San Francisco Giants: Carlos Beltran Acquisition Means Aubrey Huff On Hot Seat

The San Francisco Giants got their guy, and hopes are high for a World Series repeat this season. Just looking at the new lineup, you can tell how much of a difference Beltran is to this team.

He adds sexiness to a lackluster lineup. Beltran, Sandoval, Huff and Schierholtz is a good way to go 3-6 in the lineup. It is clear to a Giants fan, at least, who is sick of the dull roster that lacked a power hitter.

As I sat in front of the television on Thursday night, I could not help but treat Beltran's at-bats like I had treated Barry Bonds' at-bats back in the day.

I could walk around and do stuff around the house for the rest of the lineup, but when Beltran came up, everything stopped and I sat down.

Not since Bonds has a Giants' hitter had such an aura around him when he walked to the plate.

However, his aura also changes some things on the roster, at least mentally.

Aubrey Huff is struggling, and although we do see sparks from him, it is a far cry from what we saw in 2010.

It is for that reason that there is growing controversy about Huff's role on this ball club.

Comcast Sportsnet's Mychael Urban recently wrote an article on the inklings that Huff may be given a short leash for the rest of the season. He also gave us the teaser that we may be seeing more of Brandon Belt in the near future of things keep up.

The Beltran trade changes everything for Huff. He went from a middle of the order power threat to a player questioned about his $22 million contract, while hitting just .239.

With Beltran in the lineup, the Giants do not need Huff's threat of a big bat, which is why he better get hitting.

Belt is a viable option to start in the playoffs at first base if Huff continues to be a non-factor in this lineup, as he has been.

While Huff has been in a continued slump, Belt seems to be more relaxed and ready for the MLB in his second call-up to San Francisco. If nothing else, Belt gives the team good at-bats. These days, Huff is a waste of one.

With Beltran, Bruce Bochy gets to be more flexible with his lineup card. Huff does not have to be a constant presence batting fourth, fifth or sixth because of the big bat he swings.

Good at-bats is what the Giants crave now that Beltran is the heart of the lineup, and Belt is a real option to attain that.

San Francisco gets a whole lot better by adding Beltran, but the lineup still continues to be one that could be so much more well-rounded by making just a few key moves.

Huff is currently on the hot seat at first base, which is why he needs to perform in the next couple weeks or we may find him playing the role of the 2011 version of Mark DeRosa in the 2010 playoffs.

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Bay Area Rundown: San Francisco Giants, Carlos Beltran, Alex Smith, Frank Gore Making Headlines

Did the last 24 hours just blow your mind? The Bay Area was on fire with rumors, hold-outs, signings and more rumors on a wild Wednesday in the sports world.

It all started late Tuesday night with the announcement that the San Francisco 49ers had re-signed QB Alex Smith in a one-year deal for $5 million.

For those waking up to eggs and bacon the next morning, how about eggs and Carlos Beltran?

The Beltran rumors were electric Wednesday morning and continued into the afternoon.

By 2 p.m., there was a tentative agreement between the Giants and Mets to exchange Beltran for San Francisco's top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

Beltran will be in Philadelphia for the Giants/Phillies series by Wednesday night.

However, not all the news was pleasant on Wednesday.

49ers' workhorse running back Frank Gore is reportedly going to hold out when training camp starts. Gore is in the last year of his deal paying him $2.9 million next season.

Compare that to Smith's contract signed Tuesday ($5 million), and I would be a little disgruntled, as well.


Quick thoughts on Wednesday's happenings:

---Alex Smith was the only option at quarterback for the 49ers, who expressed interest in QB Matt Hasselbeck and bowed out of the race for both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb quite early.

Smith is there to fill the gap for a year while they work in rookie Colin Kaepernick. Nothing more, and nothing less.

---Carlos Beltran is the biggest pick-up of the 2011 MLB Trade Deadline, and he will produce and help this ball club immediately by just his presence in the lineup.

By the way, if the numerous reports are true and the teams did just exchange Beltran for prospect Zack Wheeler, as well as the Mets sending cash the Giants' way, then GM Brian Sabean really pulled one over on New York.

