brian-sabeanThe San Francisco Giants traded Tim Alderson, one of their top pitching prospects, for Freddy Sanchez.  This move begs one question: how is Brian Sabean still general managing a major league baseball team?

Here was Sabean’s comment on the trade.

“Simply put, our long-awaited next move has finally been consummated,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. “A kid that has distinguished himself as an All-Star three out of the last four years and a batting champ within that time frame. The timing’s great.”

Brian Sabean traded a top prospect for a 31-year-old “kid,” and his best complement is that he won a batting title four seasons ago.  Sanchez hit .344 in 2006.  He has never hit higher than .304 in any other season.  He has hit .300 in only one other season.  Conveniently, Sabean ignores 2008, when Sanchez could not muster a .300 on base percentage.

Freddy Sanchez does not get on base, he does not hit for power and he has no speed.  “Simply put,” he does nothing that will help San Francisco’s mediocre offense score runs.

Not only did the Giants give up a top prospect for Sanchez, but they picked up his entire salary and may have to pay his $8 million option next season.

To add to this, Sanchez has a knee injury.  San Francisco doctors found “no major defects” in the knee, but a minor one will keep him from playing until Monday.

The Giants are in a wild card race, but Freddy Sanchez does not help them win it.

This move comes from the man who traded Francisco Liriano, Boof Bonser and Joe Nathan for A.J. Pierzynski, who gave Barry Zito a minimum of $133 million, who paid Aaron Rowand $60 million after a blatant contract year, who forfeited a first round pick to sign Michael Tucker in 2005, who gave Edgar Renteria to an innane contract, and who has routinely acquired grizzled veterans, such as Reggie Sanders, Marquis Grissom, Moises Alou, Mike Matheny, Steve Finley, Randy Winn, J.T. Snow, Matt Morris, and Tim Worrell.

It is one thing to value your prospects too highly.  It is quite another to fritter them away like Rip Taylor with confetti, while getting nothing in return.