Could the Giants have traded for Aoki?

Jul 21, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Norichika Aoki during the game against the Miami Marlins at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers completed a trade. The Royals sent left handed reliever Will Smith to the Brewers in exchange for outfielder Norichika Aoki.

My question with this trade is this, did Giants General Manager Brian Sabean make a play for Aoki?

It’s no secret that the Giants are in need of a left fielder, for the upcoming season. and I believe that Aoki is someone who may have fit in very well with the Giants. This past season, while playing in Milwaukee, Aoki had a .288 avg while posting a .355 OBP and .433 slugging percentage. Aoki was mostly a lead off hitter with the Brewers and could have very well did the same with the Giants, moving Pagan to 7th in the order. Aoki has some extra base power and would have surely flourished in the spacious confines of AT&T Park, he had 20 doubles 3 triples and 8 homeruns playing his home games at Miller Park. I am almost certain those triple and double numbers would increase in AT&T, while the homerun numbers would drop. If a trade for Aoki he would have moved from right field to left field and would give the team a couple solid arms in the corners, with Hunter Pence staying in right.

Another question would be, what would it have cost to get him?

Having been traded for a reliever and that isn’t exactly a big strength of the team. I don’t know for sure, but I would have at least offered up RHP Jake Dunning and LHP Mike Kickham. I believe that may have gotten a trade done. I don’t know if Milwaukee made it common knowledge that Aoki was available. Or did the Brewers jump at the first deal that was presented to them?

With still a couple of months until Pitchers and Catchers report, I understand that there is still time to address the left field situation and hopefully next weeks winter meetings will result in someone new sporting the orange and black of our San Francisco Giants

There are still some outfield options out there on the market and via trade. It is going to be very interesting to see what Sabean has up his sleeve and if anything is done or if we see another year of a platoon.

Make sure you join the guys at AtF Podcast this coming Monday, as they are planning on discussing the most recent moves in all of Major League Baseball and the upcoming Winter Meetings