Red Sox claim Brian Giles off waivers

[riverside sluggers]

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/padres/2008/aug/07/red-sox-claim-giles/?padres

Maybe just a block? Regardless they have 48 hours to work out a trade

[Dojji]

The.... heck....???

[BoSox21]

I dont get it but hes a decent player so....

[Dojji]

Would work if we were dropping Coco. Use Drew to back up Ellsbury in center and use JVE as injury insurance. Put Giles in the Kielty role. It could definitely work.

[Jasonbay44]

I think it might just be a block, I don't see why Red Sox would need/want him.

[Coco's Disciples]

I like him. Hope we can pick him up.

[PATS12RULE]

Remember when he hit 35+ homers in four straight years?

[Dojji]

He'd be a good candidate for a "veteran who wants a ring" trade.

Considering the needs of the Padres it might be by-bye time for Chris Carter or Jeff Bailey.

[Coco's Disciples]

His 2002 numbers are insane (not that it matters now): .450 OBP, 1.072 OPS, 38 HR. 135 BB/74 K. Thats nearly 2 walks per strikeout.

[Coco's Disciples]

He'd be a good candidate for a "veteran who wants a ring" trade.

Considering the needs of the Padres it might be by-bye time for Chris Carter or Jeff Bailey.

I wouldn't want to trade Carter. Bailey sucks, but I'd rather hold onto Carter.

[inkman]

I think it might just be a block, I don't see why Red Sox would need/want him.

Me thinks so too. TB or Anaheim could use him.

[jacksonianmarch]

this happens all the time. I am unsure why this is a newsworthy topic. The yankees actually claimed Huston Street 3 days or so ago. We werent dealing for him.

[BoSox21]

this happens all the time. I am unsure why this is a newsworthy topic. The yankees actually claimed Huston Street 3 days or so ago. We werent dealing for him.

The Boston Globe, WEEI and ESPN are all reporting it as news so I guess it is newsworthy. Is there a link to this Huston Street thing? I didnt hear about that

[BoSox21]

Red Sox place waiver claim on Giles, working on deal

By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine

The Boston Red Sox have placed a waiver claim on San Diego right fielder Brian Giles, and are negotiating to acquire the 14-year veteran from the Padres.

Giles, 37, is hitting .296 with a .391 on-base percentage, 61 walks and 44 strikeouts this season.

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.

Giles is earning $9 million this year, and his contract with the Padres has a club option for $9 million for 2009 that would climb to $11 million in the event he is traded.

Giles has a limited no-trade clause, and Boston is among the teams to which he can be traded without his permission.

Joe Bick, his agent, declined to discuss the situation.

Maybe it isnt just a block

[Dojji]

Not if they're working on a deal for him.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Boston Globe, WEEI and ESPN are all reporting it as news so I guess it is newsworthy. Is there a link to this Huston Street thing? I didnt hear about that

it was on rotoworld a few days back. The 48 hour window has passed, it is non news for the street thing.

[BoSox21]

I still dont get where they fit him in

[inkman]

I still dont get where they fit him in

rover? :dunno:

[Paradisecity]

use him to fill in the gaps and DH him and others.

I think they are worried about Big Papi

[BoSox21]

I guess theyre trying to avoid a situation where Coco plays full time

cause right now if Ortiz goes down, theyd play Bay at DH, Ellsbury in left, Coco in center, Drew in right and then youd be stuck with a very weak hitting outfield which Giles would help

either that or theyll send Ellsbury down if his slump continues

[inkman]

either that or theyll send Ellsbury down if his slump continues

What about last night? :thumbsup:

[BoSox21]

What about last night? :thumbsup:

1 game doesn't bust a slump. its a good sign, yes but I'd like to see where he is in a week

[inkman]

1 game doesn't bust a slump. its a good sign, yes but I'd like to see where he is in a week

Depends on what game you are playing...:joke:

[rician blast]

His 2002 numbers are insane (not that it matters now): .450 OBP, 1.072 OPS, 38 HR. 135 BB/74 K. Thats nearly 2 walks per strikeout.

juicer

[jacksonianmarch]

the only thing I could think of that would make this a useful move is if Papi told management that his wrist just isnt up to par. And the stats would bear it out. Take a look at this....

.250/.327/.354/.681. Those are Papi's #s since returning from injury. That is 48 ABs. Only one homerun as well. And now he is talking about his wrist clicking. While it may be totally unrelated, we shall see. I could see a scenario where Theo called Papi into his office and asked him how he was feeling and how his wrist was holding up.

[TheKilo]

SSS?

