As the San Francisco Giants try to navigate their way through another trade deadline, Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that utility outfielder Nate Schierholtz could be put up on the trade block as the Black and Orange look to make some slight improvements.
Schierholtz, a Bay Area native who has been with the team that drafted him since 2003, told Schulman that he feels a bit like the odd man out with the team, and that he feels like a future here in San Francisco is unrealistic.
"There's no place I'd rather play than here," Schierholtz said. "It's where I grew up. It's home to me. I love the fans. I love the city. There's not one thing I can't say I love about this place, but I think I've come to the realization that maybe I'm not their guy. I'm not in the cards having a future here."
Neither Nate nor his agent Damon Lapa have asked for a trade, but when asked if he was up for one, Schierholtz didn't shy away from it.
"I think whatever the best fit for the team and me is would be ideal. I can't really make those decisions. It's all up to them. Whether I'm here or not I'm going to give my best effort every day and bust my tail."
Schierholtz was looking like the everyday right fielder, starting the season batting .372 with a 1.148 OPS after getting six hits in an April 23 doubleheader at New York. But he went 0-for-12 in the next series in Cincinnati and was 1-for-21 over the next seven games, five of those starts.
Then came Gregor Blanco, who took over an everyday role as the leadoff hitter and hasn't looked back. And with Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera set in their positions, their really is no where but the bench for Nate. But when asked about him, skipper Bruce Bochy was quick to note that he has not forgotten the hometown fan-favorite.
"Nate is an important part of this club," Bochy said. "I understand players want to be out there every day. You don't blame them. That's how they should feel. I like Nate. I love Nate in the role he's had here. He's done so much contributing in that role."
A contributing role is obviously not cutting it for Schierholtz any longer:
"I started off the year playing well and getting comfortable," he said. "I went through a five-game skid, I guess you can say, and didn't get a hit, and I found myself back on the bench and not really knowing when I would play again..."It's disappointing, but I'm still working as hard as I can and done what I can when I've been given the opportunity."
Should be interesting to see how this all pans out.
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