Giants Out-Pace Twins for Freddy Sanchez

by Jesse on Jul 29, 2009 7:17 PM EDT in News Comment 38 comments

This one's been coming for the last two days.

Dejan Kovajevic of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette (and Twitter) has reported that the San Francisco Giants have acquired second baseman Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates, in return for double-A pitcher Tim Alderson. A scouting report on Alderson, and a decision on whether the Twins could have outbid Frisco, after the jump.

Alderson, a 20-year old right-hander, was the Giants' first-round pick in 2007. 26 starts last season at high-A San Jose netted him 145 innings and a 13-4 record, striking out 124, walking 34, and giving up a stingy four home runs. Five starts at the same place this spring earned him a promotion to double-A Connecticut, where in 13 starts and 72.2 innings he's compiled a 3.47 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. The gopherballs aren't quite as rare, but rare nevertheless, and it's hard to say that the Giants got the better of this deal.

There isn't much doubt that Alderson could be debuting for the Pirates by the time he's 22. He was rated to have the best curveball in the San Francisco farm system, offers a low-90's fastball and a changeup.

Could the Twins have bested this offer?

It's hard to say. They certainly could have made it a bigger package with two or three prospects instead of just one, but if Pittsburgh wanted a minor league arm who's the closest thing there is to a sure thing, then the only pitcher I could come up with from the Twins' farm system would be Tyler Robertson.

Robertson is a 21-year old southpaw sitting in Fort Myers, a level he did well in last year but needed to revisit this summer due to arm problems last season. His stuff isn't as universally sexy as Alderson's, with an upper-80's fastball with life, wobbly control and an unorthodox delivery, but he had been putting up some good numbers in the lower echelons of the system.

Ultimately, if it's about a one-pitcher deal, no, the Twins could not have matched the Giants' offer. I have to believe the Twins countered with a multi-prospect deal, although none including players like Ben Revere, Aaron Hicks or Daniel Valencia, and that ultimately the Pirates simply wanted the one best player they could get. And that's Alderson.

Congratulations to the Giants. Now let's hope our own front office can kick in with a good backup plan.

0 recs | Comment 38 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

For a guy as praised as Alderson is

He really doesn’t strike anyone out, does he?

Super frustrating. I’m trying to hold off until after the deadline.

by Eric in Madison on Jul 29, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say he doesn't strike anyone out,

but he’s not a typical strikeout pitcher. He’ll strike guys out like Scott Baker strikes guys out. Consistently, but it’ll never be a guy per inning.

by Jesse on Jul 29, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, not if minor league numbers tell us anything

Both Baker and Slowey (especially) struck out significantly more than Alderson has so far. He’s young, but K rate usually deteriorates as pitchers move up the ladder. Much lower, and it’s going to turn into a problem for him.

by Eric in Madison on Jul 29, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's actually more accurate.

by Jesse on Jul 30, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am reading the praise for Alderson

Seems like SF got hosed.

Kind of glad we didn’t go after Sanchez.

Favorite Comedians: Mike Birbiglia, Doug Benson, Daniel Tosh, Delmon Young in Left Field.

by y2jayjk on Jul 29, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Could we have outbid them?

Yes. Did we want to? Hell no.

www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com

by fetch9 on Jul 29, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I gotta say I'm disappointed but I wouldn't have wanted to give up anyone equivalent

I realize he may not look amazing but for a 20 year old playing in AA and more than holding his own is pretty damn good. He’s their no. 4 prospect and I read somewhere (probably here) that they have one of the best farm systems in the league. So I have to believe for us to match we’re looking at Valencia, Revere, Hicks, possibly a Ramos type player. Looking at his #‘s alone makes me think why couldn’t we have given them Manship or Mulvey, or hell both but initial reactions are that the Pirates did really well.

Oh well, Scutaro maybe?

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 29, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just read on mlbtraderumors

That Keith Law had Alderson as the #26 overall prospect in all of baseball. Yah, we couldn’t compete, especially if they were just looking for one top guy like they obviously were. I won’t be mad about this one just bummed out we didn’t get him.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 29, 2009 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This doesn't make me as mad as it would've a week ago

I’ve kind of warmed up to the Scutaro idea, and maybe get a good lefty reliever (Downs?)

Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson

by thewild_viking_twins on Jul 29, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was kind of hoping for a mini blockbuster

I was hoping we’d find a way to get Snell, Sanchez, and a reliever from the Pirates for Delmon Young and a solid package of prospects.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 29, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a sick feeling

that we are going to stand pat, like we always do

Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get. ~Homer Simpson

by thewild_viking_twins on Jul 29, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Downs has blown a few saves the past couple weeks

Hasn’t been good lately

by suitup17 on Jul 30, 2009 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially since Casilla and Punto just had a good series (relatively speaking)

by Sheldon on Jul 30, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And blind squirrels find their nuts from time to time

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, after watching that last inning...

I am fairly confident we arent going to acquire a MI. Now Im not going to say we wont get a reliever, because we still might, but Punto walks and Casilla doubles. Ya, we arent going to do anything (I consider Eckstein as doing nothing btw), those two are playing like ALL-STARS! Ugh, I almost puked. Now dont get me wrong, I am one of the few that is alright with having Punto batting 9, due to his defense, but we CANNOT have them both in the lineup unless Casilla gets back to his last season form! I for one think our #1 priority should be a SP, like Washburn, but I know that wont happen! Ideally, now that Sanchez is gone (for a price that I am glad they didnt try to match!), we trade Delmon Young and Brian Duensing to SEA for Jarrod Washburn. Then Alexi Casilla, Luke Hughes, and Jeff Manship to TOR Marco Scutaro and Scott Downs. God I need to wake up from this dream!

by Bartzy on Jul 29, 2009 9:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good

Sanchez wouldn’t have helped us all that much. I’d rather have more relief pitching…

Clone Chronicles

by Mark Kieffer on Jul 29, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There's gotta be a reliever available for one of the Twins B- prospects

Maybe it’s Grabow from Pittsburgh, he’s the only guy left there. I wouldn’t mind Danys Baez, Jon Rauch or one of the Toronto guys.

by DJL44 on Jul 29, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Red Sox out of cabrera sweepstakes

Twins are frontrunners…get this done BS!!!

Meanwhile, it appears that the Red Sox will likely go forward at shortstop with the combination of Nick Green and Jed Lowrienow that trade target Jack Wilson of Pittsburgh is off to Seattle. Wordhas also come down that Boston turned down a deal to reacquire OrlandoCabrera from Oakland.

http://www.projo.com/redsox/co…e.8be151a9.html

by Asfan4ever723 on Jul 29, 2009 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

mgmt failed

IMO management failed. I would have traded Revere and mulvey or another prospect to get Sanchez. Especially if that 3 year offer was available. I hope Twins fans take a stand and boycott a game so management can see that standing pat can hurt the bottom line. then they might see some benefit of putting forth some effort to improve the team. I don’t think Scutaro is available if they don’t trade their ace.

Doofenschmirtz Evil, INC.
Phineas and Ferb

by doofus on Jul 29, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No offense

but thank God you’re not Bill Smith. The more I’m reading the more the Giants overpaid for Sanchez. Revere is too good to give up for an older guy like this. I’ll say it again, I’m bummed the Twins didn’t go get him but I’d rather not get him than to way overpay for him.

What they should have probably done is go for Felipe Lopez, that’s becoming more and more apparent. We’ll just have to wait and see if they can get someone. I’m not expecting much but sweeping the Sox has to help Bill Smith think it’s worth taking some sort of risk however it should not include our top 2 or 3 guys. I’d be alright with Revere if we get a younger player (Yunel Escobar maybe?). Now that’s the kind of player you give up part of the farm for.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jul 29, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably inappropriate

But I just have to make this joke….

Your name is pretty accurate after that comment.

www.twinkietalk.com
www.olympicsportsblog.wordpress.com

by fetch9 on Jul 29, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

kgj

I’m ok with the name calling and I was probably more angry then anything when I posted that comeent, but If we could sign Sanchez to that 3 year extention, then I see no reason not to trade someone like revere. Yes revere is likely to be good. We’ll have him for what 6-7 years. Right now we have a chance to win the division and I would give up a good prospect to go for it and we have several good OF prospects. Revere projects to a Juan Pierre from what I’ve been reading. so Yeah I would trade 6 years of Pierre and a b or c level pitching prospect for Sanchez. Lopez would have been a better trade. but sometimes you have to give to get.

Doofenschmirtz Evil, INC.
Phineas and Ferb

by doofus on Jul 30, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know.

How many of the pitchers in the rotation were “likely to be good” who’s to say Revere wouldn’t bust like the others.

