Hunter Pence Traded to the San Francisco Giants as the Phillies Fire Sale Continues [UPDATE: Giants Confirm Deal, Trade Official]
Hunter Pence, dater of cheerleaders and playmates, and something of a flop with the Phillies, has been dealt from Philadelphia to the San Francisco Giants according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. It remains unclear who the Giants had to give up for Pence.
[UPDATE: According to KPIX in San Francisco, coming to Philly will be Class AA catcher Tommy Joseph. However, despite a plethora of outlets reporting the trade as complete, the Giants are claiming it is not. Bobby Evans, San Fran's VP of baseball operations, sent a text to reporters saying the trade report was "not accurate. No deal. Working through many options." So there you have it; for now.]
[UPDATE II: The Giants have confirmed the trade. That was a fun little exercise.]
The Phillies sent the Astros some mediocre prospects last July in exchange for Pence,who was thought to be a solid bat who would help them win the World Series. Pence went 4-for-19 (.219, zero homers) against the Cardinals in the postseason, and the Phillies lost in five games.
This season, Philadelphia’s bats have struggled without Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and Pence has been OK, but far from spectacular (.271 average, 17 homers and 59 RBI with a OBP of .336).
The Giants, clearly responding to all the moves the Dodgers are making, have lost five in a row and fallen into a 1st place tie with Los Angeles in the NL West.
***
Bonus photo: Hunter Pence just moments after apparently being accused of something.
Previously: Hunter Pence is Dating a Houston Texans Cheerleader
Previously: Hunter Pence’s Girlfriend is a “Model”
Previously: Hunter Pence Has Trouble With Sliding Glass Doors
Previously: Hunter Pence Traded to the Phillies for Four Minor Leaguers
Previously: The Hunter Pence Sweepstakes
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123 Responses to “Hunter Pence Traded to the San Francisco Giants as the Phillies Fire Sale Continues [UPDATE: Giants Confirm Deal, Trade Official]”
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July 31st, 2012 at 12:41 PM
as the Phillies Fire Sale Continues
The Phillies are re-tooling their roster. When you unload impact guys like All-Stars and Cy Young winners (in back to back years), that’s a fire sale.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:41 PM
The rich get richer.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:41 PM
They didn’t give up mediocre prospects for Pence. They gave up a really good 1B (Singleton) that was going to be blocked by the awful Howard contract. Singleton is doing really well in AA (.281/.396/.481).
July 31st, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Phillies sent the Astros some mediocre prospects last July in exchange for Pence
False
July 31st, 2012 at 12:43 PM
And now Nate Schierholtz is _really_ mad.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Holy shit is that inaccurate. It’s like you’re not even trying any more.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Can’t say that Pence has been a flop. He may not be the straw that stirs the drink, but he helped Philly get to the playoffs last year. He’s gonna help San Fran, and the fans will love him.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:45 PM
That Texans cheerleader has a 9 body and a 3 face.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:46 PM
With all the commenters returning, I presume this means we get Yardwok tomorrow.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Jesus Christ people calm down about Singleton. Goldstein had him, what, 70-something in his list going into the year? Law had him barely higher. This is hardly a can’t miss prospect.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Lindsay Slott. Her job is actually her name. Just like Skip Schumaker.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Pence went 4-for-19 (.219, zero homers) against the Cardinals in the postseason, and the Phillies lost in seven games.
oh goodness.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:52 PM
The Phillies have lost the will to win.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:53 PM
timmy – people here have agendas. take your logic elsewhere.
/waits for phillies fan jay v to pop in here all bitter
July 31st, 2012 at 12:53 PM
The players the Phils need to unload are staying put yet players that should stay and be a part of the future get dealt. I am confused over their plan right now.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:54 PM
And he’s now 23 on Klaw’s midseason report. He was 46 in the preseason.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Jesus Christ people calm down about Singleton. Goldstein had him, what, 70-something in his list going into the year? Law had him barely higher. This is hardly a can’t miss prospect.
but also not mediocre. To TBL, every prospect is either Strasburg or scrub, with no in between. I think that’s the point everyone is making.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Well, that people immediately adopt the opposite position of you when it comes to baseball isn’t something that happened overnight for no reason. But it sometimes is a bit much.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:56 PM
/pops wood
//not really
July 31st, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Thanks for putting pressure on the D’Backs to do something monumentally stupid, Giants and Dodgers.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:57 PM
He’ll fit nicely into the empty Pat the Bat roster slot for pulling copious tail.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I’m not bitter at all. I’m aware that the team needs to retool to content in 2013 and beyond. Trading marketable assets is part of that.
