Giants right fielder Nori Aoki will take a few more days of rehab with Sacramento before he returning to the bigs after breaking his right fibula against the Dodgers June 20.
July 31 is looming, and the annual trade deadline hubbub is just ramping up.
The flighty A’s kicked it off Thursday by dealing Scott Kazmir to the Astros for pitcher Daniel Mengden and catcher Jacob Nottingham.
Former Giant Juan Uribe went from Los Angeles to Atlanta and, Friday afternoon, to the Mets.
Trade buzz around AT&T Park has, expectedly, stayed pretty quiet, and so has Bruce Bochy:
“I talked to Bobby and Sabes. Right now I don’t see anything. I just keep my focus on these 25 guys we have. That’s the way I look at it. I can’t say I expect something to happen. I like this group … These are the guys we’ll be taking through August and September.”
Bochy broke down, position by position, his confidence for the roster he’s worked out:
“I feel pretty good. If we look at our club. In the outfield we got Pence, Pagan, we’re getting Aoki back, and Blanco. We’re not going to make a change there. Duffy’s done a great job, Crawford, Panik, Belt and Buster. Then you look at the pitching and we got seven starters. The bullpen’s done a good job.”
A key trade or pickup could give the Giants that second-half playoff push; remember the Jake Peavy boost of 2014 and the Hunter Pence–Marco Scutaro ultra-boost of 2012.
Rumor had it earlier this month that the club was interested in bringing Michael Morse back from Miami, completing the ol’ switcheroo since the Marlins took Casey McGehee back before the All-Star Break. We know how this front office operates, Bochy said it best:
“But if something makes sense and makes us better, I know something will get done. If you look at our club we’re pretty established.”
Bochy revealed last week that Lincecum was dealing with “degenerative things” in his hips. He received cortisone shots and saw a specialist in Tennessee.
This ailment is not uncommon, especially for a pitcher that uses his entire lower body strength in his wind-up and pitch.
News of the Freak’s diagnosis seemed dire, but Bochy expects him back on the mound in some capacity this season:
“If you look at a lot of these players, they’re going to have something going on… He’s rehabbing right now and he’s going to pitch again. This is probably not uncommon. You’ve seen it in other athletes, with hip issues. The latest of course is A-Rod. But he just felt some tightness and sure, there’s a little stuff going on there but he’s gonna rehab and hopefully it all goes well and we’ll see where he’s at when he starts throwing here in a couple days.”
A reporter asked if Lincecum would head to the ‘pen upon return, Bochy chuckled:
“Oh no, don’t go there, we don’t know that. … I can’t answer that until he starts throwing.”
Aoki was expected to return to the Majors on Friday, but turns out he needs a bit more time, said Bochy:
“He was here yesterday and watching Nori run around and getting six seven at bats just felt like he could use another couple games (in Sacramento). We’re ok right now in the outfield with Blanco and Pagan healthy so it just allows you to make sure your player is ready and make sure he’s had enough at bats.”
Aoki has been rehabbing in Sacramento with the River Cats, he went 1-for-6 in two games.
Susac, who sprained his right thumb sliding into third in a game against the Diamondbacks, could return in the next week or so.
Hector Sanchez has been a solid replacement back-up catcher. He hit his second career grand slam and got into a cool scuffle with the victim, Padres reliever Dale Thayer.
Bochy said he’s been great as a back up to the back up:
“The way Sanchez played last game … forget the grand slam, he did a nice job catching Heston … he does give you time to make sure (Susac) is ready.”
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Last modified July 27, 2015 4:32 am
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