My impressions, paired with reports, were that Wheeler will be nothing more than a second or third pitcher in an MLB rotation when he hits the big leagues.

---The Frank Gore situation is simple: Pay the guy the money.

This next season, he is the offense. Only paying him $2.9 million with the type of workload he inhales every Sunday is outrageous.

The 49ers are at Gore's every need on this one. Pay him.

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San Francisco 49ers Eye Matt Hasselbeck; Will Not Bid For Him

Blame Steve Young for this one. The 49er great made one comment on ESPN about a potential hook-up between free agent quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and the 49ers, and all hell broke loose.

Pure speculation, though, which is what Young should have said.

The 49ers have talked to Hasselbeck about joining their team, according to ESPN, but it all but stops there.

San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami was told by a source within the 49ers' organization that they were interested in Hasselbeck, but that they "would not get into a bidding war" for him.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, and all others drooling over a season without Alex Smith, the Tennessee Titans are ready for a bidding war.

With that said, we can end the Hasselbeck/49ers rumors now. The quote pretty much tells the story.

It seemed functional for a moment, though. Hasselbeck instead of, or including, Smith was a good idea. However, those who saw the news this afternoon and almost jumped for joy at the thought of a possible season without Smith will be sorely mistaken.

The Week 1 starter is Smith. There is zero debate over this.

If that is not enough, the one-year deal for $5 million that is being reported may be.

Smith did not organize workouts during the lockout to be a back-up or even an NFL throw-away. He is in San Francisco to fill a year before they can either go out and acquire a quarterback (unlikely), or wait for rookie Colin Kaepernick to develop.

Smith and the 49ers seem to have a mutual understanding on that.

The 49ers are who they are this next season: an inexperienced team with a rookie head coach, debatable starting quarterback and a whole lot of possible real talent to work with.

The Hasselbeck idea was pure speculation, turned into confirmed rumor, turned into debatable fiction thanks to a source within the 49ers' organization.

Hasselbeck would help San Francisco more than Smith can, but the amount the team has mentally invested in No. 11 is enough to not have them break the bank over a veteran quarterback.

This was just a small speed-bump proving the 49ers' unwavering faith in Smith in 2011.

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San Francisco Giants: The Likelihood of the Rumored Trade Bait

The now infamous "untouchables" list of Giants GM Brian Sabean took a little twist a few days ago when the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman tweeted that Sabean had told him that his "untouchables" list may be different than public perception.

What does that mean?

Public opinion says that the Giants' top prospects of Brandon Belt, Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler and Francisco Peguero are at the forefront of players that Sabean would hate to part with since they have such big futures apart of this team.

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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Alternatives to Carlos Beltran for the San Francisco Giants

One of the most exciting times of the baseball year is set to get underway this week. The MLB trade deadline is this upcoming Sunday, July 31, and the San Francisco Giants are at the center of it.

The Giants are rumored to be the front runners in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes, however there is much debate over who the New York Mets want and who Giants GM Brian Sabean is willing to give up.

The debate comes in when the Mets start demanding key players in the Giants' talented farm system. That list includes Brandon Belt, Gary Brown, Zach Wheeler and Francisco Peguero, although the noted "untouchables list" may include any and all of those players.

San Francisco is willing to take on the contract of Beltran, but it is speculated that the Mets want notable prospects in return, which is where things get difficult.

It is hard to believe that the Giants will part with players like Belt and Brown, but if Wheeler and/or Peguero are not enough, San Francisco will be looking elsewhere for a player to push them deep into the playoffs.

Here are five alternatives to Carlos Beltran if negotiations do not work out.

5. Ian Desmond

Yahoo's Jeff Passan is reporting that Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond is being shopped by the team and that the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have shown interest.

This seems almost like a last resort for the Giants if negotiations fail with the Mets and Carlos Beltran.

Desmond is a decent hitter and good fielder with a nice future in this league, but acquiring him would mean a log jam at shortstop and second base.

