BY ANDREW BAGGARLY

UPDATE: No comment from Bruce Bochy, who says the transaction is still being finalized.” But Ross is on his way. His quote to reporters in Miami: You play your heart out for this organization, and the next thing you know, you're gone. That's the game. That's the tough part. But there's a bigger plan for me, and I'm excited to get on that team. It is going to be a fun rest of the year for me.”

The Florida Marlins official Twitter feed reported that the Fish awarded outfielder Cody Ross to the Giants on a waiver claim. Awarded” is putting it nicely.

The Giants put in a claim to block Ross from going to the San Diego Padres, who needed a center fielder after Tony Gwynn Jr. broke a finger. The Giants already are stuffed with outfielders and now they'll have to find a way to get Ross on their roster.

Nate Schierholtz hasn't been used much lately, and he looked terrible at the plate while striking out today. It's possible that they could designate Schierholtz to make room for Ross, but we'll just have to wait and see.

The Giants are responsible for the remainder of Ross salary, which is roughly $1.1 million. He's eligible for arbitration after this season and the Marlins were expected to non-tender him this winter, anyway. Maybe they'll use the savings to erect a statue of Jeffrey Loria outside their new ballpark, or something.

Ross is a good defender who can play all three outfield positions. He's a bit of an all-or-nothing guy at the plate. Lot of hard contact but also a lot of strikeouts. I've gotten the impression he was a hot dog while watching him from afar, an opinion that a few Giants pitchers have shared after watching him toss his bat after home runs. But the Marlins writers I've talked to say I have it all wrong, that he's a great guy and a positive clubhouse presence.

Ross has an .864 OPS against lefties, by the way. Andres Torres has struggled from the right side, hitting .226. So it's possible that Ross could work his way into a platoon. (That also would mean even fewer starts for Aaron Rowand, and sorry, no, the Giants aren't going to cut him and eat the last two-plus years on his contract.)