Archive for January, 2010.
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants and Brian Wilson have reached an agreement. Which means they will be avoiding arbitration. Wilson will be making nearly $4.5 million ($4,437,500).
King of Cali thoughts: This comes as no surprise since we knew the Giants and Wilson were not that far apart in arbitration numbers. Wilson has some shaky outings, but for the most part he does seem to get the job done.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com said (via twitter) that the Giants still want some bullpen help, but the 40-man roster is set. Chan Ho Park’s name has come up, but he’d have to take a minor-league deal.
Urban said in a followup tweet. The Giants door appears to have shut, or never opened on Eric Byrnes. Consider the Giants done with any real shopping.
Urban says (via twitter) that two high-ranking Giants officials tell him they’re done with big-league free agents, which means they’re out on Kiko Calero.
King of Cali thoughts: I figured the Giants were done unless someone happen to fall in their lap. I have heard mixed reactions from Giants fans about signing Park. I’m okay with leaving that roster spot open for our young pitchers in the pen.
The Giants have a lot of outfielders and they must not want to take AB’s away from Eugenio Velez, Andres Torres and Nate Schierholtz. I love the Byrnes idea, and what he can bring to the team if healthy, but we all knew it was a long shot. Are you happy with the offseason moves?
~King of Cali
Get Your Giants Gear Here!
San Francisco Giants Ladies Black Background Repeat Ankle Socks
$8.95
Technorati Tags: Andres Torres, Chan Ho Park, Eric Byrnes, Eugenio Velez, Free Agents, Giants Rumors, Kiko Calero, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, Nate Schierholtz, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com gives us MLB.com’s Top 50 Prospect list. Only two Giants made that list, and I’m sure Giants fans are not surprised as to who the two players are. Yes, that’s right it’s Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner.
King of Cali thoughts:
Buster Posey, C
Posey is ranked 4th on the list. He was penciled in as the starting catcher during the offseason, but all that has changed since the Giants have signed Bengie Molina. The scouting report on Posey is that he’s a very good athlete. He can hit well to all fields. He’s not going to be a big power guy, but could hit 15-20 homers a year. Scouts believe Posey’s bat is ready to contribute to the Giants now if given the chance. The reason the Giants want to have Molina behind the plate is they feel Posey still needs more seasoning behind the plate. I’m really excited to see what this guy can do when he gets the chance to get a lot of playing time for the Giants.
Madison Bumgarner, LHP
Bumgarner is ranked 10th on the list. The Giants have penciled him in as the #5 spot in the rotation. Bumgarner went 12-2, 1.85 ERA and 92 K’s in 25 games in the minors last season. He did pitch in 4 games for the San Francisco Giants. He had a 1.80 ERA and 10 K’s in 10 innings. The Scouting report on Bumgarner is his velocity has dropped a bit, but it’s believed to be because of the heavy workload that he had last season. He does have a mid-90’s fastball with good command. His secondary pitches continue to improve, and he’s got a tremendous work ethic. He has the potential to be a front of the rotation kind of guy. I can picture Lincecum, Bumgarner and Cain as the top three in the rotation of the future. No, I’m not saying in 2010! I have no doubt that Bumgarner will win the #5 spot in the rotation.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Bengie Molina, Buster Posey, Free Agents, Giants Baseball, King of Cali, Madison Bumgarner, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Top Prospects, Top 50 Prospects
Chris Haft of MLB.com says Pablo Sandoval is keeping his weight in check. Sandoval still looked a trifle thick Tuesday night, but he didn’t seem grossly overweight, which has to please the Giants with Spring Training fast approaching.
Sandoval has gained one pound since November, which he spent exercising feverishly under the direction of the Giants athletic training staff. Sandoval returned to the U.S. last week and reported immediately to the Giants training headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, to join the club’s conditioning camp.
Sandoval appreciated the effects of his conditioning. “Everything’s going to be quicker,” he said. “The bat’s going to be quicker, the speed.”
UPDATE – Jones Contract Voided
Haft reports that the Giants have confirmed that Major League Baseball has voided the contract of Dominican third-base prospect Duanel Jones, who signed in December for a reported $1.3 million bonus.
Giants vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said that Jones failed a physical examination, prompting the club to ask for the deal to be scrapped. Jones injured an oblique muscle last year.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m glad Pablo was able to shoot down the rumor about him gaining 12 pounds. If this guy doesn’t keep his weight in check. He will then eventually have to move to first base, and possibly even a DH in the American League after that. Pablo has a lot of fun playing the game (on and off the field), and I’m sure he will continue to work on getting himself in the best shape possible.
~King of Cali
Get Your Giants Gear Here!
Technorati Tags: Bobby Evans, Duanel Jones, Free Agents, Giants Hot Stove, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says (via twitter) the Giants like RHP Chan Ho Park. Giants want him on a minor league deal. Park is seeking a big league deal. Still could be a match down the road.
Randy Winn
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has reported that the Yankees have reached a one-year deal with Randy Winn. The deal is believed to be in the $2 million range that the Yankees had allocated for the forth outfielder job, and shuts the door on any late pursuit of Johny Damon.
King of Cali thoughts: The Park rumor was out earlier in the offseason, and then it kind of died. Well I guess it’s back again. I’ve heard the Giants were tapped out as far as anymore offseason signings. I can’t see Park costing much money. He would be a nice option to have in the bullpen, but it’s not a must sign for the Giants. They can afford to take their time and let his options dwindle.