Paying Hunter Pence $14 mil is not a good thing. Victorino was gone no matter what. Blanton as well. They can’t move Halladay, Ruiz, Hamels, Lee, Utley or Howard.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:58 PM
timmy – people here have agendas. take your logic elsewhere.
really, Jason? I notice that you didn’t show up in the Swimming post, but were pretty active in Penn State posts. agenda?
July 31st, 2012 at 12:58 PM
At the time of the trade the consensus was that the Astros should have gotten more, that Singleton as the leading piece of the deal was not enough and not the high upside player Houston should have gotten. I think we can lay off JMac on this one.
July 31st, 2012 at 12:59 PM
What do you know about the guy the Phils reportedly got back for Pence? Tommy Joseph is the name being reported by Rosensquirrel.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Catching prospect, hit really well last year in high A, 21 years old. Can take over for Ruiz come 2014.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Spicious – i can’t comment all day. check the site. we’ve broken news 2 days in a row. it takes work. head down, grinding. huge day in sports and you want me to chime in on every post? come on.
/gets on USAT conference call
July 31st, 2012 at 1:00 PM
John Singleton hasn’t made a good movie in twenty plus years.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Phillies sent the Astros some mediocre prospects last July in exchange for Pence
Holy shit is that inaccurate. It’s like you’re not even trying any more.
I was assuming it was sarcasm. I hope it is. Adding Singleton and Crosart instantly made our farm system better last year.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:02 PM
every day, I’m shufflin’…
July 31st, 2012 at 1:03 PM
!
July 31st, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I think the only guy they would do something stupid for is Felix. Otherwise the only move they will make is sending Drew on his way.
CHRIS JOHNSON! CHAMPIONSHIP!
July 31st, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Might I suggest selling a 35 year old catcher who’s value is at an all-time high and is a year away from UFA? LA needs one. So do the Tigers.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:03 PM
bowden is the one who says dempster/dodgers is all but done
/but we knew that
//back to grinding
///grinding = listening to radio
July 31st, 2012 at 1:04 PM
I was assuming it was sarcasm. I hope it is. Adding Singleton and Crosart instantly made our farm system better last year.
Agenda!!! Try using some “logic” next time buddy
July 31st, 2012 at 1:04 PM
every day, I’m shufflin’…
every day i write the book
/you had your chance srod
July 31st, 2012 at 1:04 PM
I’m lookin’ at you, Poetic Justice.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:04 PM
They’re working on Cliff Lee, too. If Cliff and King fall through… the door is open for Theo to make a little magic happen with Matt Garza.
/begins pricing Justin Upton or Trevor Bauer Cubs jerseys
July 31st, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Spicious – i can’t comment all day. check the site. we’ve broken news 2 days in a row. it takes work. head down, grinding. huge day in sports and you want me to chime in on every post? come on.
congratulations.
So is this a news site or an opinion site? Because you had pretty strong opinions about Penn State, but none about a story that carries a very similar outline. I’m just asking if you had an agenda in relation to your Penn State coverage.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:05 PM
/sad trombone
July 31st, 2012 at 1:06 PM
we’ve broken news 2 days in a row.
what news did you break? i’m legitimately curious.
i know it’s not baseball trade news.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:06 PM
I think the only guy they would do something stupid for is Felix. Otherwise the only move they will make is sending Drew on his way.
CHRIS JOHNSON! CHAMPIONSHIP!
Everything I’ve read about Bobby Borchering seems to indicate that Luhnow swapped out Chris Johnson for a much better and younger Chris Johnson.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Really? I’d love a link for this. They got Singleton and Cosart who were instantly the best prospects in that system.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:06 PM
I love that the Giants got Pence and I think he’ll help out a lot, but it makes me sad for Schierholtz. One of my favorite Giants and he should absolutely be playing more. The Giants owe it to him to send him to a team where he gets on the field, although I’ll be sad to see him go.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:07 PM
As a baseball traditionalist, I don’t understand what the numbers in parentheses mean. (Kidding)
I wish the Braves could have gotten a big name pitcher but that deal with the Cubs seemed to be pretty good. Here’s hoping Kris Medlen can keep his mojo going in the starting rotation. We’ll see tonight.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:07 PM
1) There’s a guy in the Olympics named Dong.
