Aug 17, 2010 4:44 PM EST

The Giants may be trying to keep a third baseman from reaching the Cardinals and Braves through the waiver process, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

"Heard this: There is a perception among some GMs that the Giants are trying to prevent third basemen from reaching the Cardinals or ... Braves in the waiver process -- which makes sense, because SF is competing with those teams for the playoffs," Olney wrote on his Twitter page.

San Francisco holds a .5 game lead on St. Louis for the National League Wild Card. Atlanta has a 2.5 game lead over San Francisco, but they currently lead the NL East.

Via Buster Olney/ESPN (via Twitter)