[BoSox21]

honestly, I think it comes down to nothing more than the fact that the Sox saw a guy placed on waivers who has a .404 career OBP and a .391 OBP this season and decided that he's a guy you make room for

[TheKilo]

Send Ellsbury down til Sept. 1, call him up when the rosters expand, play Drew in CF in the interim?

[BoSox21]

Send Ellsbury down til Sept. 1, call him up when the rosters expand, play Drew in CF in the interim?

you wouldnt wait and see if builds on his performance from the last 2 games?

[inkman]

juicer

The numbers seem to bear that out.

[Dojji]

Send Ellsbury down til Sept. 1, call him up when the rosters expand, play Drew in CF in the interim?

Rather drop Coco.

[Dojji]

The numbers seem to bear that out.

You mean, they bear that out about as much as they bear out a normal, conventional career arc for a power-hitting OF?

[soxfan17881]

Rather drop Coco.

For 2008 only:

http://spieles.com/images/cve.jpg

See, from where I'm standing, who gets sent down/moved is a little less obvious. At this stage, I'm really torn between the two.

Coco's 28 and Ellsbury is 24, if anyone cares...

[Bostonownsyou]

Finally another bat added.

[CrespoBlows]

Finally another bat added.

Haven't worked out a deal.

[Bostonownsyou]

Haven't worked out a deal.

Theo understands Sean Caseys a stiff at the plate. Needed another alternative, how many times have we seen Casey Cash Varitek PH? too many....

[CrespoBlows]

Theo understands Sean Caseys a stiff at the plate. Needed another alternative, how many times have we seen Casey Cash Varitek PH? too many....

Sean Casey is OPS'ing .860 (higher than Giles'), and he's a backup, so I can't really complain about him.

I would like to add Giles to be a pinch hitter for Coco Crisp/Jacoby Ellsbury late in games, but he's getting paid way too much to be in that role.

Where do we have room for him? Send Ellsbury down for a month, and then let Giles play everyday in CF?

[jacksonianmarch]

Who knows, they might want to send Ells back down for a couple weeks and give the CF job to Giles.

[Gom]

I like Giles. His walk total would go down as pitchers would aggressively go after him in the AL and considering the lineup he'd be in.

[CrespoBlows]

I like Giles. His walk total would go down as pitchers would aggressively go after him in the AL and considering the lineup he'd be in.

I don't think there's a major correlation between BB rates and league switches.

I do think that Giles would see his average, HR and gap power go up, after he moved out of PETCO.

[Gom]

I don't think there is much of a correlation but considering the hitters in the lineup, I'd expect his walk total to go down considering he'd be going from the Padres lineup to the Red Sox lineup.

[example1]

Who knows, they might want to send Ells back down for a couple weeks and give the CF job to Giles.

Or they might just want to keep Giles for the hell of it in case someone gets hurt or whatever as the season progresses.

I really don't expect the Sox to do anything with Ellsbury other than sit him occasionally and play him a lot. His defense alone makes him viable.

[jacksonianmarch]

I dont expect the sox to make this deal anyway. Lots of money for a guy who doesnt really fit

[rician blast]

You mean, they bear that out about as much as they bear out a normal, conventional career arc for a power-hitting OF?


Good point, could be.

Then again, I think when you look at the build up and drop off of HR's (4 yrs with 35+, never hit more than 23 in any other season) and the years in which he had his 4 best HR totals, (1999-2002, prime 'roid years around the league), there's cause for suspicion.

[a700hitter]

I think when you look at the build up and drop off of HR's (4 yrs with 35+, never hit more than 23 in any other season) and the years in which he had his 4 best HR totals, (1999-2002, prime 'roid years around the league), there's cause for suspicion.He hit the scoreboard at Shea last night. How long did he hit the ball when he was on roids?

[example1]

I think when you look at the build up and drop off of HR's (4 yrs with 35+, never hit more than 23 in any other season) and the years in which he had his 4 best HR totals, (1999-2002, prime 'roid years around the league), there's cause for suspicion.

I'm going with just outright assumption, as I do with many who have that same historical profile.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Anything to keep Coco from playing everyday I guess. LOL

[a700hitter]

I think when you look at the build up and drop off of HR's (4 yrs with 35+, never hit more than 23 in any other season) and the years in which he had his 4 best HR totals, (1999-2002, prime 'roid years around the league), there's cause for suspicion.Power stats peaking from age 28-31 and declining thereafter is not at all suspicious. That had been a pattern for players well before the roid era. What raises suspicion are players whose power stats increased in their mid to late 30's.

[Dojji]

Good point, could be.

Then again, I think when you look at the build up and drop off of HR's (4 yrs with 35+, never hit more than 23 in any other season) and the years in which he had his 4 best HR totals, (1999-2002, prime 'roid years around the league), there's cause for suspicion.