2) Isn’t that enough?
July 31st, 2012 at 1:07 PM
You know, the news everybody cares about – which television station a talking head is moving to.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Pete Thamel got a new job, although the real news to me was that there’s someone named Pete Thamel who covers college sports
July 31st, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Avila and Laird. We’re all set.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:09 PM
every day, it seems a little stronger
every day, it lasts a little longer
/James Taylor’d
//Buddy Holly’d, if you’d rather
July 31st, 2012 at 1:09 PM
That won’t happen the Phillies would have to eat a lot of money. I don’t think Bauer would be the prospect they would look to move in a huge deal. Bradley or Skaggs maybe. But they certainly are not going to move a top pitching prospect and Upton for a guy over 30. Now Felix would be a different story but I don’t think the Mariners would do anything.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:10 PM
every day i write the book
/James Taylor’d
//Buddy Holly’d, if you’d rather
No Elvis Costello?!
July 31st, 2012 at 1:10 PM
These Russian bitches be cheating.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Everyone expected Dom Brown. And being the best prospects in the Astros system at that time was uh… not a challenging task.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:12 PM
But Matt Garza, YYSA… another year of control, 28 years old. He’s the type of player the D’Backs would want if Felix (which is highly unlikely) isn’t available. Trouble is, Jupton can block the Cubs. I’d take Skaggs and another B- or C+ guy for Garza. Would prefer Bauer.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Maybe. Borchering is Mark Reynolds minus a little pop imo. Guy is striking out 130 times a year in the minors. I would prefer not to do that song and dance again.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Went from getting Dempster to getting that guy whose name I can’t remember. Not happy.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:14 PM
I think Skaggs = Bauer at this point, if he hasn’t already surpassed him
July 31st, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Huge respect to that guy. Talented writer, and he tracked down Diana Krall. And, he traded vocals with Aimee Mann on “The Other End of the Telescope.”
July 31st, 2012 at 1:15 PM
They won’t give up Jupton for Garza. If Upton is traded he better bring back a great prospect SS or 3B. If the Cubs were to trade for Jupton they would have to fork over a very large new shiny contract.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:15 PM
And now Dempster is reportedly headed to the Dodgers? Jeebus.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Seconded.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:16 PM
No Elvis Costello?!
that was my reference but srod is older, wiser
July 31st, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Who is everyone? The ‘Stros scouts obviously didn’t want him.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Excellent latter-day EC. Kudos also for pulling in Krall, the modern-day Julie London.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Hey, I just remembered – Philly is at Nationals Park tonight, starting a three-game series. May take them a few days to find a new equilibrium. And, Strasburg’s starting tonight.
/counting chickens before they hatched
July 31st, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Went from getting Dempster to getting that guy whose name I can’t remember. Not happy.
maholm has been on fire lately and has great numbers at turner
July 31st, 2012 at 1:17 PM
I wouldn’t go that far. Bauer is probably the best pitching prospect not named Dylan Bundy.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:17 PM
When do they sut him down for the rest of the regular season?
July 31st, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Diana Krall.
An image search revealed that she probably has a huge ass from sitting at the piano all day. Every picture of her somehow has her butt cropped out or covered with a blanket.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Against a better pitcher, too.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Not sure if serious…
July 31st, 2012 at 1:20 PM
That’s what I get for letting my subscription to The Sporting News expire in 1986.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:20 PM
rizzo waffled on his 160IP statement. if yoou want to rest strasburg do it now, with a nice lead
July 31st, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Boz Scaggs > Jack Bauer
Lito never gets old. Jack Bauer and his screaming got old.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Some guys like big butts. Me, for one.
Say Ow!
Dang, I wish I was wiser. Getting old is cool, though. I don’t have to “shut it” anymore. Yippee!
July 31st, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Not sure if serious…
I laughed
July 31st, 2012 at 1:23 PM
I’ll bet, besides maybe an Afro, you look exactly how you did at 29.
Well, my ass ain’t the same.
Bigger?
