It’s been reported (via twitter) by multiple sports writers that the Giants and Tim Lincecum have reached a two-year deal. I will update this post with more information as it comes in.
It was reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com (via twitter) that Lincecum gets $23 million for two years.
UPDATE – More Updates to follow
Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com says (Via Twitter) the Lincecum deal with the Giants is worth $23 million. He will get $8 million this year, and $13 million next year. Then $2 million in signing bonus. That will be spread over both years.
Shea says a source told him the Giants have made a three year $37 million offer with annual salaries of $9.5 million, $12.5 million and $15 million. Team Lincecum countered with a proposal north of $40 million.
If they don’t work out a deal by Friday. The case will go to an arbitration hearing. Then it will be decided if Lincecum should be paid what Team Lincecum submitted ($13 million) or what the Giants submitted ($8 million).
SIDE NOTES
Bobby Evans said the Giants view Todd Wellemeyer as a long reliever, but he also could be available to start if there’s a need. If he makes the team, Wellemeyer would make $1 million. He would also have a chance for an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.
King of Cali thoughts: It would be nice to see a multi-year deal worked out, but the clock is ticking. They have a hearing set for tomorrow if nothing is worked out. If the Giants can’t get this multi-year deal with Lincecum. They should just walk into the hearing tomorrow and say we will pay $13 million without a fight. That’s still nothing compared to what he would be worth as a free agent. Let’s just keep him happy, and be thankful we have him.
As for Wellemeyer being viewed as a long reliever, that’s perfect! That’s exactly how I would like to see him used. I really don’t think he can beat out Madison Bumgarner for the fifth spot in the rotation. Wellemeyer would be a decent spot starter if needed as well. Spring Training is getting closer and closer Giants fans. Let’s get this season started already!
Chris Haft of MLB.com reports that the Giants have added Todd Wellemeyer to the rotation mix. His contract is a minor league one with a non-roster invite to Spring Training. Wellemeyer can emerge as a leading candidate for the fifth starter’s spot. Madison Bumgarner was penciled in as the fifth starter, but all that may have changed. Haft says the Giants may want to start him in Triple-A to gain more seasoning.
Wellemeyer, Bumgarner, Kevin Pucetas and Joe Martinez also are among the contenders for the fifth spot in the rotation. Which means these guys also might be considered for the long relief role, which remains vacant.
King of Cali thoughts: I would love to see Bumgarner win the fifth spot in the rotation, but if Wellemeyer performs close to Bumgarner this spring. They will hand the job to him. Then they can send Bumgarner down to start in Triple-A. I just know the team will move that way. Even though Bumgarner may be ready at his young age.
Haft told me via email that he thinks Wellemeyer has a definite shot to make the team. He does think that Bumgarner can use a little more seasoning at Triple-A. Who do you think will be the fifth starter?
Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports says (via twitter) he’s hearing Tim Lincecum’s hearing is Friday. He said neither side has budged, and wondering why the Giants are picking this fight?
King of Cali thoughts: I’m with Tim on this one. The Giants just need to give him the $13 million. He’s worth it, and that’s still getting off cheap for one year. He’s won two Cy Young Awards, and is the ace of your pitching staff. He puts fans in the seats every night he’s on the mound. They need to just fork out the money, and keep him happy. Only ill feelings come out of arbitration hearings.
UPDATE
Mychael Urban said (via twitter) the Giants have signed Todd Wellemeyer. He has a non-roster spot with an invite to camp.
Andrew Baggarly reported on his blog (last week). Buster Posey isn’t “etched in stone” to begin the season at Triple-A Fresno. Bruce Bochy said him and Brian Sabean have talked about giving Posey a look at other infield positions. This is to increase Posey’s options of getting into games.
Photo by Damon Tarver
When Baggarly told Posey about Bochy’s comments. Posey’s first response was “I hope someone gets me some new gloves!” It’s also been reported by Baggarly that Posey has put on 15 pounds this offseason.
Side Notes
Edgar Renteria (elbow surgery) is healthy and so is Mark DeRosa (wrist surgery).
King of Cali thoughts: Now this really got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be best to just move Posey to another position, so he doesn’t have to go through the everyday grind of being a catcher? Moving him to another position can also prolong his career by a couple more years. I’m sure the Giants are pretty set in having him as their future everyday catcher. They probably won’t really consider moving his position until later on in his career. We just need to get this guy use to some major league pitching, so he can hit like we know he’s capable of.
