The San Francisco Giants need a bat, and they needed it three months ago. General manager Brian Sabean is trying to acquire that bat that hopefully will get the team to the playoffs, but a source close to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says “It won’t be easy.”

Another source said the San Francisco Giants approached the Washington Nationals for Adam Dunn, and the Nats asked for rookie Madison Bumgarner in return.

The Giants are hesitant to part with left-handers Madison Bumgarner or Jonathan Sanchez. Earlier this morning Chris Haft of MLB.com said the Giants would need to part with one of them to make a trade happen.

If the Giants are serious about Dunn, then they should expect competition. The Chicago White Sox have been known for some time to be pursuing the big first baseman.

In a side note, the Giants are said to be investigating Mariners’ reliever Brandon League.