Reports: Giles vetoes deal

According to reports by ESPN, the Boston Herald, and the San Diego Union Tribune, Padres outfielder Brian Giles today blocked a waiver deal that would have sent him to the Red Sox.

All three reports cited family as a major reason why he vetoed the trade, and ESPN.com reported that playing time was also a factor for Giles.

"All I can tell you is that he was claimed but nothing came to fruition," his agent, Joe Bick, told the Union Tribune this morning.

A source with direct knowledge of the situation told the Globe's Amalie Benjamin yesterday that the Red Sox submitted a waiver claim for Giles on Wednesday, and the Padres and Sox had until today to strike a trade. However, Giles had the power to block a deal to the Red Sox as part of a limited no-trade clause in his contract, and, he did indeed block the trade to Boston.

Might this still work out well for the Red Sox? In this morning's Boston Globe, Benjamin reported that "there are indications that part of the reason the Sox put in the claim was to block Giles from heading to one of the two teams with better records in the American League, the Rays or Angels, though the Rays would be the more likely candidate."

The 37-year-old Giles is hitting .295 with 6 homers and 37 RBIs in 103 games this season. In addition to the $9 million he is being paid this season, he gets $2 million if he's traded. His contract has a club option for 2009, which pays him $9 million, or $11 million if he is dealt. There is also a $3 million buyout on the option.

Information from the Globe's Amalie Benjamin was used in this report.