Sox to trade for Brian Giles?

by Randy Booth on Aug 7, 2008 6:27 PM EDT Comment 39 comments

The Red Sox put in a claim for Brian Giles, meaning they could trade for the Padres slugger within the next few days:

The Red Sox claimed Padres outfielder Brian Giles off waivers from the Padres yesterday in an effort to bolster their lineup down the stretch, according to a baseball source.

The move was done out of legitimate interest in Giles and not as a blocking maneuver to keep another team from claiming him. The clubs have until tomorrow to work out a trade, simply transfer Giles’ contract to the Red Sox, or have the Padres pull Giles off of waivers.

I can see why the Red Sox have interest in Giles, but where are they going to put him? Are Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp and Giles going to split time? Giles is a great guy to have on the bench and to start once in awhile, but I'm not sure if he wants to be a backup. The Red Sox are one of eight teams on his no-trade clause.

A poll is attached.

Poll

Should the Red Sox trade for Brian Giles?

Yes

49 votes

No

68 votes

Ehh

56 votes

173 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 39 comments

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Comments

You beat me to it.

ESPN also reported the story. Buster Olney believes:

Boston’s interest in Giles might be spurred by concern about the health of third baseman Mike Lowell, who is battling a sore hip, and designated hitter David Ortiz, who has spent time on the disabled list resting a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.

I’m not sure how Giles, who has played all three OF positions, would replace Lowell. If Lowell can’t play, Casey or Cora would get more ABs.

However, I understand the concern over Papi. Since the Manny trade, Ortiz has hit .120 AVG/.241 OBP/.120 SLG. Whether that’s due to injury or lack of protection, only time will tell.

As for Giles, he is having a good year: .295 AVG/.390 OBP/.423 SLG. His AVG and OBP are right around his career numbers, although his SLG has dipped (not uncommon for a 37-year old): .293 AVG/.404 OBP/.510 SLG.

It’s interesting.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 7, 2008 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can see where they would be able to put him, I don’t see the 37 year old Giles being able to cover center field. So splitting time with Coco and Els would be unlikely.

In a situation with Ortiz going on the DL agian, could there be something like Giles in RF, with Drew as DH.

by ruktuim on Aug 7, 2008 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Giles could veto the trade because it looks like he will get less time to play

by Johan4CY on Aug 7, 2008 7:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ya but

a shot at a ring is a shot at a ring.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Aug 7, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think its brilliant

Youk moves to 3rd, if Papi is functional he plays first, Giles DH’s. We need more power so its a good move and he’s a solid left handed bat. Coco is the one who won’t see any time.

by sydneysox on Aug 7, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Goes back to my post Theo: Just a Thought or a Dream(Team)

Sign Tex and trade Lowell next year! But I voted no for Giles….

~ ROLL TIDE ~

GO SOX!!

by Bama Sox on Aug 7, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Giles would replace Papi

If Papi is done for the season for whatever reason. Otherwise, I don’t see it happening (or to replace Lowell, but that’s way more unlikely). Giles is a very nice hitter, and I’d be okay with him replacing Papi or Lowell if we needed him to.

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 7, 2008 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Block

The Devil Rays?

by njnick on Aug 7, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Knowing that Giles would veto trade.

So, essentially the Sox knew they would not get Giles but would keep him from going to the Rays.

by njnick on Aug 7, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactamundo.

i was thinking the same thing.

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Aug 7, 2008 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

White Sox game in the top of the 9th

for anybody who wants to preview: http://channelsurfing.net/watch-online-tv.php?w=mckctv

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 7, 2008 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They're losing badly to the Tigers

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 7, 2008 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I got the Tigers game when I clicked that link … and not the baseball team.

Question: does this site work if I want to watch baseball games across the country for free? Are there websites where I can do that?

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Aug 8, 2008 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you mean it was the Lions game, that is what the link originally was.

After the Lions preseason game vs. the Jints, the channel switched to the end of the Tigers game. It probably was replaying the Lions game again. I got the link to that site from Windy City Gridiron, the Bears blog.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 8, 2008 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I sure hope we dont overpay for giles. If the price is low, like a PTBNL/cash, this is pretty cool.

by spinz on Aug 8, 2008 1:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MFR lost tonight

Yay!

