22TheThrill
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Re: Rumor Central
quote:
backinblack1 wrote:
<http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09186/981978-63.stm
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Pirates Notebook: Giants eye Sanchez, LaRoche
Sunday, July 05, 2009
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MIAMI -- The Pirates and San Francisco have had trade talks regarding second baseman Freddy Sanchez and, to a lesser extent, first baseman Adam LaRoche, each of whom can be a free agent after this season.
The Giants have had a scout following Sanchez, a source confirmed yesterday, and their interest in LaRoche goes back several months. Their preference at first base, though, is for a right-handed bat.
Sanchez has a vesting option in his contract that allows him to trigger an $8.5 million option if he achieves 635 plate appearances or 600 plate appearances plus an All-Star berth. The latter will be known today when selections are made.
LaRoche is the Pirates' second-highest paid player at $7.05 million, and there is some skepticism within the team that he can be moved with about half of that amount still due.
Other players the Pirates are known to have discussed with other teams -- and such discussions are highly commonplace and vary in their intensity -- are shortstop Jack Wilson, reliever John Grabow and, only in an exploratory sense, closer Matt Capps. The latter apparently would be moved only at a high price
Sanchez make a lot of sense. He plays good defense at second and can also play third base. He doesn't hit a lot of home runs but he has a lot of extra base hits in his bat. Last time I checked he was third in the league in doubles.
Instead of LaRoche, why not go after Doumit? He is a swith hitter, and can play first, right field or catch. I haven't checked is UZR rating for at each position so I don't know how good he is but if the Giants keep Molina and Ishi around, Doumit could be switched out late in games for defensive reasons. Doumit has been out with a hurt wrist but word is they expect him back real soon.
Doumit and Sanchez both could help this team.
Just sayin'
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Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand.
Leo Durocher
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7/5/2009, 11:49 am
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