Giants end sus-Pence, get Hunter

Dennis O’Donnell was on to something after all.

It came two days late — and some think, a year late — but the Giants have finally acquired two-time All-Star Hunter Pence.

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman was the first to report the news this morning. KPIX-TV Sports Director Dennis O’Donnell has not yet confirmed the deal for the 29-year-old outfielder.

The Giants will send right fielder Nate Schierholtz, 21-year-old catching prospect Tommy Joseph and 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin to Philadelphia.

With the Dodgers making major trades to improve their team — Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino — the Giants had to do something. They are now pushing their budget way past where they wanted it to go.

Pence is eligible for arbitration next year, and one analyst predicts he will make around $14 million in 2013. Remember, the Giants still have to sign Melky Cabrera, and Angel Pagan is arbitration-eligible as well.

Pence will play right field every day for the Giants. He brings his .271 batting average and 17 home runs to a team desperate to score runs. Gregor Blanco will be relegated to a bench role, and Aubrey Huff may have played his last game in a Giants uniform. I know you all enjoyed his tenure with the Giants.

When the Giants are healthy, the middle of their lineup is going to tough to beat. Cabrera, Pence, Posey and Sandoval are a formidable stretch for any pitcher to get through unscathed.

The Giants can afford to part with Joseph because they are set at catcher for the next few years. Joseph was hitting .260 for Double-A Richmond. He is the No. 2 prospect in the Giants system according to Baseball America.

Schierholtz hasn’t been happy with his role with the Giants. In Philadelphia, he will get the chance to play every day.

The 23-year-old Rosin has a 4.31 ERA at High Class-A San Jose. He’s not exactly taking the world by storm.

CSN Bay Area’s Andrew Baggarly summed up the last two days pretty well.

Take a Victory Lap, Mr. O’Donnell.