The Giants lead the Dodgers by one game in the NL West, and the 51-50 Diamondbacks are just 4.5 games out of first place. Here's the latest from the division…
- The Giants are eyeing outfielders now and Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence of the Phillies could be options in San Francisco, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes (Twitter link).
- Pence is likely too pricey for the Giants, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). But as Rosenthal notes, the Dodgers might be able to afford him. Pence earns $10.4MM in 2012 and will get a raise through the arbitration process this coming offseason.
- Giants GM Brian Sabean continues to look for a right-handed reliever, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter).
- The Padres are sending signals they'll keep Chase Headley if they don't receive a better offer for him in the next two days, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter).
Bet the Phillies are asking for Zack Wheeler from the SFGiants. O wait…
I bet the Giants were defending a World Series and going for it. I hope your team can say that
They will have trouble getting there if Lincecum doesn’t come around.
Yes they will
Actually i am a met fan…but i am sure phillies will be looking for a better deal for players that do not leave at the end of a season, much like beltran did..
Beltran > Victorino. The Phills should get a decent package for Victorino but they aren’t getting a top prospect
Can’t imagine the Phillies will get a lot other than salary relief with pence, he has been pretty bad given the salary this year.
Lol your kidding right?? He makes 10 mill which isnt that much in badeball anymore. Hes been playing good enough to earn that ten mill especially at the plate. his problem is hes bad in the outfield. Your out of your mind if you think they would only get salary relief….
Pence has been decent at the plate, certainly not worth 10 mill because he is average at the plate for a RF, he’s bad in the OF as you said… and I never said they would only get salary relief just that they won’t get a lot other than salary relief, probably a borderline top 100 guy and maybe another top 250 type.
If Pence who is hitting .268 in a hitters park is worth $10 million what does that make Headley who is hitting .265 in an extreme pitchers park worth?
I believe what Crasnick says here. The Padres will hold onto him if they don’t get what they want. If Duquette thinks he fits into our infield, then go get him. I mean Betemit isn’t going to win any gold gloves down there at third anytime soon, but he does seem like a good teammate. If the O’s want to truly re-work the infield, they should go out and get Morneau.
New Infield:
Morneau 1b
International Man of Mystery 2nd
Hardy SS
Headley 3rd
That isn’t too shabby.
However, I am not holding my breathe.
PS I am a bit disappointed that the O’s didn’t get Liriano, and I am even more surprised that the Twins traded him to an inter-divisional rival for sawdust.
For Christ sakes. The Giants have $30 Mil worth of terrible contracts coming off the books after this season. get the Pence deal done already.
Plus a little more after they sell out for the 2nd consecutive season.
They also have Melky to sign or risk losing some butts in seats, and there’s a possibility Posey could be signed, for awhile. Granted Pence might stil fit, but a long term deal in 2013 would be hard to get done, so you’d have to be wary about giving up a guy like Brown which is who the Stros wanted last year, no reason the Phils would take less now.
Melky: 4 years, 8 million, with graduating contract depending on stats.
That Zito deal is over with already?
That’s AR0, Huffy, Freddy.
I am so tired of hearing about Headley getting traded or now staying make up your mind and just pick. I’m a pads fan and would like to get as much in return for him as we can.
I agree. One day Headley’s getting traded, the next he’s staying, these insiders sure aren’t getting any insider information. I guess worst case scenario is they keep Headley, call up Gyorko in Sept., make sure he can hit at the Major League level and then deal Headley in the off season. Any way you look at it, I would be very surprised if Headley were on the Padres opening day roster next season.
He is the third or 4th best third baseman in MLB right now depending on the stat or stats you are looking at. Sign him long term if you can. And DEFINITELY make sure Gyorko can hit MLB pitching in 200 or so AB before trading Headley.
For the Giants Reed Johnson is a much better option and much cheaper than Victorino. What they need is a RH hitting dead pull power hitter who kills LHP, Reed Johnson fits that bill.
Shane Victorino is hitting .320 against lefties.
He’s a better hitter RH career but imo he’s not worth the rental if the Phils are asking for a quality prospect.