It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

by MerryGoByeBye on Aug 8, 2008 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There is no way you can't try to add

someone as good as Giles to your team. He can spell RF and DH, for starters. I would be thrilled to get him. We can afford him, so let’s go for it.

With Coco and Ellsbury as our fourth and fifth outfielders… wow. We’re looking good.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 5:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And obviously spell LF too.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone can spell those, though.

“L… F…”
“D… H…”
“R… F…”

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He can't spell Bucholtz though

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So why the string-of-asterisks don't people want Giles?

Don’t they realise how valuable he is? He is a very good player who is simply a different class to Cocobury.

Don’t they realise that if we could slot him into RF with Drew in CF, the resultant lineup is as scary as anything out there? The defence would take a bit of a hit, but you’re looking at a .400 OBP at the top of your lineup. You’re taking an excellent lineup and turning it into a monster. Can Drew patrol CF for the rest of ‘08? Absolutely.

I hope the answer does not include the phrase ‘to ensure Coco and Jacoby get more at-bats’. I expect 27 (at last count) reports on my desk by the close of play.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 6:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Roster crunch.

Send Ells down?

DFA Coco?

Go a RP short?

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 8, 2008 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simple - send Ellsbury down until the roster expansion.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps.

But I don’t like the idea of Drew playing CF long-term.

I don’t think anything’s been of the phantom-injury type, but we can’t pretend he hasn’t gotten nicked up like everyone else, and he’s probably better off playing RF.

All that being said, I’d almost be in support of this move, if I thought there was even a chance that the Sox would go with a Bay-Drew-Giles OF for the time being. I highly doubt that would be the scenario. If we get Giles, that OBP needs to be in the lineup 4-5 days a week. I can’t envision a scenario no matter how it works out in which that is the case.

"Are you a real doctor, or a doctor like Dr. Pepper is a doctor?"

by Allen Chace on Aug 8, 2008 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, but it wouldn't be long term. Only from the middle of August until

our involvement in 08 is over (successful game four of the WS, obviously…).

I wouldn’t bet against Bay-Drew-Giles. Or rather, that’s what I would do.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uhhhh....

Send down/DFA/trade Cora

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 8, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way man

We need MORE CORA! The Sox are Cuckoo for Cora puffs!

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fine then. Do the same to Who-lio Lugo.

I would be more willing to bet ‘08 on Lowrie than on Cora/Lugo/Coco all being on the team. We should also try to get Bard from the Preists, since he was on the market before the trade deadline.

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 8, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just kidding.

Cora can go. I’d be happy to see Lowrie in there, so long as he performs well.

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Many reasons this makes sense

theres also a few scenarios

A) i’m curious if this was being discussed before ellsbury began to heat up. perhaps they were thinking if ells cant get it together they can send him to pawtucket to work it out, shift drew to CF, and play giles.

B) coco is brutal hes OBPing .304 and has an OPS+ of 80 (!)

so it seems to me that a case can be made for either one of those guys being sent somewhere for one reason or another.. ells to the bucket temporarily or coco anywhere, who cares?

either way, it always makes sense to consider a guy who gets on base 40% of the time

by EWS1532 on Aug 8, 2008 6:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Considering the Sox valuation of defense

Drew in centerfield is a pipe dream. Ellsbury and Coco routinely make great ranging plays that Drew would never be able to get to. He just isn’t fast enough to play a good CF, and would probably give up at least as many runs as we gain from having Giles in the lineup over Ells / Coco.

I see Giles as resting Bay, Papi, and Drew occasionally, and definitely being a bat off the bench.

by 0157H7 on Aug 8, 2008 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Respectfully, I disagree about Drew's ability to be a reasonable CF in the short-term,

and about losing on defence more than we would gain from the offence. (And a little disrespectfully, too, for good measure.)

I would like Bay-Drew-Giles as the starting point, but with a lot of switching around and substitution.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Aug 8, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ccthemovieman, if you read this, you may be getting your wish about a Manny investigation

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8426884/Report:-MLB-investigating-Manny%27s-Red-Sox-exit

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Aug 8, 2008 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think this needs its own thread

I’ve been defending Manny, but I also was in rural Maine during his last week on the Sox and didn’t see the final meltdown. I’d be very interested to hear what an investigation revealed. Was Manny openly tanking? Given his history of lazy play, how would anybody be able to tell?

by RickD on Aug 8, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs