Sanchez traded to San Francisco

GLENDALE — Persistent rumors that swirled around baseball since prior to the All-Star break regarding a likely trade of Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants were finally validated on Wednesday.

The three-time All-Star and former National League batting titlist was swapped for Double-A starting pitcher Tim Alderson in a move announced shortly after Sanchez’s new club completed a three-game sweep of his former one with a 1-0 10-inning victory at AT&T Park.

“It’s crazy,” Sanchez, who played at Glendale Community College, told espn.com of the surreal experience of saying farewell to his Pirates teammates in the visitors’ clubhouse, then walking down the hall to the Giants’ clubhouse to join his new team. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s a little crazy, a little hectic. I’m here for a reason.”

Sanchez, 31, who is under contract through next season, is expected to slide into the No. 2 hole in the Giants’ batting order as the everyday second baseman.

San Francisco continues its seven-game homestand with the first of four games against the Philadelphia Phillies today, but it may be some time yet before Sanchez makes his Giants debut.

An inflamed left knee has kept Sanchez off the field since Sunday and nearly prevented the trade from happening. But the Giants medical staff reportedly examined the knee again on Wednesday before completing the trade and found noticeable improvement. He is currently listed as day to day.

“It’s tough coming to a new team not knowing if you can play or not,” Sanchez said to espn.com. “That’s the last thing you want to do is come to a new team and be in the trainer’s room. I want to get there as soon as I can, but I also want to be smart about it.”

Sanchez batted .344 to win the National League batting crown in 2006, when he also notched his first All-Star selection. An All-Star in 2008 and 2009, he has been one of the most consistent players on a Pirates team that has not had a winning season since 1992, batting .304 in 2007 and .296 with six home runs, 34 runs batted in and 45 runs scored this season through Wednesday.