S.F. Giants trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera

[Auggie]

San Francisco Chronicle / 11-8-11

On Monday, (Giants GM Brian) Sabean finally busted up his prized rotation and dealt left-hander Jonathan Sanchez and minor-league pitcher Ryan Verdugo to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Melky Cabrera, a deal that acknowledged the Giants' desperate need for offense and the paucity of solid, affordable bats in this year's free-agent market.

Cabrera, 27, is coming off a career season after he went the Pablo Sandoval route and got his body into shape. Cabrera could be the Giants' leadoff hitter and center fielder.

The switch-hitter's .305 batting average and .809 OPS surpassed his previous career bests by 25 and 57 points, respectively. He also set highs in doubles (44), home runs (18) and stolen bases (20).

To add that type of hitter to an offense that scored the second-fewest runs in the majors in 2010, the Giants had to surrender a pitcher who in 2009 threw the franchise's first no-hitter in 33 years and in 2010 vaulted the Giants into the postseason with a Game 162 victory against the Padres.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/07/SPLA1LROB1.DTL

Both players are free agents after 2012. Possible rental, but after last year I'll take most any trade that brings in a hot bat.

:thumbsup:

[KamaAina]

1. Got Melk?

I saw quite a bit of him in his Yankee days, when visiting Mom and Republican Stepdad. Not shabby.

[mojowork_n]

2. I hope it means a shot at a CF job for Lorenzo Cain, in KC

Did he even get a courtesy, cup of coffee Sept. call up, with the Royals?

Was that on Ned Yost, or who makes those decisions, with that club?

Cain looked great here in Milwaukee, the year before. He was a fan favorite,
run-through-a-brick-wall type. Seemed like a nice guy, too.

[hughee99]

3. The Giants needed to address hitting,

but I'm not sure they did that. I wouldn't be shocked to hear Giants fans complaining by mid July "We traded Sanchez for this fucking guy?" I think they could have done better.

[Auggie]

4. It's their first roster move after the season...

Well, second if you don't count re-signing bullpen pitchers Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt.

Stay tuned... more to come (I hope).

[hughee99]

5. I'm not sold on Cabrera having another year like the last one

I don't think last year was a trend, I think it was a fluke. At least they're not locking him up long-term, but I think they could have gotten more for Sanchez, a quality pitcher with playoff experience.

[Upton]

6. Not particularly fond of this deal..

yeah Sanchez is a head case, but Cabrera has had only one good year at the plate and is a below average defensive player. Last season his UZR was -6.7, 2010 it was -12.7...I don't see how he can possibly play CF without becoming a major liability out there. Perhaps he'll have a big year hitting like in KC, but I sure wouldn't count on it.

The Giants greatest strength is their pitching. It's what brought them their WS title and makes them yearly contenders. Yet, Sabean seems intent on trading it away. The Giants now have only 3 front line starters. You never know if Vogelsong can repeat his success, and I have no confidence at all in Zito or Surkamp as a 5th starter..

The Wheeler for Beltran deal should have never been made, it's looking worse and worse as time goes by.. the odds of Betran resigning are slim, Cain and Lincecum are going to want to be paid....pitching depth within the organization is suddenly becoming an issue..

[Auggie]

7. You roll the dice...

No one expected Aubrey Huff or Angelo Torres to have the great year they did in 2010 (or as lousy as 2011). You just don't know.

Sabean looks to win and show Lincecum and Cain he's serious about run support so he has hope of re-signing them. The Beltran deal was such a move on both counts. Dice roll -- didn't work. He's not trading pitchers away recklessly.

If the number 4 and 5 pitchers can give you five to six innings and keep you in the game then you're ahead. Zito can give them that, sad to say.

[Ter]

8. "Desperate need for offense" and "Melky Cabrera"...

Don't belong in the same sentence. :)