Ted Sillanpaa blog: History shows Giants' Brian Sabean does bold deadline deals
As the San Francisco Giants fade in the National West, fans are increasingly insistent that general manager Brian Sabean do something, do anything, that makes an impact on the club that is clearly in danger of being blown out of the water by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fans are right. The Giants do need big, bold moves to fill many holes. They lack talent to trade to obtain quality players. That angers fans even more. That’s when frustrated fans insist that Sabean always falls short at the trade deadline and that the club won two World Series despite the GM’s complete inability to swing an impact trade at the deadline or piece together moves to help a team without tearing apart whatever pieces got the team in the playoff race to begin with.
Sabean has done a magnificent job at the trade deadline, and using the waiver wire, in every season that one of his Giants teams entered late July in the hunt for a postseason berth. He took the Giants’ GM job in 1997 and made a trade that rebuilt the fading pitching staff without giving up a player off the big league roster.
Fans are entitled to their opinions, clearly. But, information is helpful before arriving at the opinions. Here’s a look back at Sabean’s trade deadline moves, as well as key waiver wire acquisitions.
2012
Hunter Pence, outfielder
July 31: Traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the San Francisco Giants for catcher Tommy Joseph (minors), pitcher Seth Rosin and outfielder Nate Schierholtz.
Marco Scutaro, second baseman
July 27: Traded by Colorado Rockies with cash to the Giants for infielder Charlie Culberson.
Giants fans remember that Scutaro became the team’s most valuable player upon settling in as the second baseman, having an amazing stretch run that carried into the postseason where he and Pence helped lead the Giants to a world championship. The Giants’ organization was deep behind the plate, so the power-hitting Joseph was sent packing. After a solid 2013, Schierholtz is batting barely .200 for the Chicago Cubs. The Pence deal was considered one that Sabean and the Giants absolutely would not make since he was nearing the end of his contract.
2011
Carlos Beltran, outfielder
July 28: Traded by the New York Mets with cash to the Giants for minor league pitcher Zack Wheeler.
Beltran was hounded by injuries, but still hit 7 home runs with 18 RBIs. He batted .323 with a staggering .920 OPS in 44 games. This was the blockbuster trade that fans insist the Giants and Sabean never make. When healthy, Beltran provided exactly what the Giants needed. Still, many criticize the swap in hindsight since Wheeler remains a 23-year-old prospect who is 12-13 over two seasons for the New York Mets. He’s started 38 games with a 3.54 ERA.
Jeff Keppinger, infielder
July 19: Traded by the Houston Astros to the Giants for minor league pitchers Jason Stoffell and Henry Sosa.
With Freddy Sanchez injured, San Francisco was desperate for a second baseman and acquired the veteran Keppinger for two minor leaguers. He batted .255 as the club’s playoff run fell shy.
Orlando Cabrera, shortstop
July 30: Traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Giants for minor league outfielder Thomas Neal.
San Francisco decided young Brandon Crawford wasn’t ready to play everyday at shortstop down the stretch so they dealt Neal, then a bit of a prospect for the 36-year-old Cabrera. Crawford finished the season hitting .204 in 66 games. Cabrera wasn’t much better in 36 games, batting .222. Neal was an impressive 6-foot-2, 220-pound corner outfielder considered a future starter in San Francisco. After the trade, he had seven hits in 41 big league at-bats.
2010
Javier Lopez, relief pitcher
July 31: Traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Giants for outfielder John Bowker and pitcher Joe Martinez.
The 2010 “Band of Misfits” added the lefthanded relief specialist to a bullpen that played a key role in the march to an improbable World Series crown. Fans felt Bowker was a 27-year-old prospect after flashing some power. He played 88 games for the Pirates before being released. Martinez was in the starting rotation when 2010 started,but was struck in the head by a line drive early in the season. He pitched only 142/3 innings in the big leagues after the trade.
Cody Ross, outfielder
August 22: Selected off waivers by the Giants from the Florida Marlins.
The Giants wound up with Ross after claiming him off waivers to block a National League rival from signing him. Ross hit three home runs and batted .288 down the stretch with an .819 OPS, then became a San Francisco postseason legend in the championship run.
2009
Freddy Sanchez, second base
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