Lowry's May Be Out for Season

As been feared by Giants fans when Lowry was shut down in mid-April, the Giants have announced that Lowry might not return this season: when asked about Lowry pitching in 2008, Bochy said, "That's questionable. We don't know if he'll be back on the mound for us this year." Then the head trainer, Dave Groeschner, noted that even if Lowry were to resume throwing on July 1, he's need six to eight weeks without further setbacks to get his arm in shape to pitch. By then, it would be mid-August or early September.

Groeschner still won't rule out returning completely. They are waiting for the pins-and-needles sensation in his forearm to subside and recently the feeling has migrated from Lowry's upper forearm toward his wrist, which he says indicates that it might soon disappear.

Giants Thoughts

That's bad news but luckily Sanchez has made the best of his opportunity and our rotation has not been hurt that badly; it suffered more from losing Correia and adding Misch. I had been advocating trading him since the end of the 2006 season but we can forget about trading him now. His contract only goes to 2009, which is next season. I doubt under the circumstances that they are going to pick up his option for the 2010 season and instead try their luck to resign him for lower bucks without going to arbitration for that season.

Meanwhile, if you pencil in Lowry for the 2009 rotation, that would leave the Giants having to choose between Correia or Sanchez for the rotation, plus Misch would be a capable #5 starter and there are a number of pitchers coming up the system in two or three years, like Sosa, Alderson, Bumgarner, Bucardo, plus possibilities like Cowart, Pucetas, Snyder, Tanner.

So I would expect the Giants to actively shop both Correia and Sanchez, perhaps even as soon as July or August, presuming the Giants fall further from the race by then, and pulling the trigger if the price is right. By then, there will be desperate playoff contenders looking for another good starter due to injury and/or lack of performance, and the two of them would make fine additions to most rotations. Using that leverage, the Giants could get a team to give up a prospect ready for the majors in 2009 in order to get Correia and Sanchez in 2008 in order to make the playoffs.

If that don't happen, then both of them should be shopped for a good position prospect, we reportedly were offered Carlos Gomez by the Mets for Sanchez previously, so if Sanchez can continue to do well this season, we should be able to get more than that for him, particularly if the other team is desparate for a good starter.

Correia will be harder to get more in trade for him, but he's the type of #4/5 starter you need in order to win a division title (then he can go into relief during the playoffs) so I'm OK with keeping him if the value is not out there. Sanchez is definitely the shinier bauble to trade and hopefully the Giants can pick up some good prospects for him before the 2009 season, at least a good hitting infielder plus another prospect or two. That's presuming he continues to improve and develop this season.