Sox claim Brian Giles Options

[cwright]

Crisp would fit in well for San Diego. He'd probably be their starting CF and with the possibility of Giles returning next year, it would make their OF better for at least the 2009 season. Crisp also hits NL pitching much better than AL pitching (SSS). For the Red Sox, it would make their OF better this year, but would it hurt them in the long run? Next year, who would be the bench OF assuming Ellsbury is the starting CFer? They could bring in a veteran free agent or promote someone from the minors, but who?

Just a thought.

Has Coco passed through waivers? I'd actually be somewhat shocked if he did.
If he didn't, obviously, he can't be traded to the Padres.

[E5 Yaz]

Has Coco passed through waivers? I'd actually be somewhat shocked if he did.
If he didn't, obviously, he can't be traded to the Padres.

Unless San Diego claimed him.

I don't know what to make of the contract/comfort thing. Two beat writers hearing different words? "Comfort" seems a minor consideration for 6 weeks play.

[cwright]

Unless San Diego claimed him.

Good point. I forgot just how bad the Padres are. But Coco would still have had to pass through the entire AL, and I would have to think that at least the Yanks would take a flier on him as an upgrade over Christian/Gardner.

[pdaj]

Good point. I forgot just how bad the Padres are. But Coco would still have had to pass through the entire AL, and I would have to think that at least the Yanks would take a flier on him as an upgrade over Christian/Gardner.

I certainly hope the Sox are able to work something out. Boston has struggled this season in enduring the combined offensive "efforts" of Crisp, Ellsbury, Lugo, and Varitek/Cash. With at least three of the four in the lineup most nights, the bottom of the order has been downright pathetic. By adding Giles to the mix, the lineup would be significantly extended. Come playoff time, I'd feel MUCH better about a lineup containing Drew, Pedroia, Youk, Ortiz, Bay, Lowell, AND Giles. If Lowrie keeps things up, fans will only have to endure Varitek's painfully slow swing missing once every nine hitters.

This post has been edited by pdaj: Aug 7 2008, 10:59 PM

[jtn46]

I would actually suspect Coco made it through waivers. He's kind of expensive, given his production, and he's slipped both at fielding and at stealing bases, the only 2 things he really does anymore.

I don't think they're interested in Coco, but if the Padres have interest in him, I would assume they would want the Red Sox to pick up some of this and next year's salary.

I see the Padres moving Giles strictly as a financial move. They don't want to pay his remaining salary, they don't want to pay his buyout, they don't want to run the risk that he'll accept arbitration. If that's the case, I can't imagine they'll be all that demanding on what they get back, because everytime they put him on waivers, they have to cut Giles another paycheck. The one thing I don't think they want back is a player with a 7 digit salary.

This post has been edited by jtn46: Aug 7 2008, 11:28 PM

[cwright]

According to Buster Olney on BBTN (I know, take it for what it's worth), the two sides have reportedly agreed to a trade, and they're waiting to see whether Giles will accept it. Sorry, no link I can find yet.

edit: Oh dear. Now Art Martone is citing me as a source. I sure hope I heard that correctly.

This post has been edited by cwright: Aug 8 2008, 09:02 AM

[SoxFanPJ]

The addition of Giles would provide for a very deep and interesting lineup. I gotta say its hard not to like Theo being pro-active and creative in looking for ways to augment this team that is locked in tight races for both the division and Wild Card.

L: Giles-RF .295 .390 .423 .813 (61 BB 44 Ks)
R: Pedroia-2B .316 .361 .450 .811
L: Ortiz-DH .252 .349 .461 .810
R: Youk-1B .317 .385 .560 .945
L: Drew-CF.286 .408 .539 .947
R: Bay-LF .291 .382 .530 .912
R: Lowell-3B .273 .336 .450 .786
S: Lowrie-SS .287 .345 .426 .771
S: Varitek-C .220 .310 .355 .665

Off the field, from what I have heard on Padres TV and Radio coverage Giles may be a pretty good locker room presence, reputed to be a bit of prankster and a little different of a cat.

