On September 3rd, Milwaukee dealt RHP Dave Burba to San Francisco for LHP Josh Habel. The Giants drafted Habel out of the University of Northern Iowa with a 14th round pick in the 2002 draft. He spent the remainder of that season at Salem-Keizer in the Short-Season Northwest League, advancing to A Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League in 2003. Jumping to AA Norwich in the Eastern League, Habel compiled a 123:50 K:BB with 130 H and 21 HR allowed in 136.1 IP for a 4.36 ERA over 27 appearances, including 25 starts prior to this trade. While his homer rate should be monitored, the 23-year-old's skills indicate substantial potential. Hopefully, he will be able to spend most of 2005 at AAA, joining the Brewers' major league rotation in 2006.

While moving from Miller to SBC Park should make Burba feel better as a flyball pitcher, the combination of the park and a somewhat less effective defense may cause him hit and subsequently baserunner troubles when added to his borderline acceptable walk rate. Nevertheless, he should be a useful multi-inning reliever for the Giants down the stretch. Given San Francisco could use the depth during their heated battle for a playoff berth, Habel probably was an acceptable price.