Giants Appear Ready to Deal

Shipping Ray Durham to the Brewers may have only been the start to a drastic remake of the Giants roster.  The Yankees are rumored to be interested in both Randy Winn and Bengie Molina due to the injuries to Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui.  Rich Aurilia and Tyler Walker have also been mentioned as possible trade bait as the July 31st trade deadline approaches.

It is anyone's guess as to why anyone in their right mind would be interested in acquiring Walker, but GM Brian Sabean could insist that he be included in any deal.  Patience with Walker is growing extremely thin, especially after blowing what would have been wunderkind Tim Lincecum's 12th win.  Lincecum struck out a career-high 13 without issuing a walk, exiting after the 7th inning with the Giants leading 3-2.

Giants GM Brian Sabean Not Clear on Concept

After years of watching Athletics General Manager Billy Beane turn overrated and unaffordable assets into stockpiles of blue chip prospects across the bay, Giants General Manager Brian Sabean decided to get in on the action.

Sabean dealt second baseman Ray Durham, the Giants best hitter, to the Brewers last week for two minor-leaguers. Unfortunately, the one part of the Beane's formula that Sabean failed to employ was the part where you acquire players with the potential to help your major league club at some point.

The two "prospects" involved in the deal are "long shots to have any major league value" according to ESPN insider Keith Law. Not exactly what Giants fans had in mind when the team vowed to "get younger". At least the deal relieves San Francisco of the remainder of Durham's $7.5 million salary, somewhat easing the pain of [over]paying Barry Zito to the tune of $14.5 million.

Stage Set for Kevin Frandsen to Advance for Giants

Giants reserve Kevin Frandsen's long-overdue opportunity to advance to the status of full-time player at last has arrived with an injury to Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel.

A former 12th round pick who batted only .269 with five homers in limited play last year, Frandsen doesn't look like much. But San Francisco fans seem to forget, this was the highly regarded prospect who just two years ago was thought to have nothing more to prove in the minors after hitting .387 in the Arizona Fall League.

As Frandsen comes into his prime at 26, look for the six-foot, 175-pound middle infielder to stake a claim to the second baseman's job while filling in for Vizquel in shortstop, likely outplaying veteran teammate Ray Durham who appears to be in decline at 36.

Though the team sees the 40-year-old Vizquel returning to play in as little as four weeks, expect him to miss at least six or more weeks before even considering the arduous challenge of reconditioning himself in minor league play. That will give Frandsen plenty of time to prove that if he cannot outplay Durham at second, he can surpass Rich Aurelia at third.

Though Frandsen has yet to find a power stroke, expect him to spray all fields with singles and occasional gap shots, somewhat comparable to former batting champ Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates. Though Franden's range is not exceptional, he makes up for it with excellent anticipation, intelligence, energy and hands.