WEDNESDAY, 3:09pm: Schulman tweets that the Giants are "not trying to dump Lewis, but hope to deal him for an experienced backup middle infielder who can play shortstop and second base." The D'Backs have one such available player in Augie Ojeda, but there's no indication they're looking to add an outfielder.
TUESDAY, 3:22pm: The Giants are shopping infielder Kevin Frandsen, reports Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Frandsen has a minor league option remaining, but he's slipped on the Giants' depth chart.
Frandsen, 28 in May, hit .295/.352/.438 at Triple A last year while playing all four infield positions. Three years ago, Baseball America viewed Frandsen as a "solid No. 2 hitter" and potential starting second baseman. However, he was derailed by a ruptured Achilles tendon in March of '08. Earlier this month, Schulman wrote about Frandsen's frustrations and his new attitude adopted while playing winter ball.
San Francisco has been unable to drum up interest in Frandsen as well as outfielder Fred Lewis, tweets Schulman. The 29-year-old Lewis hit .258/.348/.390 with 4 HRs in 336 plate appearances last season. Recently CSNBayArea.com's Mychael Urban speculated that Lewis was likely to be released towards the end of camp as he is out of options.
He was never going to get a legit chance with the Giants…Hope he gets to play somewhere…
Seems like a fit for the Rangers. Frandsen fits the bill in two categories: 1. Injury-plagued past and 2. He can play multiple positions filling the utility void the Rangers have
Agreed, I had the same thought. I’m not much of a Rangers fan, but does anyone know what they plan on doing with Iribarren though? Is he a shoe-in to make the team as the utility guy?
no he wasn’t. hes got the potential to by a guy who can hit home runs and steal a lot of bases.
Achilles Injury really messed him up….WHO needs a 2B with .300 potential and 10 HRs potential
The Giants?
Yeah … how much are they going to get for him, when the Giants themselves are scrambling for a 2B with Sanchez and now Uribe hurt? Classic Sabean – never get involved with any trade that can help you, and only offer up the poop everyone else long ago valued as poop.
Mariners? Hannahan just went down, who was the main utility IF.
Jim Hendry likes middle infielders.
Let’s go Omar.
Orioles… Roberts has been slowed by back trouble.
The Giants always need premium offensive talent, but they go out and sign or trade for guys who aren’t much or any better than the Frandsens or Lewises of the world. If they played guys like this and saved their money for actual impact hitters, they might come closer to having an offense worthy of their pitching. There’s no excuse for a 25-man roster so consistently bereft of good position players to not find space for cheap, useful cogs like these guys.
You make a fair point. If given a legit shot, Frandsen could produce similarly to Sanchez at second and a cheap option for a few years, leaving the Giants more cash to sign a real option at 1b.
I always liked him as a player, but I think his attitude got in the way and turned off the Giant’s braintrust.
I totally agree. You cant tell me a lineup that included Posey, Frandsen, Lewis, and one big free agent impact hitter (preferably at 1B) wouldnt outproduce the Sanchez, DeRosa, Molina, Huff lineup theyre looking at now
Now that we have Derosa as a 2B backup, Frandsen becomes expendable. We need to make room for Bowker and Velez on the roster.
Velez sucks
They should just waive him.
That definitely makes more sense than trying to get something back for him.
Yeah, Because he can bring back some quality players right?
Who cares what he brings back? Getting some sort of value is better than just cutting bait.
If you please.
The Pirates didnt think much of Raj Davis when they sent him our way and he probably wouldve been our best overall outfielder last year had he not been cut loose.
Yeah you’re right. Rajai is now one of the best players on the A’s.
Yea, because thats a big accomplishment
Okay…
Now that we have Derosa as a 2B backup, Frandsen becomes expendable. We need to make room for Bowker and Velez on the roster. I’m sure Frandsen prefers to play for another team in the big league rather than languishing in the minors.
The Orioles are supposedly looking for 2B help since it’s looking mroe and more like BRob will miss some significant time this year. Frandsen should be cheap, and could fill a role on the team after BRob returns and the O’s trade Wiggy, Scott, etc.
