A farewell to arm - that’s the price of a bat;GIANTS’ TRADE JONATHAN SANCHEZ AND A MINOR-LEAGUE

Brian Sabean loathes the notion of trading a starting pitcher.In recent years, the Giants' general manager might havepreferred dealing one of his sons for an offspring to be namedlater. On Monday, Sabean finally busted up his prized rotation anddealt left-hander Jonathan Sanchez and minor-league pitcher RyanVerdugo to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Melky Cabrera, adeal that acknowledged the Giants' desperate need for offenseand the paucity of solid, affordable bats in this year's free-agentmarket. Cabrera, 27, is coming off a career season after he went thePablo Sandoval route and got his body into shape. Cabrera could bethe Giants' leadoff hitter and centerfielder.