- Tomorrow their crib will be full of patrons buying $9.00 beers and $75.00 All-star Game 2007 sweatshirts.
- A week or two after that, Barry Bonds will break Hank's home run record.
That's pretty much it, no pennant chase, no World Series. Brian Sabean is left to retool, and at this point his best option is to set up a garage sale right outside the gates of AT&T Park. It seems likely that, with a few notable exceptions, everything is for sale.
- Barry Bonds: Not that there would be any takers. Nobody but the Giants wanted him during his last two trips through free agency (despite what his agent might tell you). Why would anyone want him via trade. Garage Sale Price: Big name, can't-miss-prospect (Included in the deal, is a second half headache).
- Ray Durham: There may be someone who might be interested, but he did just sign a big contract after a career year, and is currently batting just a smidgen over .250. Garage Sale Price: Bullpen help, and willingness to absorb salary.
- Mark Sweeney, Ryan Klesko & Rich Aurillia: Sweeny is a pinch hitting machine, Klesko is a lefty who is aching to DH, Aurillia has positional flexibility. Garage Sale Price: Player to be named later, OBO.
- Pedro Feliz: Is there a worse third base situation in baseball? Garage Sale Price: A sack of used baseballs.
- Omar Vizquel: It seems unlikely that anyone would really want Vizquel, he's too pricey to be a backup and not good enough (at least the 2007 Omar) to play every day for a contender. However, should Derek Jeter break his ankle, anything is possible. Garage Sale Price: Mid-level positional prospect.
- Dave Roberts: Who knew he was such a defensive liability? Really though, does he do anything that Fred Lewis can't (other than buy beer without a fake ID). Garage Sale Price: A modicum of bullpen help.
- last, but by no mean least... "Besty," Matt Morris
In spring 2006 my wife, Jessica and I took a trip to Phoenix. We were actually in town for the World Baseball Classic (which by the way, I am still a big fan of). We did get a chance to take in a couple of Spring Training games. There, Jessica got her first introduction to Matt Morris, who had just been acquired by the Giants.
Before he'd even thrown his first official pitch as a Giant, Jessica had already proclaimed Matt Morris her, "Besty." I never really received a satisfactory explanation of why he was crowned "Besty." Maybe it was because there were so many new faces on the Giants squad, and aside from Barry Bonds she needed someone new to root for. Or maybe it has something to do with the beard. At the time we both had similar facial hair going on.
Matt Morris has recently shaved his beard. Is it the first sign that "Besty" is not long for Los Gigantes? He stands at 7-and-5 on the worst team in the division with a 3.55 ERA. Not so bad. He does carry a pretty hefty price tag. Give or take a few million, he's got $5,000,000 coming to him for the remainder of this year and $10,000,000 due in 2008. So "Besty" comes with a fairly heavy price tag. That being said, Mark Buehrle, just got 4 years and $56,000,000.
As the Giants best piece of trade bait, "Besty" should garner them a real prospect, something along the lines of Lastings Milledge. The Mets outfield prospect, Milledge has been involved in just about every single "deal-that-should've-been" for the last 3 years. I don't mention Milledge because I've got an inside scoop or anything, it's just that he's the kind of prospect the Giants need to target, young, skilled, and on the doorstep of the Major Leagues. Garage Sale Price: Lastings Milledge.
July 31st is the trade deadline. Expect the Giants to be sellers, regardless of when Barry hits his historic home run. Expect 3 or 4 Giants to hit the road, and if you see my wife out walking the dog, pass along your suggestions for a new "Besty."
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