Giants Expected To Add Players to the Roster

It's the time of year when teams can expand their rosters to 40 from 25. The Giants aren't expected to use all of the surplus roster spots, but you can expect them to make a few moves to bolster the depth of their current rosters.

So far, the notables appear to be Aubrey Huff, Xavier Nady, and Brad Penny. Others will also be promoted, but as for Gary Brown's status, a call-up seems unlikely. In fact, he injured his should last night (Thursday), and manager Bruce Bochy has stated multiple times before that he doesn't seem him getting a September call-up.

-Barring a move to acquire an extra outfield bat tonight (unlikely), Nady would presumably receive a good amount of starts in left field for the Giants, as the combination of Gregor Blanco, Justin Christian, and Carlos Peguero have failed to provide any consistency from that spot.

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Posey Out Again: Notes, Preview, Lineup

After sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Giants will return home to face the Atlanta Braves for a four-game series.

The Giants will hand the ball to Barry Zito tonight. Zito, who is 4-1 lifetime against the Braves with a 2.03 ERA, will oppose Tommy Hanson.

Hanson, who has dealt with an array of nagging injuries this season, was reactivated from the DL less than a week ago. In 6 2/3 innings pitched, he allowed three runs and struck out five against the Dodgers.

• Justin Christian was placed the on the DL today with a sprained left wrist. To replace him, Carlos Peguero receives his first major league call up. Peg

• Buster Posey is not in the starting lineup for the second consecutive day. Although, he’s hopeful that he can play tomorrow (Friday). 

• Pablo Sandoval is back in the lineup today after leaving the game early last night with  reoccurring hamstring tightness. 

Here’s the rest of the lineup


1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Hunter Pence (R) RF
5. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
6. Hector Sanchez (S) C
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
9. Barry Zito (L) P

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8/21: Giants Trade Options, Cabrera Associate Banned, Bochy on Left Field

 One of Melky Cabrera's associates, Juan Nunez, is being implicated as the sole conspirator, and, pending official word from the Commissioner's Office, has such been banned from all Major League club-houses.

Ah, glad all that's out of the way.  Now we can focus on the issue at hand:  What are the Giants going to do in left field?

Personally, I think it's Gregor Blanco's job to lose, but with Justin Christian getting almost equal playing time, there's no room for further regression.  Bruce Bochy implied that they are in fact looking for some help in left field:


ESPN Senior Baseball analyst Jim Bowden reports:

"Bochy told us that it is 'Fair to say we're looking for help in LF. Brian is working on it now," via his Sirius XM Inside Pitch radio show.

So who is Sabean eyeing?  Most are reporting that former Dodger/Angels out-fielder Vernon Wells might be a good fit, but I am going to have to venture off the reservation and give that idea a big no, as aging production-less veteran out-fielders are not something the Giants brass or fans are looking to try out again.  Remember Aaron Rowand?  I thought so.

Another option (apparently) is Alfonso Soriano, the 36 year old leftfield and 2nd basemen for the Chicago Cubs.  I really don't see this happening, because all season we've been hearing rumblings of bringing in the aging vet, who has publicly stated that he does not want to join the San Francisco Giants.

That's fine Alfonso, we don't want your wheel-chair to disrupt all the speed we have in our outfield, sorry.

My money is on Jeff Francoeur, Kansas City leftfielder, who isn't having the best year, but has respectable numbers so far this season for Kansas City (hitting just .240, but does have eleven homers, thirty-three RBI and has scored forty-three runs).  He's only owed another $7.5 million, and is signed through next year.  Seems similar to the Hunter Pence deal, just not as costly, as the Giants would surely only have to pick-up MAYBE half of his salary, and send a Dan Otero or someone of the sort.  They wont miss him, as he's currently in a platoon role with fellow outfielder Jarrod Dyson.

Who knows what Sabean has up his sleeve this time.  Whether a deal gets done or not, though, it will be interesting to see how the front office handles the situation.

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Vernon Wells a Possible Fit for Giants?

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, suggested on Monday that the Angels' Vernon Wells could be an option for the Giants on the waiver wire. The Giants, who just recently lost their star left fielder Melky Cabrera to suspension, could use some new blood in the outfield. 

Wells, 33, has a hefty contract for such little contributions over the past couple of seasons, however. This season, he's hitting just .222/260/.389 with only seven home runs. His MVP caliber years are likely numbered, but practically anything could bolster the Giants in left field at this point. The combination of Gregor Blanco and Justin Christian is one of the few options that the Giants currently have, making a proven veteran is seemingly a better route to take. 

For any deals to at least generate some interest from the Giants' side, the Angels will have to send a massive chunk of money to San Francisco in order to ship Wells out of the "Big A". However, the Angels, who spent hundreds of millions in the offseason, would love to let their struggling veteran loose. Simply, money is not an object for them. 

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Giants Call Up Christian, Hacker

Following the abrupt suspension of outfielder Melky Cabrera on Wednesday, the Giants will call up outfielder Justin Christian and reliever Eric Hacker from Triple A Fresno.

Christian is batting .158 in 22 games this season with the Giants.

Hacker has started one game in the majors this season, giving up three runs in six innings.

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