There is a few good articles out about Willie Mays. I know all the die hard fans out there would love to dive into a few of these articles. There is some good insights, so I hope you enjoy them. Please leave some comments with your favorite Willie Mays memories.
Chris Haft of MLB.com says the status of Nate Schierholtz as the Giants Opening Day right fielder has shifted from “projected” to “likely” on Saturday. Brian Sabean endorsed Schierholtz based on his defensive prowess.
Now thatWinn has moved on and signed with the New York Yankees. Sabean said: “You always need your best fielder in right field, and the only guy who really has a chance to do that against the standard of Randy Winn is Schierholtz.”
There is still a possibility that Andres Torres and Eugenio Velez could platoon in right field. The emphasis on Schierholtz as a right fielder means that John Bowker, thought to be a candidate for that position, must concentrate on left field and first base if he’s to earn playing time.
Sabean legitimized reports that the Giants are pursuing Todd Wellemeyer and Hisanori Takahashi, saying “we’re engaged with two “free agents. “I don’t know if we’ll get one or both,” Sabean added. Wellemeyer, 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA for St. Louis in 2008, slumped to 7-10, 5.89 ERA last year.
King of Cali thoughts: Nasty Nate has proven he can hold down the right field spot defensively. Let’s just hope he can hold down the spot with his bat as well. If Schierholtz is struggling bad at the plate. I can see this turning into a platoon situation. Bruce Bochy will want to go with the hottest hitter if it gets to that point. The Giants are going to need all cylinders firing at all times to try to generate as many runs as possible. It’s your job to lose Nate!
What If…Freddy Sanchez isn’t ready for Opening day? What does it mean for the Giants lineup By Darrin Reyes
Guest Post
Freddy Sanchez had shoulder surgery in the off season and may not be ready for opening day. Based off the signing this off season the easy stand in for Freddy would be Juan Uribe. I think that putting Uribe in while Sanchez is away would be a good move but I’m not sure if it would be the best move for the Giants. All Giants fans hope that Freddy Sanchez will be ready for opening day. What if he isn’t?
Freddy Sanchez is a career .299 hitter with only 38 career home runs in 9 MLB seasons. He is not the big bat that all Giants fans are accustomed to but he serves a different role in the Giants line up. He is a great situational hitter that will help the Giants greatly when healthy. His absence will change the whole dynamic of the Giants line up.
Projected Line up with Sanchez 1. Rowand 2. Sanchez 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz The Giants have 4 players that could fill in as second baseman in Freddy’s absence. Juan Uribe, Eugenio Velez, Mark DeRosa and Emmanuel Burriss.
Juan Uribe Juan Uribe was third on the team with 16 home runs last year but with the additions made this off season he becomes the player with the 5th most in 2009. Everyone knows that he is a free swinger and is the complete opposite of what Sanchez is. I think he would be a good fit but not the best for the Giants. He wouldn’t be a player you would want batting 2nd in your line up. Possible Line up with Uribe at 2B 1. Rowand 2. DeRosa 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. Molina 6. Uribe 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Eugenio Velez After being called up in July he was one of the most productive Giants in 2009. He is someone that can be put in at the top of the line up and not damage the heart of the line up that the Giants have built from the moves this off season. He had 10 stolen bases while batting in the lead off spot in 2009. Having Velez at the lead off would bring Rowand to bat 2nd. Moving Rowand to 2nd in the batting order could give him better pitches to hit because he would have Sandoval batting behind him. The other benefit of having Velez is that he is also able to play outfield. Which brings one of the other possible players that could stand in for Sanchez.
Mark DeRosa DeRosa has been a utility man for most of his career. He is projected to be the starting left fielder but he has spent 282 games of his 12 year career at second base. He only has 12 more games at third base over second. It is very possible for him to start at second base while Sanchez is away then move him back to outfield upon his return. There is no downfall to him being at second or in the outfield. I believe the most important factor would be keeping him in the heart of the line up.
Possible Line up with Velez 2B/LF and DeRosa at LF/2B 1. Velez 2. Rowand 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Emmanuel Burriss Burriss has arguably the best arm for a position player in the Giants organization. He is among the fastest on the team. He’s a switch hitter that can possibly be the table setter that the Giants need at the top of the line up. He was sent down last year and did suffer a season ending foot injury in July. In 2009 he beat out Velez, Uribe, Aurilia and Frandsen in spring training to become the opening day second baseman. If he does well this spring training he may be able to win his spot as the stand in. This is something that could happen but I don’t it happening. I think he should stay down and would be better to be the short stop of the future.
Possible Line up with Burriss 1. Burriss 2. Rowand 3. Sandoval 4. Huff 5. DeRosa 6. Molina 7. Renteria 8. Schierholtz
Kevin Frandsen and Matt Downs are not currently at the level of even Emmanuel Burriss. One of them could have a great spring training that could earn them a spot on the opening day roster but its something I don’t see coming. Burriss won the starting second baseman job last year only to be sent down mid season. The versatility of DeRosa could change the future for a Giant in 2010 while Sanchez is away. A good spring training for Torres or Bowker could even win one of them the spot in left field and have DeRosa start the year at second base.
I think the best fit for the Giants on opening day would be Velez put in at the top of the order while Sanchez is away. Having Velez at the top would keep the new core of the giants line up intact. That would bring Rowand to second in the order and may help him improve his numbers. I think any change to the line up should be only done at the first and second place in the order. I believe that Uribe does not make the best fit for the Giants line up in Sanchez absence. Uribe may be a better replacement for Renteria but that What If has not been written yet….
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Jon Heyman of SI.com gives his eight teams that he says have been losers this offseason, at least for the months of November through February. The Giants are listed as the #4 team, so I guess that’s better than the worst team which happens to be the New York Mets.
Heyman says the Giants brought in a collection of hitters – Mark DeRosa, Aubrey Huff, Juan Uribe and Bengie Molina, but ignored the two true middle of the order threats that were available (Jason Bay and Matt Holliday) and badly needed.
King of Cali thoughts: I don’t think the Giants really are losers this offseason. No we didn’t get that one big bat that we have said we needed for the last two years. We did however upgrade our offense. No, it’s not the Yankees lineup. This team does have the potential to score more runs this year. We still are missing our ideal leadoff hitter, and we have no team speed. We do however have some decent hitters.
2010 Projected Lineup
1. Aaron Rowand CF
2. Freddy Sanchez 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Mark DeRosa LF
6. Bengie Molina C
7. Nate Schierholtz RF
8. Edgar Renteria SS
9. Tim Lincecum P
Now we all know this lineup is subject to change. If Sanchez isn’t ready for opening day. The Giants will likely start Juan Uribe and 2nd base. Which means the lineup would need some shuffling.
This was the 2009 Starting Lineup.
1. Randy Winn RF
2. Edgar Renteria SS
3. Fred Lewis LF
4. Bengie Molina C
5. Pablo Sandoval 3B
6. Travis Ishikawa 1B
7. Aaron Rowand CF
8. Emmanuel Burriss 2B
9. Tim Lincecum P
Now by the looks of that. I would say we are definitely starting off this season with a better starting lineup than last year. Would you say the Giants are losers this offseason?
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Tim Lincecum’s agent and the Giants have not engaged in significant contract negotiations. He’s convinced the two-time CY Young award winner’s arbitration case will reach the hearing stage. Lincecum’s agent said the Giants have not discussed a one-year deal and talks have been limited to “some very insignificant two-year conversations.”
Update
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says it appears the Giants and Lincecum won’t be agreeing on any long-term deal. The pitcher will have to “settle” for whatever the arbitration panel concludes. King of Cali thoughts (on the update): Let’s just give him the $13 million and move on. We don’t want any hard feelings because of the arbitration case with our Ace!
King of Cali thoughts: Lincecum is the only Giants player that is still going through the arbitration process. However this story ends. He’s going to be getting paid. We know the most he’s going to get paid this year is going to be $13 million if this goes to arbitration. I’m sure the Giants would like to lock him up to a longer term deal soon, but if they don’t. He’s still under the teams control for four more seasons. Being a pitcher and going year-to-year in arbitration can be dangerous. You never know when a pitcher can mess up his arm. If I was part of Team Lincecum. I would be trying to push for a multi-year deal, so he can have some security. If you were part of team Lincecum. What would your strategy be?