Mariners have a need, Hanahan is hurt and one of the two J. wilsons will probably be hurting soon.
I think the main reason they want to trade Frandsen is because he can get in the teams way and whines way too much the Giants right now are trying and right now are doing well at maintaining a good clubhouse guys like Frandsen can only ruin that. Honestly with his mediocre play on the field I wouldn’t be surprised if Lewis is gone by the offseason.
You hit it it on the head. Anyone who reads ExtraBaggs knows that his attitude and unwillingness to play in off season leagues hurt his chances.
You’re also dead on about Lewis. It’s been whispered since last season that the Giants have been trying to deal him. He’s just an enigma wrapped in a conundrum; he’s got raw talent and good baseball skill, he just can’t seem to put it together.
Fred Lewis’ play isn’t mediocre by Giants standards, its pretty fantastic. There arent a whole lot of guys on the current roster likely to throw up .350 OBP, much less guys that also have plus speed.
Lewis may have had a .350 obp but he was disgustingly bad with runners in scoring position. He struck out too much and his power potential never took off. He had speed but it didn’t translate well on the basepaths. He took horrible routes in the outfield and had trouble catching the ball. He needs to think less and just play baseball.
I don’t agree with the comments on Frandsen, of everything I have seen of him, he works his butt off day in day out, and is one of those hard nose players that gives 100% everytime… Personally I hope he gets traded, he deserves to play with someone who gives him a chance… Lewis is gonna be one of those guys that won’t ever be able to make it IMO. He will be a guy that is always fighting to make a big league roster, but just fall short…
the Giants are retarded. They’re trying to trade Lewis for a guy who can backup several infield spots…and they’re trying to trade Kevin Frandsen, a guy who can backup several infield spots JUST BECAUSE HE’S NOT A F*CKING VETERAN! they never gave Frandsen a real shot, even though he outplayed Burriss last ST and was doing great in AAA and they called up Downs instead. It’s nothing short of sabean’s personal bias against a guy who could be a good utility guy.
No, they’re trying to trade Lewis because they have a glut of outfield options, and Lewis has failed to live up to his potential in the opportunities he’s been given. He thrived as a pinch-hitter, but the Giants don’t have room for a full-time PH on the roster, and he hasn’t demonstrated competency in left field or in the basepaths, despite having good speed. The Giants are better served by a spark plug with less consistency (or so they think) like Velez and Torres, and Lewis is out of minor league options. Something is better than nothing, and the Giants bench is VERY outfield heavy right now. It makes sense
I doubt either player will be traded for. Both will have to to be DFA. Lewis would be a fantastic baseball player if he could translate his patience at the plate to success for the team. He struck out way too many times with RISP because he didn’t get the pitch he wanted.
Frandsen, I don’t get. He can play any position and I think he’d be a good backup to Sanchez/Renteria/Uribe.
yes! i love frandsen. not to mention he is one of the nicest guys in baseball. i’ve seen him make crazy plays at second and short for triple a fresno.
Royals are shopping Willie Bloomquist. I’d love to get Fred Lewis. Don’t get why the Giants are so down on him. He seems like DeJesus-lite.
Wait, so now they’re trying to trade Lewis for a capable backup infielder? You mean like FRANDSEN?
My guess is that they have found a buyer for Frandsen but don’t want to pull the trigger until they plug up the utility infielder hole.
If the Giants are looking for another utility infielder, odds are good that they have already found the buyer they want for Frandsen but aren’t pulling the trigger until they find somebody to plug the utility infielder hole.
Could be a trademark Jack Zduriencik three-teamer in the making.
Darrin Ford (the guy we got in the Durham trade) will make the 40 man roster and take Fred Lewis place as the backup. Ford has incredible speed and is an exceptional defensive player and has a good bat…Lewis unfortunately runs like a deer but hits like one too…Ford impressed me in a recent spring training game where he got knocked down by a fast ball under his chin and the next pitch he ripped a triple…that showed me he’s strong metally…this guy has all the tools.
I hope Frandsen makes it..he deserves it with his turn around of his attitude from last year
and how hard he has worked this off season..I think if it weren’t for health concerns it would be a no brainer even for the Giants..give him a chance!!