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This season has to be the most excited I've been about Giants baseball in about, oh, six years.

Yes, we had the whole Barry Bonds all-time home run chase just a few seasons ago, but San Francisco has not had postseason aspirations since 2003. It really has been that long.

With that, I've had the pleasure (pain?) of patiently waiting -- with bated breath, mind you -- on what the Giants do before this Friday, July 31st, which is MLB's non-waiver trade deadline.

Some notables on San Francisco's radar include the usual suspects; Freddy Sanchez, Nick Johnson, Aubrey Huff, et al, but I'm really enamored with the possibility of striking an even bigger deal.

Here are two names that have been bandied about more recently;



Victor Martinez | Cleveland Indians | Catcher-First Baseman



Cliff Lee | Cleveland Indians | Starting Pitcher

Seems like the Indians would ask for a King's ransom for their two studs, right? Well, perhaps, but the rival Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly were in discussions with Cleveland for a blockbuster deal that would have sent either Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw and James Loney to The Tribe for Martinez and Lee.

If those are the rigid parameters of a deal, could the Giants inevitably counter the offer with a proposal of Madison Bumgarner or Tim Alderson and Buster Posey or Alex Villalona?

Since Martinez and Lee are due $7 million and $9 million, respectively, in 2010, trading away two or three of the Giants top prospects seems like a bit much, right?

Then again, this marks the first time in recent memory that a) San Francisco is in a position to challenge for a playoff berth and b) they have an abundance of prospects and, thus, trade commodities to significantly improve their chances this season.

My question to everyone is: Do the Giants deal from their position of strength (minor league prospects) and "go for it," dealing for the likes of Martinez and Lee?

If San Francisco can land both, their chances of winning the Wild Card increase, and once they get in the playoffs, who would want to face a rotation of Tim Lincecum, Cliff Lee and Matt Cain in a seven-game series?

Also, the Giants solidify the first base and/or catcher position until 2011, when Buster Posey can take over, assuming he isn't traded, while Cliff Lee eases the burden on Jonathan Sanchez and Barry Zito for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, keeping them warm for either Bumgarner or Alderson, whomever isn't traded.

Basically you'd trade away two, maybe three of your Top 5 prospects for a year and a half of Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.

Best case scenario? They help the Giants squeeze into the postseason and see how far their magic takes them. In 2010, they continue to anchor the starting rotation and offense, while allowing time for prospects to develop for the 2011 season.

Worst case scenario? The Giants fail to make it to the playoffs, and tank even further in 2010, but can easily trade away Lee and Martinez during next year's trade deadline to fetch equal prospects in return.