WHich also happen to be his age 28-31 seasons, and his HR " dropoff" coincides with his move to the monstrous Petco outfield as well as to a reasonable time for a decline phase

[example1]

WHich also happen to be his age 28-31 seasons, and his HR " dropoff" coincides with his move to the monstrous Petco outfield as well as to a reasonable time for a decline phase

It seems like the rule is that the heavy steroid users almost all have a season with some enormous drop-off at some point; but, not all people who have big drop-offs are steroid users. Yaz had some significant drop-offs in his SLG throughout his career, dropping from .592 to .392 to .391, then rising to .463 as a 33 year old in 1973). He played 10 more seasons after that and his SLG never went above .505 again. Giles has had a drop too, 2000 to 2008: .594, .590, .622, .514, .475, .483, .397, .416, .424...

Regardless, Giles has a lot of positives that indicate he's a very good hitter, usage or non usage. He's got a career .404 OBP, which is insanely good and something the Sox will go after and want to have (or prevent others from having).

Looks like he'll level off with a mid-.400's SLG, and a .400ish OBP, which is still a useful .800-.840 OPS.

My roid-dar goes off when I look at Giles' career, but he's one of those guys who I hope it isn't true because those OBP skills would have been pretty special in-and-of-itself. I'm sure part of it was pitchers working him carefully, but you don't draw that many BBs without some patience.

[TheKilo]

you wouldnt wait and see if builds on his performance from the last 2 games?

No.

He'd be down for like three weeks.

[riverside sluggers]

http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_08_08_SD_s_Brian_Giles_may_agree_to_waive_hel lo/srvc=redsox&position=2

It very much sounds like this is more than a block type claim. The Sox have been negotiating a deal, in hopes Giles would give the Ok. One of 2 things will happen, Ellsbury sent down to pawtucket to get his groove back in Pawtucket (even though last 2 games have been signs of encouragement). Or the Sox mightve found a trading partner for Coco Crisp

[BoSox21]

trading Coco might be ideal

[rician blast]

WHich also happen to be his age 28-31 seasons, and his HR " dropoff" coincides with his move to the monstrous Petco outfield as well as to a reasonable time for a decline phase

Like I said, could be. The dramatic drop off occuring at age 32 doesn't sound normal to me, I'd expect a more gradual decrease.

The PETCO theory has legs, though, as it's one of the most pitcher friendly, if not THE most, parks. On the other hand, from 2004 through 2006 his H/A split showed 57% of his HRs hit away, 43% hit at home...a disparity, but not a huge one.

[BoSox21]

any reason he has the Sox on his list of 10 teams he doesnt want to be traded to?

[Youk Of The Nation]

any reason he has the Sox on his list of 10 teams he doesnt want to be traded to?

Afraid Curt Schilling will eat his lunch everyday, or maybe he slept with Mike Timlins' wife.

[Gom]

any reason he has the Sox on his list of 10 teams he doesnt want to be traded to?
Boston is known as an unfriendly city. Just ask Jim Rice, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, etc.

It was the same way when the Bronx Zoo was in full force.

[BoSox21]

Boston is known as an unfriendly city. Just ask Jim Rice, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, etc.

So Brian Giles anticipates ever being as important to the Sox as those names? I wonder how Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts, etc. feel about Boston

[TheKilo]

Putting Gom's trolling tot he side for a moment:

At the time Giles signed his contract with the Padres, Trot was starting the 2nd of a 3 year deal, Manny was locked in in left. So, if RF and LF were locked up, and he's not a CF, where would he play?

He was probably worried about becoming a role player.

[Dojji]

Also he wasn't 37 years old in the last year of his deal on a going-nowhere team when he ruled us out.

[Dojji]

RUmor du jour is that Giles is vetoing the trade -- he is not coming to Boston.

[jacksonianmarch]

He is vetoing the deal. No Giles in Boston

[schillingouttheks]

What? I read that Boston was a destination to which he couldn't veto. I guess that writer was wrong.

EDIT: I read it wrong. Boston was one of ten teams he didn't want to go to. Whoops.

[inkman]

Glad he's showing intergrity by not coming to a contender. Maybe he's concerned about how he'll fit but a bat like his would have been hard to keep out of the lineup.

[Dojji]

Giles would have been useful.

Oh well.

[Bostonownsyou]

Giles is retarded Boston is the 5th best team in the AL. Atleast he has a punchers chance the Padres suck.

[Soxfan#1]

It might be a family thing.

[BoSox21]

apparently he likes the area and he likes playing full time