Giles Decision Friday

Padres right fielder may have played in his last game for his hometown team (this season anyway). The Boston Red Sox submitted a waiver claim on Giles and the two sides are reportedly working hard on putting a deal in place while working with Giles to insure he accepts the move. If the San Diego native accepts his trade he would be propelled into a pennant race with the defending world champs, but lose playing time. The water cooler talk has shifted from the thought that Boston put in the waiver claim to block Tampa Bay or the Angels from a shot at Giles to the idea that the Sox want Giles for depth and injury insurance.

FF feels differently about this waiver deal as we did to last year when it was the Padres who claimed Kei Igawa from the New York Yankees. With that deal it seemed only San Diego really wanted to work out a deal, and in fact, no trade took place. This transaction would allow Giles to compete in the post season and possible return back home to San Diego as a free agent after this year. FF gives this deal a sold 70% chance of happening today. The logic behind that percentage is based on the great relationship between the GM's, Kevin Towers and Theo Epstein, and the fact that Giles would move to a legit contender and could come back in the offseason and roam in front of the Petco Porch in 2009.

UPDATE: Giles blocked the trade, exercising his no trade powers, which included Boston and seven other clubs.