This sentence has been written one billion times so far, but whatever: the Giants want relief help and some bats before the trade deadline. This sentence, however, hasn't been written much: the Giants might look to the Rockies to get that help.
According to Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, there's a good chance Brian Sabean tries to raid the mountains before Monday's trade deadline.
"Don't be surprised if the Giants and Rockies make a deal. Colorado has scouted Fresno and Richmond recently," Schulman tweeted Thursday night. "As I reported the other day the Giants asked about Marco Scutaro for bench help a couple of weeks back. RH relievers Rafael Betancourt and Matt Belisle also could be a fit. Belisle is a better pitcher, but Betancourt is more available. And no, I have not heard Cuddyer's name."
Schulman's not the only one hearing rumblings about Rockies players: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Rockies want to move Scutaro, Betancourt and also Jason Giambi as well. Giambi wouldn't be available to trade until he came off the disabled list in August, however, which probably means a waiver trade.
Scutaro is 36 and not at all an impact-style bat. But he is hitting .271/.324/.684 with four home runs and 27 walks. He was an above-average player two of the three years with Boston prior to coming to Colorado and would provide the Giants with the "kind of crummy at the plate but good in the field veteran utility infielder" that always seems to populate the roster.
Betancourt is also not young. At 37, the reliever's having a pretty good year, posting a 3.00 ERA in 36 innings pitched, with 37 strikeouts and 17 saves. Betancourt blew three saves in June but has been perfect (and picked up a hold!) during the month of July in save opps. There's a good chance he'd become either the closer or part of a committee with Santiago Casilla and perhaps Sergio Romo.
Belisle, who Schulman also mentioned, is a more high-usage reliever (at the spry young age of 32!) and is sporting a 2.25 ERA in 52 innings with 45 strikeouts.
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But here's the thing about any deal with the Rockies: the Giants will be willing to trade, but they won't likely be willing to trade anyone that could end up being great, at least in terms of prospects. They play Colorado too many times a year and compete for the division too often to warrant that risk
