Giants acquire Freddy Sanchez for Tim Alderson

The Giants have acquired Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez in a one-for-one deal for minor-league pitcher Tim Alderson.

As several media outlets have reported, Giants doctors re-examined Sanchez's left knee today and reportedly found no major defects. It became more apparent the deal was getting done this afternoon after the game when reporter Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette told Sanchez not to board the plane he was going to take to Phoenix, where he lives.

Sanchez praised the Giants and their ballpark during the All-Star break and did again today after learning he was traded to San Francisco. "They're really a great team. They have a great pitching staff. They're a fun team to watch. They have fun out there."

Tim Alderson was one of the Giants' best prospects, a first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Given how good a prospect Pittsburgh is getting, the presumption is that the Pirates are sending the Giants some money to cover the $2 million or so left on Sanchez's contract this season. He has a vesting option for '10.

UPDATE: Dejan is reporting the Giants get no money in the deal. In a news conference at the ballpark, Sanchez said he might not play until Monday because of his inflamed knee, which was checked twice by Giants doctors.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Sanchez will hit second in the order.

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