Yeah.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that
July 31st, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Will give credit here, seems like there’s been a lot of posts the last days.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:24 PM
True, but It’s Over > Lito
July 31st, 2012 at 1:24 PM
I heard that last week also. Maybe 180IP or so. Probably get you to early Sept. Rest now is an intriguing idea – I hadn’t thought about it. I wonder if Rizzo had?
Some (F.P.) are counting on John Lannan, but in his last minor league start he gave up 6ER in 3 2/3 IP. Lannan isn’t bad, but he’s not an ace.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Not sure if serious…
As a reddit fan, I have to say I was saddened by the lack of witty words associated with that meme
July 31st, 2012 at 1:25 PM
I think most people would say Strasburg is better than Lee. I would.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Some people like their cucumbers pickled
/chappelle’d
July 31st, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Watsonian – Your wisdom is the product of hindsight. At the time Brown was the guy.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:29 PM
hahahahaha
July 31st, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Before last season, I would agree with you. But his swing was all wrong last year in Spring Training and it never got back on track.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:30 PM
“Listen the NASDAQ opened marginally lower again, really considering selling the house and moving into an Econo lodge” – MLB GM at the trade deadline.
Can someone explain to me the general idea behind MLB fire sales and why its unique to that sport. Half way through the season you don’t see the Trailblazers for example shopping LaMarcus Aldridge just because they’re not making the playoffs that one year.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:30 PM
The advent of sabermetrics has soured me on The ‘Murican Game.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:30 PM
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 31st, 2012 at 1:31 PM
That’s not to say that Singleton and Cosart were ever garbage. But Brown was still _the_ guy in the Phillies system and it was a disappointment when the Astros didn’t get him.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Salary caps and the rule structures required to maintain them mean you have a lot less flexibility in other sports. The end.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:34 PM
Olney hasn’t been the most reliable source on anything concerning the Diamondbacks and Upton.
He is throwing shit at a wall and seeing if it sticks.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Personal opinion: fire sale = hope.
You’re marketing for the remainder of this year and next year. If you are out of the running, you gotta have something to sell the fans.
Especially with football weeks away, you better either trade for a) young players that can take the field in Aug-Sept, or b) “replenishing the farm system”, to convince fans the near future will be better.
Dollar, dollar bills, as usual.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:37 PM
But he is right. The deal does make sense for both sides. Speculation, yes. But I like what he’s speculating and therefore I hope the Cubs inquire. Hope the Blue Jays and Rangers continue to drive up the price on Garza too. Both systems have strong talent.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Also, it would work even better if the Cubs put Sori in that deal because it’d replace Upton’s bat for the next two years. Cubs willing to pick up 90% of the $36M he is still owed.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Interesting… didn’t think of the salary cap as being a factor. So other sports would like to employ this strategy but the rules don’t allow? My guess would’ve been it had something to do with the fact that teams are allowed to stock pile young talent in farm systems.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Bitter about what? These trades? Not even remotely so.
Not accurate. The Astros did not even ask for Brown, per multiple sources.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Not so fast, my friend
Buster Olney @Buster_ESPN
Justin Upton has Cubs on his no-trade list, so that would have to be worked out.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:41 PM
The end? Hardly. I’d say that baseball’s minor league system is actually the reasons fire sales are prevalent in baseball. It’s not like you can trade guys in basketball and football for prospects
July 31st, 2012 at 1:41 PM
In the NBA, salaries in trades have to match on both sides within 25%, unless 1 of the teams has a lot of salary space, which is usually unlikely.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Your guess was accurate.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Jensen – Is this better?
July 31st, 2012 at 1:46 PM
The last thing the Diamondbacks need is another outfielder in an Upton trade. Dreaming is free SC. But national writers usually have zero idea what they are talking about.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Gammons reports Marlins are looking to trade Carlos Lee. Already.
Since he had his iPad, smartphone and BlackBerry all on the table in front of him, I guess Gammons is connected, eh?
July 31st, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Firesales:
The reason is the value a team can get in prospects is perceived to be higher than the value of supplemental picks given to the team when the player leaves in FA.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:54 PM
He is throwing shit at a wall and seeing if it sticks.
New Journalism
/sorry tom wolfe
July 31st, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Do we know whether giving up on teams and players on the first sign of underachievement is a good long term strategy for the team or just a job protecting maneuver for the GM? I have a sneaky suspicion the dominant strategy employed at the MLB at the trade deadline has something to do with the fact that in careers where performance is reevaluated, frequently and on a short term basis one is better off being conventionally wrong than unconventionally right.