The 25-year-old can play both positions, but it would mean the reliable Mike Fontenot, Brandon Crawford and recently-acquired Jeff Keppinger would be battling for one starting spot every night.

Although this would be a solid pick-up for the Giants, the move just does not add up overall.

4. B.J. Upton

The B.J. Upton possibility comes into play if the Giants decide that the Mets are asking for too much in the Carlos Beltran deal.

The overall consensus around baseball is that Upton's trade value is at its peak, which is why the Rays are likely to part with the 26-year-old for a few decent prospects. Compare that to the Mets, who are looking for top-tier prospects in return for Beltran.

An asking price for Beltran may be Gary Brown and Zach Wheeler, while Upton's asking price may be Francisco Peguero and Wheeler.

Upton's athleticism would greatly improve the Giants' defense, but the concern over who he is as an overall baseball player may drive some teams to stay away. Many teams feel he is more of an athlete and less of a well-rounded baseball player.

Most likely, Upton is second on San Francisco's trade deadline list.

3. Hunter Pence

There has been no rumored connection between Pence and the Giants, however San Francisco is a major player in the trade market this year and could pursue any of the top players on the market at the trade deadline.

Pence is growing into "star" status in baseball, and his average of .308 with 62 RBI so far this season has some teams salivating at acquiring the center fielder for a deep playoff run.

The major problem is that the Astros want mega-prospects in return.

Pence is only 27-years old with a bright future in baseball, which is why if the Giants choose to pursue him, they will have to bring the entire farm system with them.

It will be worth it, though.

2. Josh Willingham

Same player, just another year.

The Giants were interested in Willingham last season for their playoff push, but negotiations seemed to fizzle out come the trade deadline.

The Giants have had a good look at the 31-year-old just across the bay, and he could be a good solution to their middle of the order problem.

Willingham has 13 home runs on the season, despite playing in just 76 games.

The only thing stopping the Giants from seriously pursuing him would be his stints on the disabled list this season.

1. Jeff Francoeur

Francoeur has had a solid year for the Kansas City Royals, and he seems to be regaining the form we saw with the Braves back in 2006 and 2007.

That formula makes for the quintessential trade deadline target, however the chatter among the rumor mill has simply not heated up for him yet.

Francoeur would fit in perfectly with the fun and friendly atmosphere of the Giants clubhouse, as well as fourth or fifth in the starting line-up.

Think of a better-hitting Nate Schierholtz with that same solid arm in right or left field. However, if Schierholtz continues to swing the bat, Sabean may lean more towards staying pat with Nate the Great.

The goal of the trade deadline is to get a player to fill the team's need. Francoeur can do that for a decent price.

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"Torture" Does Not Fit the San Francisco Giants Anymore

Manny Burriss had just stolen second base and reached third in the 11th inning of a 3-3 game in San Diego on Sunday. Catcher Chris Stewart came to the plate, got the sign and proceeded to squeeze home the sprinting Burriss for the lead and eventual win.

However, as I watched this rare and nerve-racking event unfold before my eyes, I could not help but think for a second.

I expected that to happen.

The term "torture" that was coined by the Giants' play-by-play man Duane Kuiper last season has become a phenomenon in San Francisco and even carried a life of its own nationally during the World Series last season.

Headlines following the Giants' World Series win read "Torture Never Felt So Good."

As we enter Torture 2.0 in this second half of the 2011 season, we are sure to encounter much of the same one-run games and stunning walk-offs of epic proportion that we saw towards the end of last season and continued through this season.

Is it really torture anymore, though?

We have seen so many incredible wins for the Giants between this season and last, whether they were one-run games or walk-off victories. However, at some point, we expect that, right?

In some manner or another, we are expecting San Francisco to squeeze home the eventual winning run, or we expect Brian Wilson to walk a few batters before striking out the next three.

That is what you will get out of this team, a ton of one-run games mixed with a little drama because good pitching and lackluster hitting leads to close games. It's science.

Last season, it was torture because we simply did not know what to expect.

