August 7, 2008
Red Sox to acquire Brian Giles?
ESPN.com says that the Red Sox put in a waiver claim on San Diego Padres right-fielder Brian Giles, who is making $9 million this year and has an $11 million club option for next year ($9 million if he stays with the Padres, bumps up to $11 if traded).
Giles is hitting .296/.391/.424 and would undoubtedly improve once escaping from Petco Park. There are a ton of directions the Red Sox could go: one might be to send the Padres an average prospect to get Giles for the remainder of the year as the right-fielder (moving J.D. Drew to center) or having him serve as a fourth-outfielder. Another could see Coco Crisp shipped out. Another could see the club option picked up for next year.
Regardless, this move is likely in reaction to the recent health issues of Mike Lowell and David Ortiz --- and of course, the loss of Manny Ramirez.
Discussion
30 Comments on "Red Sox to acquire Brian Giles?"
#1
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 2:17 PM
Giles has to approve a trade to Boston. I don't think it will be a problem considering we're a contender, but maybe he really likes playing in his hometown.
#2
Posted by Evan Brunell, August 7, 2008 2:51 PM
I very much doubt a trade will be agreed to in the first place.
Orioles traded Chad Bradford to the Rays.
#3
Posted by Joe, August 7, 2008 2:51 PM
ESPN says that Boston is on the list of teams he CAN be traded to without his consent.
Assuming we don't give up anything particularly useful (Chris Carter?) I'd take Giles as an insurance policy for the stretch run. He's a step up from Casey if Ortiz goes down for an extended period.
#4
Posted by Tessie's Dad, August 7, 2008 2:59 PM
Meanwhile, Manny just hit another HR for the Dodgers. It's almost like he's trying or something.
#5
Posted by Sean O, August 7, 2008 2:59 PM
Giles on the bench? Hell yes. Dude can't really hit powerwise anymore, but that is some great depth. Even as a late-inning OBPer. Also, from 2005-2007, Giles as +18 according to the fielding bible.
Do it theo.
#6
Posted by Shane, August 7, 2008 3:02 PM
So our outfield would be: Drew, Coco, Ellsbury, Bay, and Giles? Doesn't the mean somebody needs to be gotten rid of to make space?
#7
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 3:11 PM
I could see Coco getting moved for Giles and I wouldn't mind it too much. Giles brings a lot more to the table than Crisp.
From ESPN:
"Giles has a limited no-trade clause, and Boston is among the teams to which he cannot be traded without his permission. "
So he WOULD have to approve a trade. I actually can see this getting done for the sole reason that Theo and Towers work well as trading partners (Theo was Towers' understudy and they've done a number of deals in the past) I think if this trade is made and Crisp stays the odd man out could be Alex Cora who could be DFA'd.
#8
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 3:17 PM
Why I wouldn't mind trading Crisp for Giles. Basically, you're upgrading your 4th outfielder. Crisp is a better defender but he's worthless as a hitter. Giles can get on base, still has a little bit of pop left (6 homers at Petco is like 12 anywhere else, not bad for a 4th outfielder) and I think anyone would welcome leaving that hell hole Petco. If you're worried about the outfield defense you can simply sub Giles for Bay late with a small lead and then you have Drew, Ellsbury, Giles right to left, that's a lot of ground covered, especially at fenway.
#9
Posted by Sean O, August 7, 2008 3:29 PM
No way, Coco for Giles. Coco could be our Dave Roberts this season, speed off the bench, along with wifebeater.
#10
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 3:44 PM
Chris Carter for Giles possibly? Carter has no place with the Red Sox, and Lars Anderson will probably pass him next year at the rate he's going. San Diego could always use more bats, although I have no idea where Carter would play there since they already have Gonzales at 1st (their one quality hitter) and Carter has 1/2 the range of Manny Ramirez in Left.
#11
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 7, 2008 3:45 PM
Guys, we don't actually want Giles. We're just blocking him from going to the Rays or Angels.
#12
Posted by Evan Brunell, August 7, 2008 3:48 PM
The Padres would have zero interest in Carter. Zero.
#14
Posted by JaredK, August 7, 2008 4:21 PM
Carter should be in SF. 26 is like 20 in SF and with Bowker being 25 and managing a .298 obp and Aurilla being the other option at 1b....even with crappy defense Carter could be a nice 3-4 year stop gap until Angel Villanova is ready. I'd take a bullpen prospect at any age level.
#15
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 5:14 PM
We'd be stupid if we didn't want Giles, he's easily an upgrade to the bench.
#16
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 7, 2008 8:56 PM
Bob, how is he an upgrade to the bench? He can't play centerfield or steal bases. We'd have to put Drew in center every day Ellsbury needed a day off.
#17
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 9:32 PM
Drew is serviceable in center when Ellsbury needs a day off. Giles is a good fielder in right and unlike Coco he actually can do something with a bat. If we can keep Coco and get him then it would be an absolute no-brainer.
#18
Posted by Bob, August 7, 2008 9:35 PM
Right now, whenever we give Bay or Drew a day off Coco and Ellsbury are in the same lineup and while Ellsbury may be coming back to life, as of the last 2 months they're both dead weight. GIles can draw a walk and hit for contact.
