San Francisco Chronicle / 11-8-11
On Monday, (Giants GM Brian) Sabean finally busted up his prized rotation and dealt left-hander Jonathan Sanchez and minor-league pitcher Ryan Verdugo to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Melky Cabrera, a deal that acknowledged the Giants' desperate need for offense and the paucity of solid, affordable bats in this year's free-agent market.
Cabrera, 27, is coming off a career season after he went the Pablo Sandoval route and got his body into shape. Cabrera could be the Giants' leadoff hitter and center fielder.
The switch-hitter's .305 batting average and .809 OPS surpassed his previous career bests by 25 and 57 points, respectively. He also set highs in doubles (44), home runs (18) and stolen bases (20).
To add that type of hitter to an offense that scored the second-fewest runs in the majors in 2010, the Giants had to surrender a pitcher who in 2009 threw the franchise's first no-hitter in 33 years and in 2010 vaulted the Giants into the postseason with a Game 162 victory against the Padres.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/07/SPLA1LROB1.DTLBoth players are free agents after 2012. Possible rental, but after last year I'll take most any trade that brings in a hot bat.
:thumbsup: