Next Year's Free Agent Class

 Now that this year's key free agents are re-signed, it is a good time to look forward to next year's likely free agent class for the Giants. This year, it was all about role players that fit well into the team that just won a world series. Next year won't be nearly the same, next year's class will include some key contributors that will likely get a lot of interest from many teams outside of the bay area. Next year will be a key test of Brian Sabean's loyalty and decision making capabilities because towards the top of next year's free agent class will be Tim Lincecum and Hunter Pence. Barry Zito will also, almost certainly, see his team option declined and enter free agency as well.

To say that next year will be a pivotal year for the Giants front office is an understatement. Lincecum is coming off of a terrible year but a great playoff run. If he is able to find a middle ground next year then he will be looking at a long term contract in the neighborhood of 20 million per year. If he doesn't rebound, he becomes an intriguing project that could still land a 3 year 50 million dollar deal. Pence should be able to command a five year commitment worth somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 12 million a year. Zito could land one more multiple year deal as well, entering his mid thirties, and could still get something in the range of three years and 25 million dollars. If that isn't enough, Pablo Sandoval will be entering into his final year before free agency as well. Not to mention the need to lock up Buster Posey for years to come.

It was nice to daydream about the Giants courting Josh Hamilton or other key free agent or trade targets this offseason but I think they did the smart thing by re-signing their own free agents and hopefully preparing offers to get other key pieces locked up before they have competition. While the Dodgers and other teams spend money on the big names, the Giants have been known to pick their spots when entering free agency. As they well know, sometimes you hit the jack pot (Barry Bonds) but most times you have to wait year's for an investment to pay off (Barry Zito), if it ever does (Aaron Rowand).