Major League Baseball

Source: Giants send prospect to Indians for Garko

Published Jul. 28, 2009 6:05 p.m. ET

Ken Rosenthal

The San Francisco Giants have acquired first baseman Ryan Garko from the Cleveland Indians for Class-A left-hander Scott Barnes, according to a major-league source.

The Giants are trying to bolster an offense that ranks second-to-last in the NL in runs scored. San Francisco is nine games out in the NL West, but trails the Colorado Rockies by only one game in the wild card standings entering Tuesday's action.

One rival executive, when informed of the trade, said the Indians did well.

Barnes, the exec said, is "projected to be a pretty good back-end starter."

The same executive questioned whether Garko would make a difference for the Giants, saying, "That's the move from San Francisco? It's basically a non-move."

Garko has 11 home runs with 39 RBIs to go along with a .284 batting average this season.

Barnes, 21, was the Giants' ninth-best prospect according to Baseball America. He was 12-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 18 starts for Class A San Jose.