The Giants and A's would love to add to their respective clubs by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, wrote San Francisco Chronicle staff writer John Shea, but they'll have to pay the price.
- Twins left fielder Josh Willingham would look great in the middle of the Giants' lineup, and Starlin Castro of the Cubs would be a perfect fit at shortstop for the A's, notes Shea. Especially with both Bay Area teams competing for a playoff spot. The Giants (49-40) lead the NL West, while Oakland is 0.5 games behind in the race for the second wild-card berth.
- However, if the Giants want Willingham, who's hitting .271/.385/.562, with 22 home runs and 65 RBI, and signed through 2014 at $7 million per season, they'll have to part with their top prospect, Gary Brown, and more.
- Brown is batting .290/.354/.392, with four home runs and 32 RBI, in 94 games with Double-A Richmond. He's stolen 26 bases in 40 attempts.
- If the A's have dreams landing Starlin Castro, only 22, it'll cost them, to start, top pitching prospect Dan Straily.
- Straily has spent time in both Double-A and Triple-A this season, with a combined 2.74 ERA in 19 starts and 118.1 innings. He's only allowed 85 hits while striking out a whopping 154 batters.
- Other hitters either team could target: Carlos Quentin, Justin Upton, Michael Cuddyer, and Shane Victorino. Upton will cost the most, of course.
- The Giants are also looking for a reliever, and could target any of Matt Capps, Huston Street, Brett Myers, Rafael Betancourt, or Jonathan Broxton.
- Shea notes that Oakland has been linked to infielders Yunel Escobar, Chase Headley, Marco Scutaro, and Stephen Drew in their attempts to upgrade at shortstop.
