Giants promote Nady, five others

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CHICAGOXavier Nady will be among six Giants added whenactive rosters expand on Saturday, and manager Bruce Bochy hints strongly thatthe Cal alumnus and Salinas native could find himself starting immediately inleft field.

Hes been swinging the bat well, Bochy said of the veteranoutfielder. So well find out.

The Giants will activate right-hander Shane Loux,right-hander Brad Penny and first baseman Aubrey Huff from the 15-day disabledlist, Bochy said. Theyll add another bench bat in Brett Pill, who will berecalled from Fresno. And along with Nady, the club also will purchase thecontract of right-hander Jean Machi from Fresno.

Bochy and the staff will continue to evaluate whether tobring up a second wave of callups after Fresnos season ends on Monday. InfielderConor Gillaspie is on the 40-man roster and could be brought up easily enough,along with relievers Steve Edlefsen and Dan Runzler. But the Giants seldom bringup players just for the sake of occupying a locker.

Nady is the one piece who could make an impact, especiallywith Gregor Blanco really struggling to make consistent contact since takingover as the left fielder following Melky Cabreras 50-game drug suspension.

Nady has experience up here, Bochy said. Hes a dangeroushitter and we like the way hes been swinging the bat.

Could Nady be a regular in a left field platoon, playingagainst left-handers?

No, not just against lefties, Bochy said. Well get withthe staff and figure out our best option in left field.

It appears there wont be another option from the outsideworld. Any player the Giants acquired from outside the organization afterFriday would not be eligible to play in the postseason.

Nady, 33, got off to a slow start for Fresno after theGiants signed him to a minor league contract Aug. 4, but picked it up andcompiled a .270 average and .343 on-base percentage along with six home runsand five doubles in 89 at-bats. He hit three homers in a two-game span lastweekend at Reno, although the ballpark there is a launching pad.

Nady had made the Washington Nationals' opening day rosterbut was released earlier this month after he hit .157 with three home runs andsix RBIs in 40 games. He hadn't appeared in a major league game since late Junebecause of an ongoing wrist issue, but told Giants officials that he washealthy.

Nady played primarily in left field with the Nationals, but has experience inright field and first base as well.

Nady broke into the big leagues with Bochy in San Diego. Over 920 career gameswith the Padres, Mets, Pirates, Yankees, Cubs, Diamondbacks and Nationals, Nadyowns a .271 average with 100 home runs and 399 RBIs.

To create room on the 40-man roster for Nady, the Giants transferred Freddy Sanchez to the 60-day disabled list. One more 40-man move remains pending to create room for Machi; the club could recall minor league outfielder Roger Kieschnick and transfer him to the 60-day DL, but that would mean paying him a prorated portion of the major league salary.

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