Andrew Baggarly talked to Giants GM Brian Sabean to find out how the Keppinger trade went down:
Giants G.M. Brian Sabean said he talked with the Astros about Keppinger a week ago but switched gears and engaged another club on "something we thought was much bigger." Sabean might have been referring to Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer; sources confirmed that Giants officials had expressed interest in Cuddyer with an eye toward playing him at second base.
But after Tejada strained a lower abdominal muscle Monday night, Sabean went for the quickest play. He agreed to part with Stoffel, a hard-throwing former closer at the University of Arizona.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
