Giants Still Need 2 Bats

We're just a few days away from July, and about 5 weeks from the MLB, non-waiver trade deadline. The Giants have been discussed a lot over recent weeks, as they try to find another bat to help their below-average offense, but I think that they need more than just one stick.

Sure, bringing in a guy like Nick Johnson, or Aubrey Huff (two potential rent-a-players who the Giants could probably attain without parting with one of their premiere prospects) would give a boost to the clubs offense, but I don't think that an addition of one solid bat alone, unless on course it's a game changer and premier bat, will put this team over the hump. So I have been scanning the league a little bit, and found a possible trade partner for the Giants, in which they may be able to realistically add a couple of impact-type bats without giving up Bumgarner, Alderson or Posey. That team is the Baltimore Orioles. The O's are in last place in a tough AL East division, and probably will be looking to part with some of their high-priced veterans at the deadline. The two guys I have in mind are Brian Roberts and Aubrey Huff, not the best hitters in the game, but two solid bats who would drastically improve the teams' offense at first and second base. And Roberts could be a guy they may have interest in keeping around for a while.

Now, Huff has been linked as a possible target for the Giants for a while, as he can play either corner infield position and even handle right-field in a pinch. I wrote a bit about how I wanted to see the Giants make an offer to Huff when he was a free agent in 2006. Brian Roberts is an all-star caliber second basemen, who could bat atop the Giants lineup, and provide them with an offensive catalyst in the mold of Kenny Lofton, circa 2002. Neither of these guys, on their own, would put the Giants over the top, but the addition of both, could really supercharge their offense. Huff's on pace for another 20+ home run, 100+ RBI season, which no other Giant currently is besides Bengie Molina (on the home run part that is). Roberts is hitting near .300, with pop and plenty of steals (15) for the O's right now as well. I'm not quite sure what kind of package the O's would want in return for these guys, but as I said earlier, I do think the Giants could create something competitive to offer, without including their top 3 prospects. Maybe a package of Jonathan Sanchez, Emmanuel Burris, Henry Sosa, Fred Lewis and Travis Ishikawa would be a start, as all of these guys (besides Sosa) are young, have had some success at the big league level, and all have upsides that haven't been reached yet. They're also guys that the O's can control (contractually) over the next few years as well. Again, I don't have any idea what it would take to get these two guys from Baltimore, but the potential lineup with the addition of those two sure looks a lot more "playoff worthy":

1. CF Aaron Rowand
2. 2B Brian Roberts
3. 3B Pablo Sandoval
4. 1B Aubrey Huff
5. C Bengie Molina
6. LF Randy Winn
7. RF Nate Schierholtz
8. SS Edgar Renteria

Notes: The Giants will try to get back on track tonight as they send Barry Zito to the mound to face a team who's tore him apart in his short Giants tenure, the Milwaukee Brewers. Zito will also try and play stopper as the Giants lost the first game of the series Friday Night. The Brewers are on the Giants' tail in the NL's Wild Card race as well, which spices up the weekends series a little bit. Hopefully Zito can get it done tonight, cause the Giants send Jonathan Sanchez to the mound on Sunday, and he's 1-7 with a 6.47 era and a 1.88 WHIP over his last 10 outings. I can't help but think that he may be on his way to the bullpen if he can't put forth a decent effort tomorrow.