GIANTS BOLSTER BULLPEN
The San Francisco Giants acquired pitcher LaTroy Hawkins from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Jerome Williams and David Aardsma.
What does it give the San Francisco Giants
Trading out of dire necessity, the Giants got a quality late-reliever in LaTroy Hawkins. He wasn't being used much as a closer by the Cubs this year, but he does have two seasons of at least 25 saves in his career. That said, for now he'll set up Tyler Walker, but he could quicly step into the closer's shoes. Of course, the Giants thought they'd have one of the top closers in baseball when they signed Armando Benitez this winter, but he's likely out for the season with a torn hamstring and nobody on the Giants roster has really run away with the job.
What does it give the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs also traded out of dire necessity here. They already have a few pitchers capable of closing, so Hawkins was expendable and they absolutely needed a starter after watching Mark Prior go down hard the day before this deal. Williams gives them that. Still just 23, he already has a couple of strong big-league seasons under his belt, but struggled early this year and was sent to the minors, where he was also struggling pretty badly. So the Cubs hope they can turn him around. Meanwhile, Aardsma gives the Cubs another young righty with plenty of potential. A first-round pick in 2003, he was being groomed as a closer before heading to the rotation in the minors this year and the transition is going very smoothly. In acquiring two promising young pitchers, the Cubs are certainly the long-term winners here.
Fantasy impact
