Opinion

SAN FRANCISCO — One night after Madison Bumgarner lit up AT&T Park by taking a perfect game into the eighth inning, Tim Hudson was electric. Stretch-run energy buzzed through the Giants clubhouse in that old, familiar way.

Trading in Major League Baseball doesn't end until Aug. 31, but it sure feels like just about all the wheeling and dealing wrapped up back on July 31, doesn't it?

Portland, 2008. I'm standing at the entrance of the clubhouse, the cavernous confines of the now defunct Portland Beavers, staring at a list of horse names hastily scrawled in black magic marker across a hunk of brown cardboard. We're minutes from the start of the Kentucky Derby.

If Hanley Ramirez knew what was good for him, he wouldn't be playing shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That's not to say Ramirez shouldn't be wearing Dodger blue. He should, however, consider wearing it at a different position.

Namely, third base.

The San Francisco Giants' 2014 regular season is winding down and has just over four weeks remaining.

As the Giants scratch and claw to make the playoffs, general manager Brian Sabean must also begin planning for the future. Sabean will have several critical decisions to make, as he builds the roster for the 2015 season.

The Boston Red Sox continued their radical new approach to rebuilding on Saturday, announcing the signing of Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo to a seven-year Major League Baseball contract—reportedly worth $72.5 million—

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• Yoenis Cespedes