Ojeda looks to be at the top of the trade list. MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports that while the Snakes would like to make a move for pitching, their plans are complicated since they don't know how much time Brandon Webb will need to get healthy.
- Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com says that Ivan DeJesus has gone from being seen as a potential future starting shortstop to "perhaps trade bait" for the Dodgers.
- Ronald Belisario still hasn't arrived to spring training due to visa issues, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. The fact that Belisario is out of options further complicates matters,
- Padres RHP Tim Stauffer is also out of options, but MLB.com's Corey Brock predicts that San Diego will be able to deal him to "a pitching-starved team" rather than putting him on waivers.
i’m up for a lewis/ojeda swap. i just don’t want to see lewis become the next upton.
I don’t think there’s any danger of that.
I’ll be closing for the Giants before Fred Lewis is mentioned in the same breath as Justin Upton.
Unless it’s something to the effect of, “Man, did you see Fred Lewis misplay that screamer Justin Upton hit?”
Touche
i’m really happy to see Belisario not in the u.s. the guy was lights out last year. just one more problem the dodgers have.
That doesn’t make any sense at all…
And I hope he gets the situation worked out because he is a very good pitcher.
because as a giants fan i don’t want to see him out there because he is good. get it?
Gotcha.
haha that was pretty sad you had to explain it…
Ivan DeJesus Jr. would be a good fit for the Padres at 2B. The Padres also have a ton of relief pitchers.
I could also see potential fits in the A’s (definitely) Maybe a swap for Pedro Figueroa?
no way we trade him for a reliever. We have relievers coming out our @$$. Look for a bigger deal, or more likely, no deal at all. He has a very good shot to be the starting 2B next year and there is no reason to trade depth for nothing.
Okay so bring Lindblom up and trade DeJesus Jr. to the A’s for Doolittle and Donaldson.
A. Lindblom isnt ready. B. No one knows if Lindblom will be a closer or a starter yet…
I dont know about the guys you said to trade DeJesus for, but unless they are good guys, there is no reason to trade DeJesus just to trade him. Like I said, DeJesus will be a big piece, IMO, as soon as next year. He was a top prospect last year and then got hurt. He is nearly 100% healed(he has been playing, but I think his speed is still affected somewhat) and will be playing in the minors this year. A good year and he is the starting 2B, or in a platoon with DeWitt if DeWitt struggles against lefties this year..
# Ronald Belisario still hasn’t arrived to spring training due to visa issues, reports MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick. The fact that Belisario is out of options further complicates matters,
Doesnt matter. He’ll be on the restricted list and wont use an option or be on the 40 man roster..
Contrary to what Neyer is reporting, with the great spring that Bowker is having and considering how much Schierholtz has struggled, I’m thinking that Bowker might be the favorite to get the nod in RF on opening day. Also, Bowker is excelling at the two things that the Giants lineup is sorely lacking, power and patience at the plate. I realize that right field at AT&T Park is not the easiest of outfield positions, but I am sure that if Bowker lives up to the potential that he has been showing in AAA last year and spring this year, that is a sacrifice that Bochy would be more than willing to make.
Why dont the Giants just do this…
Rowand – CF
Schierhotlz – RF
Sandoval – 3B
Huff – 1B
DeRosa – 2B
Molina – C
Bowker – LF
Renteria – SS
Since F. Sanchez is hurt you can play DeRosa at 2B. Also this gives Schierholtz and Bowker starting jobs and chances to prove themselves.
bowker is tearing it up right now. he has a good bat.
At this point, I’m hoping that the Giants will take Torres and Bowker for their two reserve outfield spots. Since Velez and Torres are redundant, and Torres is better in pretty much every respect except that he swings through a lot of pitches. We could use the extra power, and that’s no secret.
Mark,
Regarding the Dejesus part… Instead of “says”, which implies that he has gotten confirmation from the team, you should’ve used “believes,” which would infer what it actually is: pure speculation on the part of Tony Jackson. Your take on it suggests that this rumor has been confirmed.