#19
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 7, 2008 9:40 PM
Bob, even if we could somehow managed to keep Crisp AND get Giles, we wouldn't keep 5 backup position players on the roster, it would either be Giles or Crisp. Giles has never been a backup player, who's to say he'd be productive at all in the role? And even if Giles was productive, we'd only use him once or twice a week. Crisp can be used every day as a defensive replacement for pinch runner. Giles is the better hitter, but Crisp is much more useful as a backup outfielder.
#20
Posted by Gerry, August 7, 2008 10:15 PM
Giles rental will cover the potential loss of Papi's or Mike's bat. It is true that hitting in cozy Fenway (he hits about .315 on the road) could return his early-career power numbers, so changing leagues and cities aside, he could become a big OBP and SLG upgrade in 2008.
If Jacoby continues to improve, his glove, speed and bat must remain in CF. Drew is brilliant in RF and Jason Bay stays in LF. So he will be a 4thOF and backup DH. Which means Coco is the likely victim, which is really too bad, as he has done everything asked of him this year. We can't drop Cora for Giles, because Lowell is injured, and when Lugo comes back someone else would have to go not named Lowrie. No easy solution here.
For what it's worth, IMO and per the stats, Chris Carter continues to be one of the best pure hitters in minor league baseball. Forget his D. If he is to be traded, he may be the best DH prospect around. San Diego and the NL can't use him. We might need him.
#21
Posted by Sean O, August 7, 2008 10:28 PM
I know hindsight is 20/20 and all that, but this is why I wanted LaRoche. He could spell Lowell when he's injured, and we could get Giles to at least get on base for us in left. So we have our long term solution at 3b, and either move Youk to left next year or find a low-cost alternative.
#22
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 7, 2008 11:17 PM
Gerry, Giles' power numbers are not coming back, no matter what park he plays in. He has 3 home runs on the road this year, he's averaged less than 10 home runs on the road the 3 years before that. And Giles is a lefty pull hitter, Fenway Park is nearly as spacious in right field as PETCO is. And it's the second hardest park in the AL for lefties to hit home runs out of.
Giles is a good AVG, OBP guy but that's it. He has little versatility, speed or power.
#23
Posted by Gerry, August 7, 2008 11:59 PM
If Fenway doesn't enhance Giles power, then why would we pursue another high AVG, OBP guy when we need power and a third baseman to replace Papi or Mikey, or a top RP. All that for another 4th OF?
Despite his average bat, I would not swap Coco's D and speed for a high AVG, nor replace Ellsbury's D, speed and resurgent bat for a high AVG. No way.
And if San Diego really can't use Carter's (or Bailey's or VanEvery's) power-hitting skills, next to useless at Petco, then they will want something else. Please not Bowden, Zinc or Pauley. I know Theo has a plan, but it is hard to follow.
#24
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 8, 2008 12:14 AM
We aren't actually pursuing Giles. We just want to block the Angels and Rays from getting a chance to acquire him. That's the way waivers work. You really think we're going to pick up a $9 million salary with a $3 million buy out of his option next year for a 4th outfielder? This is as obvious a waiver block as I've seen in a while. Epstein knows what he's doing.
#25
Posted by Sean O, August 8, 2008 12:24 AM
You don't think Theo would flip $3m for 2 draft picks?
#26
Posted by Sam, August 8, 2008 12:40 AM
I have a miracle to report ... the Mariners defeated the Rays ... I repeat ... the Mariners of Seattle defeated the Rays of Tampa ... good night for us
As for Giles ... I think he would be a decent addition ... depends on if Lowell and more notably Papi need some time to make sure they are completely healthy for the playoffs ... the outfield would become crowded ... and as much as I hate to see Coco's defense go ... he would be the most likely candidate ... if Giles can get a few hits and play a little DH and a little RF tho ... I think he's a good addition ... even if just for any draft picks we may pick up in the end
#27
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 8, 2008 1:28 AM
I doubt Giles will be Type A. The .800 OPS he's averaged the last 2 years is less than average for a RF. If he simply wanted to acquire a player for the draft picks, he could do it a lot cheaper than the $3 million Giles has left due to him this year and then the additional $3 million it would take to buy out Giles' option.
#28
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 8, 2008 1:40 AM
GUYS, WE AREN'T GETTING GILES!
We're just stopping the Rays from getting him. They could actually use Giles. Gabe Gross is hitting .229, Eric Hinske is hitting .139 since the All-Star break and Carl Crawford's hammy is flaring up.
This is a cut and dry waiver block. I guarantee we aren't actually going to acquire Giles.
#29
Posted by Bay's Dad, August 8, 2008 1:48 AM
And Giles has a no trade clause blocking a deal to the Red Sox. He probably won't accept being the backup outfielder. Here's what Ken Rosenthal said:
"The move was apparently designed as a block to prevent the Tampa Bay Rays from claiming Giles, sources say. The move was not motivated by the uncertain physical conditions of designated hitter David Ortiz and third baseman Mike Lowell.
The Red Sox's risk in claiming Giles might not be as great as it would appear. Giles' partial no-trade clause gives him the right to veto a deal to Boston. The Red Sox have no obvious place to play him, so it is unlikely he would approve a trade."
#30
Posted by Bob, August 8, 2008 3:23 AM
Feh. I'd still like Giles on the team, but if we're going to block Tampa why the hell not. By run differential we should already be in 1st anyways no need to help them.
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