http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=22 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Are the Giants close to dealing second baseman Ray Durham to Milwaukee? Team officials would not touch that question with the proverbial 10-foot pole Saturday, but there were several hints of such a deal. The Brewers are looking for a bench player who hits left-handed and are expected to announce a trade this morning. One of their prospects, a low Class A outfield speedster named Darren Ford, was pulled from the starting lineup before his team's Florida State League game amid indications he soon would be dealt. Durham, a switch-hitter, has not played in either of the last two games, ostensibly with the flu, and has been a rumored target of the Brewers. Durham's agent, Ed Setlik, answered the phone in his office Saturday night but would not say a word. One scout hinted of a larger deal that had the Brewers sending second baseman Rickie Weeks to the Giants, but that could not be substantiated at all. General manager Brian Sabean has acknowledged that he wants to move his potential free agents to contenders. Durham is finishing a two-year, $14.5 million contract. If Sabean can deal him, he can remove from the books some or all of the roughly $4 million left on Durham's contract. (MY BAD UPDATE: That should be about $$3.5 million.) The Brewers also are searching for relievers, and Jack Taschner's name has popped up in Milwaukee rumors. Taschner said after Saturday's game he has not heard a thing. Same with Rich Aurilia, who also could be on the block. UPDATE: From what I'm hearing, rumors of a blockbuster are not true, and that Durham is the main man in the deal. One reason Durham's agent might be in his office on a Saturday night, and why the deal could not be announced Saturday, is that Durham is a 10-5 guy who needs to approve any trade. That can involve negotiations with a player.</div> This sounds too good to be true. Getting rid of Durham and not having to pay for his contract? I don't care who else is in the trade (although I'd prefer they not put Travis Denker in it, as rumored in one of the versions I've read online) on either side, it's a great deal for the Giants. That just leaves Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts on the list of old, overpaid, below average players that Brian Sabean needs to get rid of.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Durham had an assignment bonus in his contract that paid him $200,000 for being traded, which the Brewers picked up. But a Giants source said that club picked up about half of the $3 million left on Durham’s contract.</div> http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=774486 I waited to post that the trade was official when I read that the Giants also sent money to the Brew-crew. But only paying half is fine by me. Bowker, Frandsen, and Burriss will make a nice infield sometime in the future. Frandsen is a better fit for second than third.
Glad we got rid of him even though hes having a good year. He was only taking time away from the young players. Only problem now is we have no 2nd baseman lol, I'm not a big fan of Frandsen and Velez has taken a major hit in production since the beginning of the year. I guess it'll be denker if he wasn't traded in the deal which I would be happy with. Anyone know anything about the prospects we got back?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Jul 21 2008, 06:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Glad we got rid of him even though hes having a good year. He was only taking time away from the young players. Only problem now is we have no 2nd baseman lol, I'm not a big fan of Frandsen and Velez has taken a major hit in production since the beginning of the year. I guess it'll be denker if he wasn't traded in the deal which I would be happy with. Anyone know anything about the prospects we got back?</div> Darren Ford is an outfielder and is a lot like former Giant Rajai Davis (now on the A's). Incredible speed, pretty good with the glove, but can't do much with a bat in his hands. I don't know too much about Steve Hammond other than that he is a left handed starting pitcher. He did fairly well in AA this year and was moved up to AAA where he has had trouble. I doubt Ford will ever be more than a backup and my guess is Hammond never sticks at the major league level (thought I've been wrong plenty of times before).
