San Francisco Giants rumor roundup: Beltre chatter, Cain & Peavy latest, Cuban OF update and Ishikawa vs. Arias?

October 23, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Travis Ishikawa (45) bats during workouts the day before game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Travis Ishikawa or Joaquin Arias on the chopping block?

The Giants have a roster problem on their hands. It’s a good problem, mostly, as they have an excess of players they would like to carry, but it’s a problem nonetheless.

Travis Ishikawa’s rehab stint is effectively over on Saturday night, per John Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, but how will the team make room for him?

Grant Brisbee thinks the 25th roster spot will come down to Ishikawa or Joaquin Arias, and I have to agree with him even though Matt Duffy has minor-league options on the table. He’s simply been too good to send down, and might have even supplanted Casey McGehee with another breakout game on Friday. 

Arias and Ishikawa are just “utility guys” by trade, but both vets are hard-working, high-character and have been around the organization for quite some time, making this 25th-man decision an unusually difficult one.

Smart money’s on Ishi since he gives the team a second left-handed bat off the bench, hits for more power (and maybe average at this point) and just had his bobblehead given away at the yard. Plus, Arias’ Kershaw-killer mystique faded away with Wednesday’s 0-for-3 showing.

Next: On to Cuban OF update