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| Hunter Pence is now a San Francisco Giant. (Getty Images) |
The Giants have acquired outfielder Hunter Pence from the Phillies, as CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman first reported.
Pence, age 29, is hitting .271/.336/.447 this season, but his career batting line is a more encouraging .290/.342/.481. Still in his arbitration years, Pence is owed the balance of a $10.4 million salary for 2012. He's eligible for free agency following the 2013 season.
Current Giants right fielder Gregor Blanco has an OPS of just .699 this season, and the left-handed-hitting Blanco has always been troubled by same-side pitching. The righty-swinging Pence, meanwhile, is a career .291/.349/.509 against lefties.
As well, Blanco has been in a steady state of decline since his hot month of May. In fact, the ZiPS forecasting system has Pence's besting Blanco by 133 points of OPS the rest of the way, so the Giants likely added a few runs by nabbing a new regular right fielder.
On the Phillies' side of things, our own Danny Knobler first reported that minor-league C/1B Tommy Joseph was headed their way. The 21-year-old Joseph is batting .260/.313/.391 at Double-A Richmond. Joseph will be joined by 28-year-old outfielder Nate Schierholtz (257/.327/.429 this season) and minor-league right-hander Seth Rosin (age 23, 4.31 ERA in 56.1 IP at High-A San Jose).
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