When Wilson loaded the bases in the ninth inning of a one-run game, we were not sure if he could get out of it.

This season, if the game is tied, we expect the Giants to score that next run and win the game.

It comes with a new confidence in this team. The confidence in the Giants that they will deliver when it matters most.

We witnessed it last season, and the confidence we have this season will lead to less torture and more success in the months to come for this team.

We expect it to happen that way.

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NFL Free Agency 2011: 5 Realistic Options for the San Francisco 49ers

If there was a team hurt by the NFL Lockout the most, it would be the San Francisco 49ers. A new head coach with zero NFL coaching experience and only one quarterback signed on the roster would seem to imply trouble for the 49ers next season.

One good thing that did come from this lockout for the 49ers was the leadership of free agent QB Alex Smith.

Smith is not signed by San Francisco, yet he organized a training camp-like workout for all players on the roster this past month that seemed to signify another year of the 2005 No. 1 overall pick under center.

As if the 49ers had another option, though.

Smith and Harbaugh have seemed to hit it off this offseason, which can only be good news for the seemingly always disappointed 49er fan.

However, work still needs to be done for San Francisco this offseason, despite GM Trent Baalke refuting the idea.

The roster is by no means set, and the 49ers would be wise to be active once the lockout ends. Holes in the roster include the secondary and depth at wide receiver.

Here are five realistic options for the 49ers.

James Jones

The 49ers need another wide receiver and James Jones is a realistic free agent within San Francisco's realm of possibility.

Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal has given Jones a 20 percent chance of returning to the Green Bay Packers next season, which is good enough for teams to move in as soon as the lockout ends.

The only reason Jones is a legitimate possibility in San Francisco is because of location.

Jones has been working out and staying in NFL shape at his alma mater San Jose State University this summer. Coincidentally, the 49ers' Alex Smith-led workouts were at that same location.

Jones lives in San Jose, just minutes from the 49ers' Santa Clara headquarters, which may make it an easier transition from Super Bowl champ to NFC West chump next season.

Chris Carr

I know what you are thinking—not another Carr. The No. 1 overall disappointment that is David Carr is enough for one team.

However, the 49ers could use another cornerback regardless of his last name.

Carr has played six seasons in the NFL. You may recognize him from just across the bay in Oakland, or more notably from the shutdown defense that is the Baltimore Ravens.

The 27-year-old is an unrestricted free agent whenever the lockout ends and could help bolster a cornerback position that includes Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer.

Carr had two interceptions and 61 tackles last season in Baltimore.

Carlos Rogers

Rogers is arguably the fifth or sixth best free agent at the cornerback position this offseason, which somehow puts him right in the 49ers' wheelhouse.

The 29-year-old made $1.5 million last season and is expected to make around the same next season. If the 49ers do not want to be major players in free agency, as they say, they can at least pick up a decent cornerback for a decent price that can help bolster a weary position in San Francisco.

Rogers had two interceptions and 54 tackles last season for the Washington Redskins.

Malcom Floyd

It would take a change of heart to go after wide receiver Malcolm Floyd in free agency this offseason. He and Vincent Jackson were major forces for Phillip Rivers and the Chargers last season, which would imply a pay raise for Floyd in free agency.

The 29-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but his $3.17 million salary last season may indeed need a spike.

The only knock against Floyd is the doubt as to how well he can play without star Vincent Jackson.

Either way, Floyd is a deep threat that the 49ers could very well use if they change their mind and dig deep in free agency.

Brent Grimes

Grimes was not supposed to play in the NFL after going undrafted out of Shippensburg University.

However, his athletic ability and shear determination to want the ball more has made him the fourth or fifth best free agent in the very talented cornerback class, highlighted by Nnamdi Asomugha and Jonathan Joseph.

Grimes is a restricted free agent, but the Falcons would be wise to re-sign such a diamond in the rough. They discovered him when all had given up on him and his NFL career.

It will take a lot to acquire Grimes, but if the 49ers choose to be active in free agency, they will make a play for the 27-year-old.

In 2010, Grimes had five interceptions and 87 tackles.

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