Isn't There Anywhere Else Joe Can Go?

I've been looking around, and the short answer is no. San Francisco really is the only team in enough trouble at 3B to take a shot at Crede, and they may even pass him up for Morgan Ensberg. The Phillies would have made even more sense than the Giants, but they signed Pedro Feliz, the man Crede would be replacing in SF, to a two-year deal a couple days ago. I'm beginning to think my previous assessment of that deal being 'the best thing that could have happened to the White Sox' would be better stated as 'the worst thing that could have happened to the White Sox.' Philly has great pitching talent in the farm system and they're looking to contend this year, meaning they wouldn't mind a rent-a-player of Crede's caliber, something the Giants' fans have been whining about in the midst of the Lowry rumors.

Crede really is blocking Josh Fields at 3B, given that 10 out of 10 experts will tell you that Fields is the future of the Sox at third (well 9 out of 10, but I don't really count Phil Rogers...). And we could keep him at Triple-A, but does that really make sense for a guy whose rookie stats, projected out over a full season, equate to 37 HR and 107 RBI? Granted his BA and OBP are far from where we'd like them, and an improvement in them would probably dilute his power numbers a bit, but that's still a helluva lot of pop out of your seven hitter. Fields is no spring chicken at 25, and at this point he gains absolutely nothing from playing another season at Charlotte. Ozzie and Kenny are out of their minds if they leave him off the Opening Day roster, regardless of whether or not Crede has been moved by then.

I'm beginning to think that Kenny should just trade Crede (and someone else, if necessary) for Kevin Correia or Jonathan Sanchez, or perhaps one of the Gyros' pitching prospects, and bring this saga to a close. Sanchez is two years younger (25), but Correia put up much more impressive numbers in a limited role last season after moving out of the bullpen. However, Sanchez does have the higher ceiling and the better stuff, so while Correia might contribute more this season, Sanchez probably makes the most sense n the long run.

It's not a perfect scenario, but the longer we wait the better the chance the Giants fill up their void at third. And when that happens, Crede literally has nowhere to go. It's an awkward situation that should be handled expediently to benefit both Crede and Fields--as the Bulls proved this year with the Kobe affair, serious trade rumors that do not come to fruition can seriously affect chemistry and performance.