Mike Fontenot Traded to Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants looked only as far as the visitor's clubhouse to add depth and versatility to their infield, acquiring Mike Fontenot from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
Fontenot was still in Cubs gear a couple hours before game time, ready to make the short walk across the ballpark -- all of about 500 feet. He was available for the Giants off the bench.
"It's been a strange day so far," Fontenot said. "Coming to the field to get your work in and went up the stairs after hitting and they called me in the office. I'm excited for the opportunity. Knowing the Giants are in the thick of it really gets you pumped up."
Fontenot gave up his No. 17 blue road jersey to wear 14 for the Giants because Aubrey Huff already has 17. Fontenot chatted before the game with San Francisco's injured Mark DeRosa as the two were also Cubs teammates.
"Beat it!" one Cubs player yelled good-naturedly at Fontenot. "We've got to change our signs."
Carlos Zambrano waved goodbye a couple of times from a nearby table.
"I told him to take it easy on us," said acting Cubs manager Alan Trammell, filling in while Lou Piniella is in Tampa, Fla., helping his ailing mother. "When you've been around the game, you know things like this happen. Mike Fontenot was a very good teammate."
San Francisco sent speedy Class-A center fielder Evan Crawford to the Cubs, who weren't sure yet at which level Crawford would play. Short-handed Chicago was set to call up shortstop Darwin Barney from Triple-A Iowa, with the hope he would join the team Thursday -- or at the latest by the start of a series at St. Louis on Friday.
The Cubs scratched Aramis Ramirez an hour before first pitch Wednesday with a sore ribcage. First baseman Derrek Lee is on the bereavement list and it's unclear when he will come back, but he can't play before Friday.
Fontenot is ready to help any way he can.
"Whatever they need me to do," he said.
The Giants were in negotiations with the Cubs to acquire Fontenot at the July 31 trade deadline. Talks picked up between Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and Giants GM Brian Sabean after San Francisco shortstop Edgar Renteria strained his left biceps and went on the disabled list Wednesday, Renteria's third stint on the DL this season.
Renteria underwent an MRI exam earlier Wednesday for the injury that began bothering him on a swing during last week's series at Atlanta.
"Mike will help us in the infield, give us experience and a left-handed bat," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I wish we had him a day earlier."
The 30-year-old Fontenot is batting .284 with one home run, 11 doubles, three triples and 20 RBI in 75 games this season. Of his 40 starts, 29 have been at second base, seven at third and four at shortstop.
"He appreciated how he was handled here and he appreciates being in a pennant race," Cubs assistant GM Randy Bush said.
He could spell Freddy Sanchez at second while also filling in at other positions. San Francisco traded for Sanchez the same way last season, getting him from Pittsburgh when the Pirates were in town.
The Giants also activated infielder Eugenio Velez from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Fresno. Velez was struck on the head July 25 by a foul ball while in the dugout against Arizona.
Also Wednesday, the Cubs announced that lefty reliever John Grabow is done for the season. Already on the disabled list since June 29 with a sprained left knee, the pitcher tore the medial collateral ligament while on a rehab assignment in the Arizona League. He is scheduled to meet Monday with the team orthopedist in Chicago to discuss his options, and surgery is possible.
The hope is that Grabow will be ready for the start of spring training 2011. He was 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA in 28 appearances this year.
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