I must say I’m happy for Winn. I’m just glad that he’s going to go to a team that has a chance to win. He definitely deserves it. He will be missed in the Bay Area, but we had to move on. He just wasn’t cutting it at the plate anymore, and he was taking playing time from Nate Schierholtz.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Chan Ho Park, Free Agents, Giants Rumors, Johny Damon, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, Nate Schierholtz, New York Yankees, NL West, Randy Winn, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Chris Haft of MLB.com answers fans questions. He believes Bengie Molina’s return should benefit the Giants. Few players care more intensely or prepare more thoroughly than he does. His willingness to mentor Posey is another intangible asset.
King of Cali thoughts: The two best things about Molina coming back is Buster Posey can learn his preparation for each game with each pitcher. The 2nd is he already has this pitching staffs comfortable with him behind the plate. If Molina can hit 20 homers or close to that in the 6th spot of the lineup. That’s pretty good production down in the lineup. I’m just hoping he can try to control some of his bad swinging habits. I hate that fact that he will be clogging the bases still, but if he’s going to do it. Then it’s better to be lower in the lineup, and not right smack in the middle of it.
Fred Lewis
When asked about Lewis. Haft said he envisions this scenario: Lewis will play well enough in the Cactus League to ear a starting role, but that will make it easier for the Giants to trade him, which they will do. He probably needs a change of scenery.
King of Cali thoughts: I was really excited watching Lewis in the minors. I couldn’t wait to see him in San Francisco. He just has that ballplayer look. Then when he got up here. He just couldn’t hit the ball. Seems like he strikes out like every other at bat. Then he’s been having stone hands in the outfield. I really do want to see him do well, but his time in San Francisco is almost up.
Eric Byrnes
When asked about the chances of the Giants signing Byrnes. Haft said at the point, it’s extremely doubtful that the Giants will sign Byrnes. It would be an excellent feel good story, but they already have plenty of extra outfielders.
King of Cali thoughts: As I have posted before. I would sign Byrnes and release Lewis. I just think a healthy Byrnes can bring a lot to the Giants. Even if this is coming off the bench. He has what we need in the lead-off spot, and he has some pop here and there too. I’m also very doubtful that the Giants will sign him, but it wouldn’t be a bad deal if they did.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Bengie Molina, Buster Posey, Eric Byrnes, Fred Lewis, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Eric Byrnes went on KNBR this morning with Murph & Mac. He said he’s still got a lot of baseball left in him, but he’s not sure if he’s a good fit for the Giants. He said he’s 100% healthy. He loves playing at AT&T Park, so that’s not a problem for him. Byrnes is really close to a lot of guys on the Giants. He wants to play no matter where he goes. He’s okay with taking a 4th spot in the outfield and earn more playing time. He’s been contacted by a few team, but none of them are the Giants. He did say again that the Giants are the best fit for him geographically, because he only lives 20 mins away from AT&T Park.
King of Cali thoughts: I have received emails from a lot of Giants fans that say we need to sign Byrnes. It’s another low-risk, high reward signing. Byrnes brings a lot to the team. He’s a guy that likes to have fun and keep the clubhouse lose. He would be able to hit lead-off and even has some pop in his bat. I would much rather have Byrnes in the lineup instead of Fred Lewis. KNBR keeps pushing for the Giants to sign Byrnes, so lets see if the Giants are on the same page as most of us Giants fans.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Eric Byrnes, Fred Lewis, Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, KNBR, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
The Giants Flagship Station KNBR reported that Bruce Bochy was on the Giants Hot Stove with Jon Miller. When asked about Freddy Sanchez. Bochy said that he had shoulder surgery a month ago. Sanchez will be rehabbing most of spring training. It’s not likely that he will be in the Opening Day starting lineup.
I just hope this is the last of his injuries in a Giants uniform. Giants fans haven’t got to see how good of a hitter this guy really is. I’m just glad he at least had the surgery a month ago and didn’t wait till the season started to decide he needed it. Him not being available opening day isn’t the end of the world. That just means Juan Uribe will get the start, and we know what he can do in the lineup.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Bruce Bochy, Freddy Sanchez, Free Agents, Giants, Jon Miller, Juan Uribe, KNBR, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Giants and Tim Lincecum need to find the right multi-year deal to 
satisfy both sides. Heyman says their is no sense risking a loss in arbitration if you’re Lincecum.
King of Cali thought: The Giants have two players that are going through the arbitration process. These players are Lincecum and Brian Wilson. Lincecum has submitted $13 million and the Giants submitted $8 million. They are $5 million apart, so I’m sure they will be able to work out a deal for around $11 million. Even if this case goes through the whole process. I still think paying Lincecum $13 million is worth it. Whatever amount he gets paid this year is going to be well deserved.
Lincecum is really in a tough spot as far as I’m concerned. Yes, he’s a great pitcher. Yes, he’s going to get a big raise every year in arbitration. The problem is what if he gets hurt and his career is over? Then he just has this one year deal worth $13 million the max. He may want to consider signing a long term deal. Yes he will get under market value, but at least he will have all that money guaranteed for however many years. Just something I would really think about if I was him. You never know when something might get tweaked, and you may never be the same.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants have traded Merkin Valdez to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. The Giants designated Valdez for assignment to clear a roster spot for first baseman Aubrey Huff.
Side Notes
King of Cali thoughts: Merkin was the guy that I always was waiting for him to get it together. He was a top prospect that we received when the Giants traded Russ Ortiz to the Atlanta Braves. Merkin has battled some injuries and still has the potential to be a good pitcher. He throws very hard still, but doesn’t have much movement on his fastball. I wish him well and hope he can get it together in Toronto.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Atlanta Braves, Aubrey Huff, Free Agents, King of Cali, Merkin Valdez, MLB Hot Stove, Russ Ortiz, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Santiago Casilla, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Toronto Blue Jays
