Giants should be active before, after Trade Deadline

SAN FRANCISCO -- Even after completing two deals to bolster the Giants' roster, general manager Brian Sabean remains open for business as Thursday's 1 p.m. PT non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches.

Sabean won't stop with his pair of July acquisitions -- second baseman Dan Uggla and right-hander Jake Peavy. Center fielder Angel Pagan's balky back and the ever-present need for pitching could prompt another move, for either an offensively helpful outfielder or a live arm for either the bullpen or starting rotation. And if Sabean believes he can find a second baseman more capable than Uggla, he'll do what's necessary to accomplish the perceived upgrade.

Sabean has made a habit of engineering deals before the non-waiver Trade Deadline when the Giants have established themselves as contenders, which is their current status. He obtained infielders Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko in 2009, relievers Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez in '10, right fielder Carlos Beltran in '11 and second baseman Marco Scutaro and right fielder Hunter Pence in '12.

Sabean doesn't hibernate after the non-waiver Deadline, either. Cody Ross, the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 National League Championship Series, was acquired in a waiver deal that August. Right-hander Brad Penny arrived in September '09, and he went 4-1 in six starts, as San Francisco made an unsuccessful push for a postseason berth.

The Giants retain the flexibility to swing more deals. Sabean said in announcing Peavy's acquisition from Boston that rival teams had inquired about the availability of 15 Minor League prospects. Thus, San Francisco still possesses valuable bargaining chips. Sabean also coaxed the Red Sox to pay half of Peavy's remaining salary -- giving the Giants the economic flexibility to engineer a trade for another high-salaried performer, if necessary.

San Francisco has been linked to left-hander David Price and second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist of Tampa Bay in trade speculation, but such talk has cooled since the Rays' recent hot streak. San Diego outfielder Chris Denorfia would be a good fit, but it's uncertain whether the Padres would be willing to deal within the division.

As for Sabean, he has proven that he's willing to make almost any move to strengthen the Giants.