3:38am: Schierholtz denied formally requesting a trade, talking to Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com.
1:15am: Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz has requested a trade, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Earlier this month we heard that he was unhappy with his reduced role and would welcome a move to a team with more opportunity.
Schierholtz, 28, is hitting .247/.316/.418 with five homers in 190 plate appearances this season. The left-handed hitter has been limited to spot start and pinch-hitting duties because the starting outfield trio of Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Gregor Blanco have been so good. San Francisco is seeking a right-handed outfield bat prior to Tuesday's trade deadline.
Who would want him?
When this story came out the first time, New York had some interest in him as a 4th outfielder, but that was before Ichiro happened.
I don’t blame him one bit at all. In fact I admire his patience. The way the Giants (one of the worst franchises in MLB at developing everyday players) have yanked Nate around the past four years is ridiculous.
If I was a young hitter, the last place I’d want to call home is San Francisco (and it has nothing to do with the park, and everything to do with the management)
Goodluck wherever you end up Nate, I hope you don’t burn us too bad when you get the chance.
Disagree. Unlike the case with many other players in the organization, the Giants have given Nate opportunity after opportunity to take over and outfield spot and he never grabbed the reins and ran with it.
false opposistion
Do elaborate.
this is right. I’ve followed the Giants closely during his time in the bigs, and he’s just not an everyday player because of his bat. That said, his defense is beastly. On a really good team, he’s a late inning defense replacement/pinch hitter, just like he is on the Giants. On a bad team, he could start, but so could a lot of guys who are riding the bench on good teams.
I really think this might be Heyman literally quoting an old article. No indications from the beat writers in the Bay Area as of late that there is the same sentiment from Nate.
Probably, he’s been starting since Philly, and actually hasn’t stunk too bad.
Reportedly he went to Schulman first- so we can take it as a given he had to express as much to the brass at some point which Heyman gleamed. Either way it’s probably moot as he is starting now.
And its not like this is breaking news. It was said in a candid interview admitted and written by Schulman weeks ago but it took until now for Heyman to break it? Something is not computing.
Disagree. Nate has been completely absent from the Giants lineup until the middle of last week when this story first surfaced. He’s been a regular fixture in the lineup since, possibly as a move to showcase him for a trade. I wouldn’t be surprised if tonight’s game was the last that Nate plays in a Giants uniform. It’s a shame because he’s a better option than Christian, has more to offer than Blanco right now, and with Pagan reportedly punching things in the clubhouse and injuring his hand, he may come in handy. It’s unfortunate that he never lived up to the massive hype that he came into the league with. Great defense and arm but the offensive numbers never arrived.
+1 on everything you said. I too thought is was convenient of the giants to all of a sudden play him more frequently as the deadline approaches.
I think the Giants should use Christian as a trading chip for Pence. He’d probably get more playing time and it pretty much guarantees that Schierholtz stays on the team at least through 2013 trade deadline, if the Giants keep Pagan and Cabrera and Gary Brown is ready.
Justin Christian is a 32 year old minor league journeyman that will be used as a trading chip for no one.
lol your post reminds me of last week, when Eric Byrnes accidentally quoted a tweet from 2010 and said that there was a rumor that Burris and some other smuck were going to be traded for Bautista. It caused a lot of confusion on KNBR.
Package him in a deal for Broxton now that League is gone..
Broxton wouldn’t be much of an upgrade from Casilla. Broxton has a 1.40 WHIP with just 25k’s in 35.2 innings and 14 walks.
It’s all about him and not his team. bravo.
Some players just want the opportunity to play the game they love, especially when they feel they’re not being fully utilized. Who wants to work at a job thinking they have more to give, and wanting to show it, only to have management go to someone else who isn’t performing well? I don’t think many would be okay with feeling undervalued, regardless of their profession.
that’s unfortunate for nate. love his game, just not enough room for it now for starting role.
Right, because Blanco and Pagan are tearing the cover off the ball
First Correia now this. I thought players requesting trades were usually, you know, good…
Nate has shown with limited playing time he can hit. And as hard as it is for everyday players to hit at the major league level, it’s even harder for part time players to be consistent. All the batting practice in the world is no simulation for facing real live pitchers in an actual game. And if a player isn’t happy with his role, mentally, that can make things more difficult in the batters box.
With that said, I think he has the potential for a line like this given the opportunity as an everyday player for an entire season 285AVG 18HR 85RBI 12SB
I have no doubt the talent is there. He obviously feels he has more to offer and I don’t blame him for wanting to play more frequently. He’s still young and can only get better.
This is about 2 weeks old. He’s been getting regular playing time lately.
I don’t know much about his situation or Giants management but since when do players of his caliber request trades?
Many people on twitter were using Nate’s situation and quote that happened 2 1/2 weeks ago as tongue and cheek. Passan did and now Heyman is actually taking it literally. Never mind the fact that Blanco has been virtually benched and Nate has actually taken over RF.
Any team should play this guy AT LEAST part time, for his defense alone. I mean, what an arm, and such a quick release! I’d love to have him.
You know, the Giants are my favorite team and I watch them a lot, and I’ve honestly never really understood why everyone says his arm is so amazing. Sure, he tends to be pretty accurate and release it quick, but it’s not like he throws no-bounce lasers like Ichiro or Raul Mondesi or Jose Guillen did in their primes.
Well, even if he did Blanco has been so bad of late he’s not starting and Nate is. There’s nowhere Nate would rather start than SF- he’s local. So this is a convoluted picture- it’s not like Nate’s going to get traded for Pence without the prospects Giants won’t give up. More likely Nate stays put and plays more in SF.
Enough with the appetizers…where are the main course trades?
all the gms are sleeping so they will be up at 5-6 am and we get to wake up to all the big trades! just like how santa delivers presents!
Jays could take him for a PTBNL or cash I guess.
Not looking to offend Giants fans, but neither Blanco or Pagan have actually set the world on fire with their bats either and are putting up 4th OF numbers themselves.
Which is why this post isn’t exactly entirely accurate on Heyman’s part and MLBTR’s part.
Giants fans are upset because you’re right. We obviously need a bat.
”
The left-handed hitter has been limited to spot start and pinch-hitting duties because the starting outfield trio of Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Gregor Blanco have been so good.”
lol?
Keep Schierholtz, he is way better than Blanco.
Thats just flat out not true. He has a better arm, worse range, more power, but much less OBP than Blanco. OBP and range are more valuable than a little more power and a better arm.
Uh yeah, Blanco the monster. In fact Blanco is a May-monster.
Blanco:
May: .315 AVG, .427 OBP
June: .218 AVG, .277 OBP
July: .218 AVG, .328 OBP
Wonderful stats, right?
Schierholtz:
May: .182 AVG, .263 OBP
June: .250 AVG, .368 OBP
July: .248 AVG, .320 OBP
Ah I see! Blanco is the solution because he had one good May, like always in his career.
Old news and not completely in context. We’ll see what happens in the next 24 hours.
Thank you Mike Axisa….I am up late checking out all the rumors. Thank you for the very EARLY post!
He’s started four times this week, so he may get his wish if the Giants are showcasing him. Unfortunately, he’s stunk most of the time, so they’d probably wouldn’t get much. Throw him in to get Pence from Philly….!