[Corsi Combover]

That run of Giles-Pedroia-Ortiz-Youk-Drew-Bay (or any permutation thereof) is just about as scary as it gets. Giles really changes the lineup, as he's a legit leadoff hitter, and allows for Youk to bat lower in the middle of the lineup, without having a pseudo-blackhole in Ellsbury at the top of the order. If Lowrie can stay afloat, that lineup really only has one hole (Varitek).

I really, really hope this gets done.

[E5 Yaz]

Dammit, Truped by the bot

[Ananti]

Giles is actually a lot better than his numbers indicate, as he plays in a terrible park for hitters.

His batted .299/.374/.490 on the road last year versus just .237/.345/.320 at home.

This year, he is hitting .316/.405/.449 away and .275/.377/.399 at home.

I think his road numbers is more indicative of the kind of numbers he can put up overall if he came to Fenway.

This post has been edited by Ananti: Aug 8 2008, 01:38 AM

[OCD SS]

Giles has made it clear he wants to stay in SD, which makes me think if the Sox guaranteed to NOT pick up his option and NOT offer arbitration, they could have him.

Sox get: Brian Giles at around 7M for rest of 2008 (1/3 salary plus 1/3 of 2M plus 3M buyout)

SD gets: second tier prospect, Giles back for 2009, save $4M (rest of 2008 salary plus buyout)

Giles gets: additional 1/3 of $2M, guaranteed to receive 3M buyout, can resign with SD next year

The only risk there is that Giles would make less than the 6M (net) he is owed from the Padres in 2009 - but given his current season and the fact that the organization hasnt done him wrong yet, this should not be an issue. And even if it is, he could easily get more than that on the open market. So it seems like a win/win/win.

The one thing I would change in this is the Sox ability to offer arb. The Padres 1st round pick is likely going to be protected, so the Sox would be getting a 1S and a 2nd rounder. Frankly, without the picks coming back, the cost seems a bit steep for a guy who either doesn't have a position or would be coming off the bench. Obviously the cost/bennefit analysis changes if the FO knows about an injury that we don't, but if it's Lowell it's still a stretch given that the Sox would be giving a 1Bman's mitt to someone who's never used it.

[smastroyin]

Would anyone have a big problem demoting dreamboat if this trade came through? I know he had the good series with the Royals, but you could send him to the bucket to build on that and if he gets hot, then you call him back up on Aug. 31, put Lowell or someone on the DL if they need it, etc. If Coco doesn't go somewhere else, I think this has to be done.

I would also offer arbitration to Giles. San Diego's not going to lose a pick so in your scenario it doesn't really matter whether he is offered arb. or not, except that the Sox get the picks.

[Bowlerman9]

In response to both OCD SS and smastroyin:

The concern on SD's end is that if Giles turns out to be a Type A, and then they resign him at the end of the season, Boston would net SD's 2nd round draft pick. If they are going to give him up for a second tier prospect, they probably wouldnt want to lose a 2nd round pick.

The way around that would be for Boston to include a PTBNL in the deal with the following restrictions:

If Giles is a no comp, Type C, or Type B: PTBNL is cash ($1)

If Giles is a Type A and does not resign with SD: PTBNL is cash ($1)

If Giles is a Type A and resigns with SD, thus netting Boston SD's 2nd round pick: PTBNL is Player X (Brock Huntzinger, or similar player)

That way, the Padres arent really losing a 2nd round pick if they resign Giles.

[bsj]

breaking out.

This post has been edited by bsj: Aug 8 2008, 11:51 AM

[Corsi Combover]

If that's the case, this guy is a real loser.

[The Flying Dutch...]

If that's the case, this guy is a real loser.

Because he wants to stay a full time player where he will have the best shot at making more money for his next contract?

Please.