Now since the team intends on remaining a going concern past the short term the incentives of the GM and whats best for the team may not always exist in perfect alignment. The hit rate on even the top prospects is still not high enough to justify their unquestioned appeal.
I could be wrong here but just thinking out loud.
July 31st, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Now, Yankees & a “mystery team” are talking to Cubs about Dempster. Leverage vs. the Dodgers? Rumor control?
July 31st, 2012 at 1:58 PM
Not accurate. The Astros did not even ask for Brown, per multiple sources.
grinding
July 31st, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Use the Rockies as an example. Still drawing around 30K per home game, but the fan base is dissatisfied. Youngsters are coming up from the Springs, Tulsa, etc. Veterans like Scutaro and Guthrie are jettisoned.
O’Dowd (GM) is active on trade and FA fronts every year, with little lasting progress evident. “Conventionally wrong” captures well what Rockies fans endure most years. Lots of effort made. Lots of light, little heat.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:02 PM
These sales happen because usually the players being delt are coming up to the end of the contract. This means that if they trade the player, they will hopefully get some younger players in return to supplement the rest of the team. Baseball is different than football or basketball in that the farm systems allow them to take potential players and turn them into good or even great players. There are so many different factors here for having a “firesale” and so it is hard to sum it up in just a blurb, but I tried.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:03 PM
cubs dodgers disengaged
July 31st, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Also true. But just to use the NFL as an example… the “salary cap hit” that comes from trading a player with bonus proration remaining on their deal makes trading even more difficult in the NFL.
Certainly the farm systems are unique to MLB, but veteran contracts (even with fully guaranteed money) are uncomplicated enough that teams can move players in MLB in ways they can’t in the NFL.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Bonus money prorated over the length of a contract in the NFL means that trading that player mid-deal moves all that bonus proration into the current (or next) cap year. Makes trading big-timers much more difficult.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:11 PM
I understand those trades and those happen in other sports. If a guy is going to leave next year anyway it makes sense to try to move him. However there’s a lot of MLB deadline moves that don’t involve expiring contracts.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Many outlets reporting Pence deal is now done.
Pence and cash for Schierholtz, Rosin (a minor league pitcher), and the aforementioned Tommy Russell.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:15 PM
So I understand why these trades are easier to make in MLB … now I’m not sure its necessarily in the long term best interest of the team. See comment 111
July 31st, 2012 at 2:18 PM
Teams in MLB are _really_ protective of prospects now, maybe past the point of making sense in some cases.
But six years of cost control on a new major leaguer is a big deal.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:19 PM
Where does giving away Franklin Morales for cash or a PTBNL (cash), rank?
/thanks
July 31st, 2012 at 2:34 PM
I think the biggest reason all these trades are made is because of the farm systems. No other leagues have a reserve of hundreds of players to 1) trade or 2) replace players to do trade. You see it some in hockey, but to a lesser degree.
There isn’t a player in Salem waiting to take over for Aldridge on the Blazers, just like the Bulls don’t have a team full of 18 year olds that may or may not be good, to offer for him.
Another factor, you pretty quickly know in most leagues if a player is a star. Not so in MLB, where even top prospects go through a few years in the minors before a team knows what they have. Teams use this to buy and sell risk, and control.
Look at Rizzo for Gonzalez. Padres bought the risk (and stupidly gave it away), by selling on a prospect that did work out. Now Gonzo and Rizzo might have identical stats for the next 5 years, but Rizzo is going to cost a fraction of what Boston pays Gonzalez.
July 31st, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Definitely. (I made an earlier comment that was correctly shit all over). MLB has both the player development system and the relaxed salary/contract rules that allow this to happen.
July 31st, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Rockies have no idea what their pitching identity is. Are they seeking power arms? Pitch-to-contact guys? How does the humidor affect how the ball travels?
2008-10, Morales’ WHIP was fairly high. Rockies panicked. Guy has talent, but I think Coors has psyched out so many pitchers over the years.
You pitch in Coors, you’re gonna have a 5+ ERA. You may get wins, but your secondary pitching stats won’t be pretty. How does that affect arbitration, FA, etc.? You can’t grade Rockies pitchers like pitchers working in Petco.