I heard they were asking for Brad Lincoln
We ned a leadoff hitter. A RH pull hitter is secondary.
Two seasons of 100% sell outs, Endless sales of Panda hats, Giraffe hats, Timmy wigs, and Wilson beards. A nice cable deal and A Majority owner Charles Bartlett Johnson who is worth over 4.5 BILLION dollars!
NOBODY should be too expensive!
Ownership is content as long as the seats are filled 🙁
I love it! 🙂
For sure, The bay area is not exactly a small market, 7+ million people, and probably 5 of them are A’s fans. It’s not LA, but if they want Pence they can afford him, It’s not like pence will be making 20M.
Pence is expected to get about 18 million in arbitration next season if not signed to a longer deal.
Your Nuts!
There is no way that Pence gets 18M in arbitration. He’s currently making 10.4M and will probably get a bit of a jump. Even on the open market there is no way they would pay pence that kind of money.
Yeah, they can afford him if they REALLY want to win. But unfortunately for the fans this is a business and making big profits is the goal. Remember in 2010 the leaked documents that showed how much money the Prates were making? The fans got pissed that with all that profit why couldn’t the Pirates spend more $$$ on better players. I’d love to see Pence in a Giants uniform. I did last year too. Just think of what this season would have looked like if the Giants kept Beltran.
Dodgers should make a move for Hunter Pence.
Having Pence to bat 5th or 6th in the Dodgers’ lineup would really solidify their lineup:
2B M.Ellis
RF Ethier
CF Kemp
3B HanRam
LF Pence
C A.J. Ellis
SS Cruz
1B Loney/Rivera
Plus, good bench depth with Hairston, Abreu and Gwynn.
Not a great lineup, but much much better than what we had a month ago.
A few weeks ago they committed bookoo bucks to Ethier. Though I am a card czrrying Dodger hater-he is very good. Pence is a right fielder.
If the Dodgers get either Victorino or Pence, I’d expect Ethier to move into LF. Victorino is probably the better fit for LA at the moment since he won’t cost as many prospects and the Dodgers are still trying to land a starter.
National media buying into the absurd narrative that SF is somehow cash poor is tiresome. Whether or not the ownership group is willing to spend any of the crazy revenue they’ve pulled from 140+ straight sellouts is another thing, and is the primary issue at hand.
What’s the issue? Are the Giants really not willing to spend? Find that hard to believe after all the money they’ve made the last couple years.
I never got the impression that the Giants don’t have money to spend. The impression I get is that they don’t feel the need to spend it.
SF is a pretty big market, they are not cash poor, and if they want someone they can get them.
Can’t see what the phils would want from the dodgers or giants farm systems. Pirates have more to offer, as do other teams seeking Victorino/Pence.
Gary Brown?
Pence is out of the lineup for the Phillies today. Only 2nd game off this season, and they had an off day 3 days ago. Hmm.
If the Giants were somehow able to acquire Pence or Victorino, a deal would most likely have to include Gary Brown I would think. But either addition would sure make the Giants have one of the better OFs in baseball. Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan and Victorino or Pence is looking pretty great
Big difference between Victorino or Pence, they’re not giving up Brown for a rental. Considering they wouldn’t give him up for Pence last year it seems unlikely they would this year though the Phils would ask for him certainly. Brown has just now started to really hit in Richmond in a tough AA park.
They gave up Zack Wheeler last year for a couple months of Carlos Beltran so anything is possible.
They might for Pence only as he is under contro; but will not for Victorino. The GM has stated as much that he learned the lesson the hard way in regards to rentals.
Saw Brown in a couple of Single A San Jose last year, he loks like the real deal. I said the same this about Posey and he is the real deal.
Wouldnt be surprised at all if Kotsay and a relief pitche rare the only players the Padres trade. They are building for 2013 not for 2015.
If the Dodger were somehow able to acquire Pence or Victorino, a deal would most likely have to include Zach Lee I would think. But either addition would sure make the Dodgers have the BEST OFs in baseball. Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Victorino or Pence is looking pretty great… Lol..