Dear Firpo, looks like my stock is fine.

by MNPundit on Jul 30, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I liked getting Sanchez

Scutaro would be ok, I am not in on O-Cab. Another arm would be very helpful—Downs, White, just about everyone that was mentioned. I think that whomever they would acquire needs to be an option for 2010. I don’t see anybody down on the farm that can help with the possible exception of Valencia.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jul 29, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just pass on Scutaro...

I can’t believe we just swept the Sox and I still feel like we should be selling. This team has way too many question marks.

by guinness junky on Jul 29, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There is no excuse if the Twins fail to land so much as a solid relief pitcher. Those are guys that get dealt with a high frequency and reasonable price tag. There are infield options as well, though Cabrera is not much of an upgrade, if at all.

The Giants paid a very high price for Sanchez, who would have been a great fit for the Twins but not a star by any means. There was nothing they could do in this case. Inaction with respect to other circumstances is not thereby excused, however.

by drivlikejehu on Jul 29, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Am I the ONLY one that thinks...

this team needs a starter more than a RP?our bullpen is shaping into a pretty damn reliable set of arms! Now I’m not saying I would be angry if we were to trade for another arm AT THE RIGHT PRICE, but I would go for a SP first! This is what I am pushing for(assuming Jays players aren’t available due to not moving Halladay)…

Twins Get:
SS Orlando Cabrera
SP Justin Duchscherer

A’s Get:
3B Luke Hughes
OF Joe Benson
P Jeff Manship

“The A’s would likely accept a “modest prospect” for Justin Duchscherer, who’s currently rehabbing. There’s about $1.3MM remaining on the righty’s contract before he hits free agency after the season."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/justin_duchscherer/index.html

I would say he is worth a risk down the stretch if we can get him for that…

Then ATTEMPT…

Twins Get:
RP John Grabow

Pirates Get:
2B Matt Tolbert
RP Sean Henn
P Alex Burnett

by Bartzy on Jul 29, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, you're not the only one

Last week, I posted numerous messages trying to convince everyone that we needed an ace to be a serious contender in the postseason. As I understand it, SP’s cost more than RP’s in terms of money and players it’s going to take to acquire a starter of any value. Knowing the Twins reluctance to both acquire high-priced players and give up decent prospects, it’s hard for me to see them making a deal for a starting pitcher. Having said that, I would take Duchscherer in a heartbeat if we could get him in your proposed deal as he has proven himself to be an all-star caliber pitcher.

by Sheldon on Jul 30, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cabrera is no upgrade and Duchscherer is still hurt

That’s too much to give up unless you’re getting a sure upgrade.

I keep looking at Arizona. Jon Garland has ticked off teammates lately. Jon Rauch is a decent bullpen guy. Doug Davis is a pretty good arm. Any of these guys would add much needed depth.

I like the idea of Grabow for nothing we would miss but the Pirates just got quantity and appear to be looking for quality now. Anything that keeps the Twins from depending on Bobby Keppel down the stretch is a good thing.

by DJL44 on Jul 30, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would you trade Gutierrez for Sanchez?

That’s about what this is.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly...

I don’t know if I would? The way it looks right now, we need all the pitching we can get, and he, along with Delaney and Slama could be this years Jose Mijares. But w/e, it’s outta the question now. I feel like they overpayed UNLESS they sign him to the proposed 3 yr deal he offered the Pirates… Not gunna lie, I’m likin my proposals above. I think they are fair, and definately possible! WE NEED A STARTER!!!

by Bartzy on Jul 30, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not close at all

Law ranked alderson #26 prospect in baseball, at worst he ranked around top 40-50.

by Asfan4ever723 on Jul 30, 2009 4:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I rate Gutierrez higher than Law does

They’re similar pitchers. Gutierrez is still recovering from TJ surgery in the sense that he needs to build up arm strength slowly over time. This has hurt his ranking. But the way he started the season, he was looking like a top 10 overall pitching prospect, which would have put him right in there with Alderson.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

All-Star at a position of need, signed through next year, in exchange for a pitching prospect who’s had arm problems? Count me in.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

by BeefMaster on Jul 30, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Twins still after Scutaro

According to the Toronto papers. Honestly I’d rather have Scutaro than Sanchez. Scutaro has a really good glove, is cheap and could bring draft picks as a free agent. Alternately, he might actually like it in Minnesota and agree to a 2-3 year extension. I’d rather they pay Scutaro $4M a year than Punto.

by DJL44 on Jul 30, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs