Since a few people have asked, I thought I would update the latest that I know about Brian Wilson's free agent status. The Giants remain hopeful that they will be able to bring back the former closer but they are looking at Sergio Romo as their closer come opening day. Wilson still feels slighted for being non-tendered by the Giants. He has given a lot to the franchise and feels disrespected by how this all came about. All reports suggest that he will explore his options elsewhere but that does not close the door on him returning. The Angels, Red Sox and Tigers seem to be the biggest competition for his services and the Tigers and Red Sox appear to be the better fits for him.
There is a connection between Wilson, the Giants team and the Giants fans that can't really be measured. He is a bigger part of what has happened here than many people realize. From a personnel stand point, the Giants can afford the loss. However, chemistry is a big part of how the Giants got where they are and to think that losing Wilson would not impact team chemistry is naive. Casual fans really may not get this but Brian Wilson, even though he didn't contribute on the field, was still a factor in this year's run. The relationship between Wilson and Romo appears to be special and that is not something to take lightly. While it appears the relationship between Wilson and the Giants is strained a bit, I am still holding out hope that it can be saved.
Showing posts with label Offseason. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Offseason. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
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).
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).
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Greinke Set for Record Payday in LA
According to reports, the Dodgers are close to adding the best starting pitcher available this winter. Zack Greinke is set for a record shattering 147 million dollar, six year deal with the L.A. The former Cy Young award winner will be the latest star brought to Hollywood by the Dodgers new ownership group. He is set to join Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Hanley Ramirez as players that have been added since the new ownership group moved into place earlier this year.If this were fantasy baseball, those names would be terrifying. However, as the Giants showed last year, it takes much more than star power to win in the real game. A look at recent history will show that this kind of spending doesn't often payoff for teams the way they would hope. In recent offseasons, we have seen teams like the Red Sox, Phillies, Marlins, Angels and Tigers spend freely for the big names in the offseason. While it does great for hype and hope in the offseason it has not payed off in the regular season or, more importantly, in the playoffs.
Some of the big spenders have even quickly abandoned ship with the bad contracts they have signed, which is how AGone, Crawford and Hanley Ramirez ended up with the Dodgers. While the Tigers did get through a very week American League playoff pool with the addition of Prince Fielder, they were no match for the Giants in the fall classic and Fielder failed to make any impact. While throwing money against the wall looks good in the offseason, it is not often the best way to build a team. Chemistry matters and that can't be bought.
While I came into this offseason daydreaming about Michael Bourn and Josh Hamilton coming to the Giants, Brian Sabean remained savvy and invested in chemistry by bringing back Pagan and showing little interest in Hamilton's desire for a six to seven year commitment. The Giants haven't gotten many winter headlines recently but they have gotten a lot of headlines in the fall. That is what it is all about and I look forward to the national media, once again, burying the Giants hopes of defending their NL West, NL penant and World Series crowns next year. Let's be honest hear, the best fantasy team is the Dodgers and they can fantasize about winning while the Giants go out and execute.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Affeldt Deal Finalized
The Giants should also finalize a new contract for Marco Scutaro this week and when that is complete it will only leave Angel Pagan as the final unsigned critical component to this past season's title run. With the depth of the free agent outfield class, and Pagan's insistence on testing the market, I expect for this one to go unresolved for quite some time. The Giants have touched base with Nick Swisher but I strongly doubt they would bring him in without signing another outfielder as well. As for Hamilton, the Phillies have gotten a lot of attention as the team for him but I find that hard to believe unless they were to move Cliff Lee's contract.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Marlins and Blue Jays Trade
In another blockbuster deal, the Marlins are putting the finishing touches on dealing away all of the pieces from last winter's spending spree. According to reports, the fish will be dealing Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to the Blue Jays for a good looking group of prospects and a couple of descent big leaguers. On the surface, this looks like a hell of a deal for the Blue Jays and one that could make them immediate contenders in the toughest division in baseball. However, if you dig a little bit deeper, you could find that they are making the same mistake that the Marlins did last winter by betting on stars rather than waiting for their team to come together.
Whether either side wins this trade will take years to decide but it certainly grabs your attention. This may be the first of a few major moves this winter with Justin Upton and Shin Soo Choo on the block as well. Much like the deal the Dodgers and Red Sox made last August this will grab a lot of attention and drive the media hype machine crazy about the Blue Jays. Yet, chemistry is something that can't be bought and is hard to place together. The Dodgers were a 500 baseball team for 2 and a half months before that deal and were the same for a month and a half after it. They were no better or worse, just more expensive.
What the Blue Jays actually got is a fantasy baseball superstar short stop that has yet to show any ability as a team leader. They also got a "number one starter when healthy" in Josh Johnson. I got news for everybody, a number one starter never comes with the tag, when healthy. If you can't rely on your number one for 200 plus innings a year then you are in some serious trouble. JJ has shown glimpses, even extended glimpses, of being the best pitcher in baseball but he is very unreliable and that is not a number one. They also got Mark Buehrle who is the most reliable piece of the deal but he should only be relied upon as a third or fourth starter and comes with the price of a number two. Emilio Bonafacio is a throw in that I think could work well for the Jays and John Buck goes back to Toronto where he had his best season in the majors.
While we will hear how great of a deal this was for the Jays, we can't judge it yet. It will be years before we can begin to evaluate the prospects the Marlins got. Sadly, I am pretty certain that they will do nothing to replace the payroll. It will be interesting, after this deal and the Red Sox trade a few months ago, to see how these trades impact free agency. Maybe owners will start to pull back a little bit on these outrageous contracts for very good players in free agency? Stars should still get paid (Pujols, Hamilton, Fielder, etc) but very good players (Pagan, Reyes, Buehrle, Lohse, B.J. Upton) should not be paid like superstars because the expectation level will never be met.
Whether either side wins this trade will take years to decide but it certainly grabs your attention. This may be the first of a few major moves this winter with Justin Upton and Shin Soo Choo on the block as well. Much like the deal the Dodgers and Red Sox made last August this will grab a lot of attention and drive the media hype machine crazy about the Blue Jays. Yet, chemistry is something that can't be bought and is hard to place together. The Dodgers were a 500 baseball team for 2 and a half months before that deal and were the same for a month and a half after it. They were no better or worse, just more expensive.
What the Blue Jays actually got is a fantasy baseball superstar short stop that has yet to show any ability as a team leader. They also got a "number one starter when healthy" in Josh Johnson. I got news for everybody, a number one starter never comes with the tag, when healthy. If you can't rely on your number one for 200 plus innings a year then you are in some serious trouble. JJ has shown glimpses, even extended glimpses, of being the best pitcher in baseball but he is very unreliable and that is not a number one. They also got Mark Buehrle who is the most reliable piece of the deal but he should only be relied upon as a third or fourth starter and comes with the price of a number two. Emilio Bonafacio is a throw in that I think could work well for the Jays and John Buck goes back to Toronto where he had his best season in the majors.
While we will hear how great of a deal this was for the Jays, we can't judge it yet. It will be years before we can begin to evaluate the prospects the Marlins got. Sadly, I am pretty certain that they will do nothing to replace the payroll. It will be interesting, after this deal and the Red Sox trade a few months ago, to see how these trades impact free agency. Maybe owners will start to pull back a little bit on these outrageous contracts for very good players in free agency? Stars should still get paid (Pujols, Hamilton, Fielder, etc) but very good players (Pagan, Reyes, Buehrle, Lohse, B.J. Upton) should not be paid like superstars because the expectation level will never be met.
Trade Interest for Brandon Belt
Monday, November 12, 2012
Marco Scutaro Next to Sign
Around the League 11/12/12
It has been a quiet offseason so far but it will get more exciting soon. Thus far, there haven't been any big names signed. It seems as if, for now, more teams have expressed interest in the top pitcher Zack Greinke than the top hitter Josh Hamilton. Both will get great pay days and it will be interesting to follow all offseason long.
The general manager meetings last week did not produce much, aside from trade speculation. It now appears likely that the Diamondbacks will go into next year with a dramatically different outfield. They have already dealt Chris Young and continue to shop Justin Upton. Meanwhile, Shin Soo Choo appears likely to be traded at some point, either before the season or next summer, as he enters his final year of arbitration in Cleveland. He should be quite a bargain with an anticipated salary around 8 million. With a deep free agent class in the outfield, it might be best for the Indians to wait until next summer to shop their leadoff hitter.
Hyun-Jin Ryu is free to sign with the Dodgers, after they paid just under 26 million to his Korean team. When they get him signed, they will hope that the lefty can ultimately pitch somewhere in the middle of their rotation. His numbers in the Korean league are very strong and he has big league stuff. This certainly is an upgrade to a rotation that has many question marks, the biggest of which is the tender elbow of Chad Billingsley who is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery.
The general manager meetings last week did not produce much, aside from trade speculation. It now appears likely that the Diamondbacks will go into next year with a dramatically different outfield. They have already dealt Chris Young and continue to shop Justin Upton. Meanwhile, Shin Soo Choo appears likely to be traded at some point, either before the season or next summer, as he enters his final year of arbitration in Cleveland. He should be quite a bargain with an anticipated salary around 8 million. With a deep free agent class in the outfield, it might be best for the Indians to wait until next summer to shop their leadoff hitter.
Hyun-Jin Ryu is free to sign with the Dodgers, after they paid just under 26 million to his Korean team. When they get him signed, they will hope that the lefty can ultimately pitch somewhere in the middle of their rotation. His numbers in the Korean league are very strong and he has big league stuff. This certainly is an upgrade to a rotation that has many question marks, the biggest of which is the tender elbow of Chad Billingsley who is trying to avoid Tommy John surgery.
Affeldt Agrees to 3 Year Contract
The Giants have inked key setup man and reliever Jeremy Affeldt to a three contract. Terms are yet to be disclosed. With the depth of the bullpen, there was some question as to whether or not Affeldt would price himself out of San Francisco but it is good to see that the team and his representation could come to a deal to bring back the left handed setup man. While the Giants have won two of the last three world series, Affeldt has offered stability in a bullpen that has seen a bit of turnover. He is one of the few left handed relievers in the game that can get right handers out as well.There is still some doubt about Brian Wilson's future with the Giants and it would have been tough for the team to sustain the leadership loss of Affeldt if they don't end up bringing back Wilson. This is the first signing for the Giants this offseason. Marco Scutaro is still a free agent and it would be nice to get him signed as soon as possible too. Angel Pagan should take some time because he is expected to take offers from other teams and I expect him to see what others have to offer before talking seriously to the Giants about a return.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Free the Beard?
I was somewhat saddened to read this but I understand that it is an unfortunate part of the business of baseball. Wilson will forever have a place in the hearts of Giants fans everywhere. He is a charismatic entertainer as much as he was a dominant closer. It is sad to imagine him ever pitching against the Giants. The beard was a big part of the 2010 title. While many saw his antics as entertaining and funny, don't forget what that may have meant to a young team under the pressure cooker of the playoffs for the first time. Wilson kept so much attention on himself that others could relax.
If he leaves, I will never forget him and I hope that he gets back to what he was before he got hurt. Please, just don't do it for the Dodgers.
Hunter Pence a Consistantly Solid Producer
He is a lifetime 290 hitter with runners in scoring position who's rbi total has gone up in each of the past three seasons. His homerun total has been very consistent, over the last five years he has hit 25, 25, 22, and 24. Despite what we saw in the playoffs, he can hit for a solid average as well. His career average is 285. The only alarming thing his numbers show is an increasing strike out rate since he left Houston. If he can get that down from last year's 145 to around his career norm of just under 120 then he should be able to give the Giants an average in the 280's.
His value, aside from his bat, is almost immeasurable. We all know about his postseason speeches that became routine. The leadership and energy that he provides every day, whether he is hitting or not, is not something to take for granted. He hustles on defense and makes plays that most would not even attempt. While he may not be the consistent protection that the Giants need behind Posey he is certainly a threat. He only hit 219 after he came over from Philly last year but he still had 45 rbi in 59 games. I just hope fans temper their expectations and enjoy the hustle.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Don't Bring Back Melky
There is one thing that Giants fans seem torn about this offseason and that is the idea of whether or not the club should give outfielder Melky Cabrera a second chance after his PED suspension. He is a free agent and before he got suspended he looked like he was going to be an expensive but very necessary re-signing this offseason. He was having an MVP like season and had a true connection with the Giants fan base. Melk men and Melk maids were all over AT&T park during, what looked to be, a magical career season for Melky.
Some fans can't shake those memories and it is very understandable but we all need to acknowledge what happened. It is one thing to say that Melky cheated, it is an unfortunate part of todays MLB, but the way that he handled himself with the team is unforgivable. After the suspension, he walked away without even acknowledging his teammates or the front office. He essentially turned his back on the team, the front office and the fans. The PED's we can get over, hell look at Barry Bonds, but the aftermath is hard to forget.
You also need to take note of how the team responded to his suspension. While nobody in the lineup replaced his numbers, the entire offense gelled better than we have seen in years. Scoring went up and production came from every part of the lineup. Blanco took many of the starts in left field the rest of the way and, while he didn't provide the offensive punch that Melky had, he starred with his glove work and defensive speed. Not to mention, having a few key offensive moments in the postseason.
Chemistry is a hard thing to find but, when it is there, it is impossible to ignore. While the offensive numbers Melky put up were impressive they weren't nearly as important as the way his actions pulled this team together. There are some free agents I want back more than others but Melky is one of the few that I don't think should even be talked to. His time in San Francisco was short, fun and exciting but it ended when he walked out without even an explanation. I hope that the fans that want him back will understand why management will pretend he was never here. It is time to move on.
Some fans can't shake those memories and it is very understandable but we all need to acknowledge what happened. It is one thing to say that Melky cheated, it is an unfortunate part of todays MLB, but the way that he handled himself with the team is unforgivable. After the suspension, he walked away without even acknowledging his teammates or the front office. He essentially turned his back on the team, the front office and the fans. The PED's we can get over, hell look at Barry Bonds, but the aftermath is hard to forget.
You also need to take note of how the team responded to his suspension. While nobody in the lineup replaced his numbers, the entire offense gelled better than we have seen in years. Scoring went up and production came from every part of the lineup. Blanco took many of the starts in left field the rest of the way and, while he didn't provide the offensive punch that Melky had, he starred with his glove work and defensive speed. Not to mention, having a few key offensive moments in the postseason.
Chemistry is a hard thing to find but, when it is there, it is impossible to ignore. While the offensive numbers Melky put up were impressive they weren't nearly as important as the way his actions pulled this team together. There are some free agents I want back more than others but Melky is one of the few that I don't think should even be talked to. His time in San Francisco was short, fun and exciting but it ended when he walked out without even an explanation. I hope that the fans that want him back will understand why management will pretend he was never here. It is time to move on.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Brian Sabean's Top Ten Transactions
Sixteen years into Brian Sabean's run as San Francisco Giants GM, I went over his five worst moves and now I will go over his 10 best moves. His run has been extremely successful and I am hopeful that we will see more deals added to this list over the next decade plus. Aside from the Felipe Alou era, his entire run heading the Giants has been successful. The current roster has a lot of youth and I really feel good about the future of the San Francisco Giants. With no further ado, here are my ten favorite Sabean signings and deals. For the record, this does not include draft picks. It is exclusively trades, signings and releases.
10) traded Tim Alderson for Freddy Sanchez
9) Claimed Cody Ross off waivers in August of 10
8) traded John Bowker and Joe Martinez for Javier Lopez trade deadline of 10
7) Traded Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong to Pittsburgh for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wall trade deadline 2001
6) signed Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe in January of 10
5) Signed Ryan Vogelsong in January of 11
4) traded Andres Torres and Roman Ramirez for Angel Pagan in December of 11
3) Allen Watson and Fausto Macey for JT Snow November of 96
2) traded Charlie Culberson for Marco Scutaro and cash trade deadline of 11
1) Signed Bruce Bochy as manager in October 06
I am glad that I decided to do these articles because I gained much more appreciation for what Sabean has given us. Of course, I remembered every awful signing or bad trade but I forgot that the Rockies paid the majority of Scutaro's contract this year. It was crazy to see Vogelsong on this list twice. Sabean is the best in the game and the research for these posts reminded me of how great he is.
Let me know if I missed anything and share this with your fellow Giants fans. Hat's off to Sabean for all he has accomplished.
10) traded Tim Alderson for Freddy Sanchez
9) Claimed Cody Ross off waivers in August of 10
8) traded John Bowker and Joe Martinez for Javier Lopez trade deadline of 10
7) Traded Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong to Pittsburgh for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wall trade deadline 2001
6) signed Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe in January of 10
5) Signed Ryan Vogelsong in January of 11
4) traded Andres Torres and Roman Ramirez for Angel Pagan in December of 11
3) Allen Watson and Fausto Macey for JT Snow November of 96
2) traded Charlie Culberson for Marco Scutaro and cash trade deadline of 11
1) Signed Bruce Bochy as manager in October 06
I am glad that I decided to do these articles because I gained much more appreciation for what Sabean has given us. Of course, I remembered every awful signing or bad trade but I forgot that the Rockies paid the majority of Scutaro's contract this year. It was crazy to see Vogelsong on this list twice. Sabean is the best in the game and the research for these posts reminded me of how great he is.
Let me know if I missed anything and share this with your fellow Giants fans. Hat's off to Sabean for all he has accomplished.
Brian Sabean's 5 Worst Transactions
Brian Sabean has been the Giants GM since the end of the 96 season. In that time, he has led the team to division titles in 97, 2000, 03, 10, and 12. They also won the NL wild card in 2002 and have contended until the season's final week a number of times in his tenure. Sabean has led the Giants to NL penants in 2002, 2010 and 2012. He also has World Series titles from 2010 and 2012. During his tenure, the Giants have been one of baseball's best teams. However, it has not all been beautiful. I will now reveal my 5 worst transactions by the Giants in the Sabean era. Later today, I will also reveal my ten best. So, here is my list in order from 5 to 1.
5) Traded Zach Wheeler for Carlos Beltran trade deadline of 11
4) Traded Keith Foulke, Bob Howry, and Mike Caruso for Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin and Roberto Hernandez trade deadline 97
3) Signed Aaron Rowand to a 5 year 60 million dollar contract in December of 07
2) signed Felipe Alou as manager in November of 02
1) traded Joe Nathan, Boof Bonsor and Francisco Liriano for A.J. Pierzynski in November of 03
It is funny, when I started putting together the list, I expected it to be a top ten but I could not come up with ten that were really worth criticizing. Considering Sabean is the longest tenured GM in the majors, that is quite impressive. I wonder how many people still bring up the Pierzynski deal though.
5) Traded Zach Wheeler for Carlos Beltran trade deadline of 11
4) Traded Keith Foulke, Bob Howry, and Mike Caruso for Wilson Alvarez, Danny Darwin and Roberto Hernandez trade deadline 97
3) Signed Aaron Rowand to a 5 year 60 million dollar contract in December of 07
2) signed Felipe Alou as manager in November of 02
1) traded Joe Nathan, Boof Bonsor and Francisco Liriano for A.J. Pierzynski in November of 03
It is funny, when I started putting together the list, I expected it to be a top ten but I could not come up with ten that were really worth criticizing. Considering Sabean is the longest tenured GM in the majors, that is quite impressive. I wonder how many people still bring up the Pierzynski deal though.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Crawford Named Giants Defender of the Year
It was nice to see mlb network name Brandon Crawford as the Giants defender of the year. Many see Crawford as a future gold glove winner and this is a good way to get the attention he will need to win gold gloves in the future. This is not a major award at all but it is a nice honor for a young player that doesn't often get the attention that he deserves. I am a huge fan of Crawford and very happy to see this for him.
In other news, Giants third string catcher Eli Whiteside, was claimed on waivers by the Yankees. Whiteside had the unfortunate assignment of coming in as the replacement for Posey after the knee injury last year. He is a player who has worked his tail off in the minors and deserves a chance to make a big league roster. With the emergence of Hector Sanchez this year, Whiteside became a little bit more expendable, especially given the fact that he should get a small raise in arbitration. In New York, he should have a chance to battle for a big league backup role. I wish him all the luck in the world because he is a really hard worker and he knows the game well. Someday, he will be coaching somewhere.
In other news, Giants third string catcher Eli Whiteside, was claimed on waivers by the Yankees. Whiteside had the unfortunate assignment of coming in as the replacement for Posey after the knee injury last year. He is a player who has worked his tail off in the minors and deserves a chance to make a big league roster. With the emergence of Hector Sanchez this year, Whiteside became a little bit more expendable, especially given the fact that he should get a small raise in arbitration. In New York, he should have a chance to battle for a big league backup role. I wish him all the luck in the world because he is a really hard worker and he knows the game well. Someday, he will be coaching somewhere.
2013 Estimated Team Payroll
The Giants, after another title run will likely increase the payroll for the 4th consecutive year, according to general manager Brian Sabean. This means that the Giants are a team that believes in re-investing to sustain excellence and it has been remarkably successful of late, obviously. They entered the 2012 season with a team payroll of around 118 million dollars and then added another 14 million in acquisitions during the season. The players they added, especially Scutaro and Pence, had a major impact and led them to pulling away in the division and eventually winning it all again.
Their payroll, entering last season ranked 8th in the majors and you can look for them to stay right around that spot. However, the payroll is expected to go up by about 10-20 million and there is no reason to believe they wouldn't be willing to add to that during the season if it gave them a chance to make another deep run in Orangetober. Now, with the payroll going up, many players are contractually guaranteed raises and that will account for about half of the increase. However, the Giants also are finally free of the Aaron Rowand contract and about 27% of the payroll from last year went to Rowand, Huff, Melky and Freddy Sanchez. None of them are expected to be brought back, in fact Huff has already been bought out at a price of three million dollars.
So, the budget is their to add to the team. I do expect that they will find a way to get Scutaro and Affeldt signed, sooner rather than later. After that, the team should have in the neighborhood of 20-25 million left to spend. The question then is how do you spend it. That will be up the genius that is our GM, Brian Sabean. I have been calling for Hamilton to get a long look from the Giants. Based upon the budget, they can afford him but I wouldn't want to see him get a 6-7 year deal from the Giants. That is apparently what many expect him to want. Some team maybe foolish enough to do it but I strongly doubt that it will be Sabean and the Giants.
Whether Hamilton ends up in San Francisco or not, I trust that Sabean will continue to mold the Giants into a winning team for years to come. There are plenty of options in the outfield, including Angel Pagan who is going to get a significant payday somewhere, so the Giants need to take their time and really get the best fit for this team at this time. They don't necessarily need to make the biggest splash but it is nice to know that ownership is willing to spend the money if the right situation comes up. That is all we can ask for as fans, isn't it?
For those looking to get their gamer babe something for Christmas, check this out!
Their payroll, entering last season ranked 8th in the majors and you can look for them to stay right around that spot. However, the payroll is expected to go up by about 10-20 million and there is no reason to believe they wouldn't be willing to add to that during the season if it gave them a chance to make another deep run in Orangetober. Now, with the payroll going up, many players are contractually guaranteed raises and that will account for about half of the increase. However, the Giants also are finally free of the Aaron Rowand contract and about 27% of the payroll from last year went to Rowand, Huff, Melky and Freddy Sanchez. None of them are expected to be brought back, in fact Huff has already been bought out at a price of three million dollars.
So, the budget is their to add to the team. I do expect that they will find a way to get Scutaro and Affeldt signed, sooner rather than later. After that, the team should have in the neighborhood of 20-25 million left to spend. The question then is how do you spend it. That will be up the genius that is our GM, Brian Sabean. I have been calling for Hamilton to get a long look from the Giants. Based upon the budget, they can afford him but I wouldn't want to see him get a 6-7 year deal from the Giants. That is apparently what many expect him to want. Some team maybe foolish enough to do it but I strongly doubt that it will be Sabean and the Giants.
Whether Hamilton ends up in San Francisco or not, I trust that Sabean will continue to mold the Giants into a winning team for years to come. There are plenty of options in the outfield, including Angel Pagan who is going to get a significant payday somewhere, so the Giants need to take their time and really get the best fit for this team at this time. They don't necessarily need to make the biggest splash but it is nice to know that ownership is willing to spend the money if the right situation comes up. That is all we can ask for as fans, isn't it?
For those looking to get their gamer babe something for Christmas, check this out!
Bring Back Scooter
I am somewhat surprised that the Giants have not re-signed Marco Scutaro yet. Of their free agents, he is clearly the biggest priority to bring back. The other options at second base aren't very good and the Giants don't have a second basemen in the minors that is big league ready. It made so much sense to re-sign Scooter that I left him off of my free agent prediction list. I mean, he wasn't going anywhere right? Well, I hoped they would have something done before he hit the open market last Friday night and I predicted that it would be done by the end of the week. Since neither of those happened, I am a bit concerned right now. Hopefully it will all work out and he will come back.
The team does not have the excuse of saying they can't afford him though. He is likely wanting a 3 year deal in the range of 8-10 million annually. That is very reasonable in today's market, especially when Scooter is the best shortstop or second baseman on the market. Just get it done and move on. The longer this takes, the more we should worry.
The team does not have the excuse of saying they can't afford him though. He is likely wanting a 3 year deal in the range of 8-10 million annually. That is very reasonable in today's market, especially when Scooter is the best shortstop or second baseman on the market. Just get it done and move on. The longer this takes, the more we should worry.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Angel Pagan to the Highest Bidder
According to reports, Angel Pagan will not give the Giants any kind of discount to retain his services. As he enters free agency at age 31, he is looking for the best available pay day. You can't fault him for this. He may never be in a better position in his career. He had a major impact on the Giants, in a career year. Given his age, it is time to cash in. Now it is time for the Giants to learn from history and move on.
After the 2010 title, I was apprehensive about re-signing Aubrey Huff but he was such an integral part of the title run that I accepted him back. He was over-payed, based off of his career numbers, but I hoped that his performance wouldn't drop off too dramatically. After his 26 homeruns in 2010, he had just 12 in 2011 and followed that up with most of 2012 lost to injury. In the end, the Giants thanked him for his services and paid off his 3 million dollar buy out. It was a mistake to re-sign him and the Giants need to remember that this time around.
Pagan reminds me a lot of Huff. He was a very good player before he became a Giant. When he got to San Francisco, everything clicked and he had a huge impact on a championship team. It was a perfect fit while it lasted. However, it is over now and you have to accept that. There are other options within the market and within the Giants roster. I have been preaching for the Giants to pursue Hamilton and I think they will. However, Michael Bourn would also be a good fit. Here are some lineups I think you could see if the Giants got either Hamilton or Bourn. By the way, they won't get both and they don't need to.
With Hamilton With Bourn
Marco Scutaro Michael Bourn
Brandon Belt Marco Scutaro
Josh Hamilton Pablo Sandoval
Buster Posey Buster Posey
Pablo Sandoval Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence Brandon Belt
Gregor Blanco Gregor Blanco
Brandon Crawford Brandon Crawford
I love the Hamilton lineup because it is so deep and I think Belt could blossom in front of Hamilton, Posey and the Panda. The Bourn lineup is the same as we had all postseason with Bourn replacing Pagan. Still not bad and I think Bourn would be a better leadoff hitter than Pagan was. With Bourn, instead of Hamilton, you would be left with money to try to extend Posey and bring back Lincecum. So, both sides have huge advantages. The Giants have the money, after the estimated 28 million in revenue they made this postseason, and I expect them to spend it on one of these two outfield stars.
After the 2010 title, I was apprehensive about re-signing Aubrey Huff but he was such an integral part of the title run that I accepted him back. He was over-payed, based off of his career numbers, but I hoped that his performance wouldn't drop off too dramatically. After his 26 homeruns in 2010, he had just 12 in 2011 and followed that up with most of 2012 lost to injury. In the end, the Giants thanked him for his services and paid off his 3 million dollar buy out. It was a mistake to re-sign him and the Giants need to remember that this time around.
Pagan reminds me a lot of Huff. He was a very good player before he became a Giant. When he got to San Francisco, everything clicked and he had a huge impact on a championship team. It was a perfect fit while it lasted. However, it is over now and you have to accept that. There are other options within the market and within the Giants roster. I have been preaching for the Giants to pursue Hamilton and I think they will. However, Michael Bourn would also be a good fit. Here are some lineups I think you could see if the Giants got either Hamilton or Bourn. By the way, they won't get both and they don't need to.
With Hamilton With Bourn
Marco Scutaro Michael Bourn
Brandon Belt Marco Scutaro
Josh Hamilton Pablo Sandoval
Buster Posey Buster Posey
Pablo Sandoval Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence Brandon Belt
Gregor Blanco Gregor Blanco
Brandon Crawford Brandon Crawford
I love the Hamilton lineup because it is so deep and I think Belt could blossom in front of Hamilton, Posey and the Panda. The Bourn lineup is the same as we had all postseason with Bourn replacing Pagan. Still not bad and I think Bourn would be a better leadoff hitter than Pagan was. With Bourn, instead of Hamilton, you would be left with money to try to extend Posey and bring back Lincecum. So, both sides have huge advantages. The Giants have the money, after the estimated 28 million in revenue they made this postseason, and I expect them to spend it on one of these two outfield stars.
Prospect Report AFL
With the conclusion of the World Series, there is no more MLB for four months. However, many of the future Giants are still playing and I will focus on a few of them that just wrapped things up in the Arizona Fall League.
Gary Brown, Heath Hembree and Chris Dominguez are three prospects that should see playing time in San Francisco in the coming season. If you don't keep up with prospects, Brown is an outfielder that could be the leadoff hitter of the future in the city by the bay. Hembree is a hard throwing reliever that looks like he is close to being ready to see some time in the San Franciso pen. Chris Dominguez is a powerful third baseman who could see action if Pablo Sandoval gets hurt next year. All three have promise and showed that promise in the Arizona Fall League.
