Cabrera Traded to Detroit..Giants are linked to Rolen, Tejada and Glaus
Chris Haft-MLB.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Giants were believed to have maintained trade discussions for a third baseman who could fill part of their void in the middle of the batting order Tuesday at baseball's Winter Meetings.
The buzz linking San Francisco to St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen continued to increase. The Cardinals' top personnel needs include an established starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter. The Giants could meet either, or both, by offering left-hander Noah Lowry or outfielder Dave Roberts.
Rolen's assets are many. He's a five-time All-Star who owns a .283 average with 261 home runs and 1,012 RBIs in 12 seasons. Offensively, he potentially would represent an improvement over Pedro Feliz, the Giants' previous third baseman who's a free agent, due to his superior ability to draw walks and get on base. Defensively, Rolen remains a premier performer as a seven-time Gold Glove winner.
But Rolen would come with some risks. Although Rolen's only 23 days older than Feliz (both turn 33 next April), he has a history of shoulder and back injuries. An ailing left shoulder limited Rolen to 112 games last season, when he batted .265 with eight homers and 58 RBIs before he underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 11. In 2005, trouble with the same shoulder allowed Rolen to play only 56 games. Since Rolen's still owed $12 million a year each of the next three seasons, whoever employs him would be gambling expensively on his health.
It's believed that Rolen would waive his no-trade clause, due to lingering differences with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
The Giants discussed trade possibilities Monday with the Baltimore Orioles about shortstop Miguel Tejada, creating the possibility of follow-up talks. Tejada, a shortstop, would move to third base if he joined San Francisco.
Talk of the Giants acquiring Toronto third baseman Troy Glaus appeared to be exaggerated. The Blue Jays were rumored to have suggested a deal sending either Glaus or right fielder Alex Rios to San Francisco for right-hander Tim Lincecum -- which might have been the "interesting proposal" Giants general manager Brian Sabean cited Monday.
But Toronto values Rios (.297, 24 homers, 85 RBIs in 2007) as much as the Giants do Lincecum. And Glaus carries plenty of baggage: He underwent left foot surgery in mid-September; he was accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida pharmacy in 2003 and 2004; and he has only one year remaining on his contract at $12.75 million. Sabean indicated that he'd prefer to avoid obtaining players who'd be eligible for free agency so soon, expressing his preference for "longer-term" rather than "transitional" performers.
Winter Meetings
Speaking with reporters who cover the Blue Jays, Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi downplayed trade talks with the Giants.
"To be honest with you, I think there's not a lot going on," Ricciardi said. "So that's probably taken on a life of its own. We have talked to the Giants, but nothing to the point where some of the names that have been mentioned [in the media] have been mentioned [in the discussions]."
Chris Haft-MLB.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Giants were believed to have maintained trade discussions for a third baseman who could fill part of their void in the middle of the batting order Tuesday at baseball's Winter Meetings.
The buzz linking San Francisco to St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen continued to increase. The Cardinals' top personnel needs include an established starting pitcher and a leadoff hitter. The Giants could meet either, or both, by offering left-hander Noah Lowry or outfielder Dave Roberts.
Rolen's assets are many. He's a five-time All-Star who owns a .283 average with 261 home runs and 1,012 RBIs in 12 seasons. Offensively, he potentially would represent an improvement over Pedro Feliz, the Giants' previous third baseman who's a free agent, due to his superior ability to draw walks and get on base. Defensively, Rolen remains a premier performer as a seven-time Gold Glove winner.
But Rolen would come with some risks. Although Rolen's only 23 days older than Feliz (both turn 33 next April), he has a history of shoulder and back injuries. An ailing left shoulder limited Rolen to 112 games last season, when he batted .265 with eight homers and 58 RBIs before he underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 11. In 2005, trouble with the same shoulder allowed Rolen to play only 56 games. Since Rolen's still owed $12 million a year each of the next three seasons, whoever employs him would be gambling expensively on his health.
It's believed that Rolen would waive his no-trade clause, due to lingering differences with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
The Giants discussed trade possibilities Monday with the Baltimore Orioles about shortstop Miguel Tejada, creating the possibility of follow-up talks. Tejada, a shortstop, would move to third base if he joined San Francisco.
Talk of the Giants acquiring Toronto third baseman Troy Glaus appeared to be exaggerated. The Blue Jays were rumored to have suggested a deal sending either Glaus or right fielder Alex Rios to San Francisco for right-hander Tim Lincecum -- which might have been the "interesting proposal" Giants general manager Brian Sabean cited Monday.
But Toronto values Rios (.297, 24 homers, 85 RBIs in 2007) as much as the Giants do Lincecum. And Glaus carries plenty of baggage: He underwent left foot surgery in mid-September; he was accused of receiving performance-enhancing drugs from a Florida pharmacy in 2003 and 2004; and he has only one year remaining on his contract at $12.75 million. Sabean indicated that he'd prefer to avoid obtaining players who'd be eligible for free agency so soon, expressing his preference for "longer-term" rather than "transitional" performers.
Winter Meetings
Speaking with reporters who cover the Blue Jays, Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi downplayed trade talks with the Giants.
"To be honest with you, I think there's not a lot going on," Ricciardi said. "So that's probably taken on a life of its own. We have talked to the Giants, but nothing to the point where some of the names that have been mentioned [in the media] have been mentioned [in the discussions]."
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