Crede With Caveats

Slap me silly for inhaling early-spring optimism like it was helium from a rose-colored balloon, but the emergence of Eugenio Velez and the injury to Omar Vizquel give me reasons to stump for Joe Crede. There are several conditions, however:

1) Crede must be healthy. Any sign of his back injury, or diminished range or power, and no deal.

2) No fat contract extension. If Crede plays well and will take a one-year extension for 2009 at a reasonable price, I could live with that. He won’t be blocking anyone’s path next year. But if he wants a multiple-year extension, no dice.

3) In the same deal or separately, the Giants must unload Rich Aurilia and the $4.5 million he’s owed this year — nearly the same as Crede’s salary. With Velez playing all over the infield, Aurilia is superfluous. Well, not entirely superfluous: if Dan Ortmeier flames out or gets injured, Aurilia is currently the only other option at first base. Ah, but we’ll always Scott McClain.

4) Chicago GM Kenny Williams must take someone other than Jonathan Sanchez. Noah Lowry? Maybe, but the Sox would need to do something to even things out, either send the Giants back a prospect or take on some of the Giants’ veteran salary — Dave Roberts, perhaps. Either of those permutations will be tough as long as the Giants are selling low on Lowry. And they are, until he proves he’s healthy and effective.

But once in a while I allow myself a fanciful trade suggestion. How about this: The Giants get Crede and a low-level hitting prospect, the White Sox get their pick of Correia, Misch or Hennessey, take on a veteran salary (their pick: Roberts, Aurilia or Durham), and a pitching prospect not named Sosa or Alderson. If they insist on a top pitching prospect to help fill the gaps left from the Nick Swisher trade, insist on a better hitting prospect.  

El Lefty Malo covers the S.F. Giants on his blog, Lefty Malo.