Brown hit 326 in 43 at bats, stole two bases, scored five runs and compiled a 388 on base percentage. Not a bad showing but it is worth mentioning that he was thrown out three times trying to steal. He has a lot of promise and if the Giants let Pagan go and don't get Michael Bourn, it will be either Brown or Blanco that ends up hitting leadoff for the Giants in the future. Dominguez was very impressive, hitting 344 with three home runs and eight driven in, in just 32 at bats. He certainly has some pop and if he continues to develop then we could see him in the big leagues soon. How much he plays would depend upon the health of Sandoval and the production of Brandon Belt. Hembree may be the most big league ready of the three. He had a solid showing in seven relief innings. He allowed three earned runs, walked two and struck out eleven. He should compete for a spot in the Giants bullpen next year and profiles as a good middle reliever that could develop into a solid setup man.
Gary Brown, Heath Hembree and Chris Dominguez are three prospects that should see playing time in San Francisco in the coming season. If you don't keep up with prospects, Brown is an outfielder that could be the leadoff hitter of the future in the city by the bay. Hembree is a hard throwing reliever that looks like he is close to being ready to see some time in the San Franciso pen. Chris Dominguez is a powerful third baseman who could see action if Pablo Sandoval gets hurt next year. All three have promise and showed that promise in the Arizona Fall League.
Brown hit 326 in 43 at bats, stole two bases, scored five runs and compiled a 388 on base percentage. Not a bad showing but it is worth mentioning that he was thrown out three times trying to steal. He has a lot of promise and if the Giants let Pagan go and don't get Michael Bourn, it will be either Brown or Blanco that ends up hitting leadoff for the Giants in the future. Dominguez was very impressive, hitting 344 with three home runs and eight driven in, in just 32 at bats. He certainly has some pop and if he continues to develop then we could see him in the big leagues soon. How much he plays would depend upon the health of Sandoval and the production of Brandon Belt. Hembree may be the most big league ready of the three. He had a solid showing in seven relief innings. He allowed three earned runs, walked two and struck out eleven. He should compete for a spot in the Giants bullpen next year and profiles as a good middle reliever that could develop into a solid setup man.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Vegas Odds for 2013 World Champions
Surprise, the Giants aren't the favorites to win next year. That is fine, until you see the teams favored ahead of them. The Tigers and Yankees are the two biggest favorites to win it all next year, then our Giants are third. There are some other teams I am intrigued by as well. Here are some of the odds I find interesting.
Detroit Tigers: 6/1
New York Yankees: 7/1
San Francisco Giants: 10/1
Texas Rangers: 12/1
Washington Nationals: 12/1
Los Angeles Angels: 12/1
St. Louis Cardinals: 14/1
Cincinnati Reds: 14/1
Atlanta Braves: 14/1
Los Angeles Dodgers: 18/1
Tampa Bay Rays: 20/1
Baltimore Orioles: 25/1
Milwaukee Brewers: 25/1
Oakland Athletics: 25/1
Houston Astros: 150/1
If I had to rank them before, free agency, I would go with the following as the most likely.
Giants
Nationals
Angels
Braves
Rangers
Tigers
Reds
Cardinals
Rays
Brewers
The Yankees have to be the worst bet on the board, I don't see them winning for a number of years. They are as big of a mess as they have been in some time. So, let me know who you think are the top 3-5 contenders next year.
Detroit Tigers: 6/1
New York Yankees: 7/1
San Francisco Giants: 10/1
Texas Rangers: 12/1
Washington Nationals: 12/1
Los Angeles Angels: 12/1
St. Louis Cardinals: 14/1
Cincinnati Reds: 14/1
Atlanta Braves: 14/1
Los Angeles Dodgers: 18/1
Tampa Bay Rays: 20/1
Baltimore Orioles: 25/1
Milwaukee Brewers: 25/1
Oakland Athletics: 25/1
Houston Astros: 150/1
If I had to rank them before, free agency, I would go with the following as the most likely.
Giants
Nationals
Angels
Braves
Rangers
Tigers
Reds
Cardinals
Rays
Brewers
The Yankees have to be the worst bet on the board, I don't see them winning for a number of years. They are as big of a mess as they have been in some time. So, let me know who you think are the top 3-5 contenders next year.
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