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.
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!
Jon Heyman of SI.com says Giants people are hurt that Adam LaRoche turned them down to take a lower offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks. It remains a mystery to them why LaRoche chose Arizona. The Giants wound up signing Aubrey Huff for $3 million instead but still wouldn’t appear to have enough offense to go with their deluxe pitching.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m glad LaRoche chose the D-Backs. Now it gives us someone to really boo hard when the D-backs come to town. I’m actually glad the Giants turned around and signed Huff. Huff has a lot of power and I’m sure he would love to prove himself by having a bounce back year. The Giants got him for a cheap deal, so this can turn out to be another steal deal for Sabean in two consecutive years. Juan Uribe was the steal deal of last year. He was signed for one year, $1 million. Why do you think LaRoche turned down a two-year $17 million contract and sign for less with the D-Backs?
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says (via Twitter) Aubrey Huff will bat cleanup for the Giants, GM Brian Sabean says.
Baggarly wasn’t done tweeting either. He also had a few followup tweets. He said in his next tweet. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy says he envisions Sandoval-Huff-DeRosa hitting 3-4-5.
The next tweet says No corresponding 40-man move yet to make space for Aubrey Huff. GM Brian Sabean said someone will be designated. Frandsen? Merkin? Lewis?
In his final tweet. Baggarly says Pablo Sandoval has gained weight in Venezuela, “but not enough to worry about,” Giants GM Brian Sabean said.
King of Cali thoughts: This lineup with Sandoval, Huff and DeRosa hitting 3-4-5 does make sense. Your best hitter should be your 3rd hitter. Then the cleanup guy is someone that should be able to clear the bases with one swing.
There has been a lot of mixed reactions regarding the Huff signing. Who else could the Giants have got for so cheap that does have the potential to put up a lot of homers? This signing was only one year for $3 million and we didn’t have to trade Jonathan Sanchez for a bat. Please comment with your thoughts.
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says unless something crazy happens soon, in 2010 the Giants will have the same great pitching, the same fitful hitting and the same prayers that somehow this gangly group lifts the Giants close to the 95-victory mark.
Kawakami says owner Bill Neukom seems to have no urgency to push the payroll beyond $100 million, and frankly, Sabean’s history gives Neukom no reason to approve a mega-deal. December has been the time that Sabean would sign players for big money. Kawakami says fans probably should cheer when Sabean doesn’t sign anyone in December.
Basically, for 2010, the Giants need Lincecum, Cain & Co. to pitch at least as well as they did last season, which might not be possible, and, even if it happens, still might not get them to 95 victories.
King of Cali thoughts: Kawakami loves to tell it the way he see it. Which I’m sure a lot of Giants fans out there love about him. The Giants haven’t done anything yet to make Giants fans feel like we are trying to win the division. With the players we currently have signed for next season. We still do need our pitchers to go out and pitch gems every night. I really do believe Sabean isn’t done with adding a bat or two to our offense for next season. He knows that he got the free pass last year, but we can’t go into next season still saying Lincecum, Cain and pray for rain!
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News said via twitter that after signing Mark DeRosa, Giants GM Brian Sabean says he’s focused on getting another bat. He has multiple offers on the table.
Baggarly also said via twitter that Giants manager Bruce Bochy isn’t sure where DeRosa or Pablo Sandoval will play/hit yet. Will be contingent on other moves to add a bat.
King of Cali thoughts: Now this is good news to hear. This is Sabean letting Giants fans know that they are not just going to settle on DeRosa. They still are looking for another bat to get some thump back in this lineup. Which makes the DeRosa signing good, because he’s a good compliment player.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Giants have had interest in third baseman Adrian Beltre. Sabean has always liked Beltre. It’s not immediately clear how the signings of DeRosa and Juan Uribe would impact their pursuit of Beltre or an outfielder.
King of Cali thoughts: If Sabean goes forward and signs Beltre. Then he’s on the same page that I’m on. We can still add Beltre or Tejada, and get this offense moving in the right direction. One of these two guys can help add some pop to a powerless Giants lineup.
Andrew Baggarly of San Jose Mercury news writes on his blog some of the main news points of the Mark DeRosa conference call. DeRosa doesn’t care where he plays as long as he’s in the lineup everyday. Pablo Sandoval’s position is still in limbo, because the Giants are still looking to add another bat.
Brian Sabean remains focused on adding another hitter: “it’s a chess game at this point. We’re engaged in a lot of possibilities. We’ve still got some offers on the table.” Strides have been made in bringing back Juan Uribe. There is a possibility he could be the everyday third baseman.
Matt Holliday doesn’t seem like a fit for the Giants. His contract demands are too high for the Giants. Baggarly says other sources say the Giants haven’t re-engaged Scott Boras on Adrian Beltre, either.
Buster Posey is a perfectly fine option to start the season if free agent catchers continue to demand multiple years at high figures.
DeRosa said he came up as an infielder, which is where he feels more involved in the flow of the game, but he doesn’t care where he plays. He has always enjoyed playing in San Francisco and the Giants showed the greatest interest in him. “I was just tired of being a lot of teams plan B,” DeRosa said.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m sure most of the Giants fans that keep it real to themselves knew the Giants wouldn’t be a real contender to land Bay or Holliday. The Giants can still put a good team together for 2010. Now that Sabean has said the Giants are still looking to add a bat.
The Giants still had a very good season last year, and that was with a very bad offense. This year we will have Freddy Sanchez for a full season, and now DeRosa as well. That’s already two positive things to look at for next season. I’m not saying that’s enough, but at least we are moving in the right direction. Let’s see what else Sabean has cooking.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals have identified Mark DeRosa as their preferred Plan B if they don’t re-sign Matt Holliday. It’s also been reported that DeRosa has interest from the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. DeRosa’s agent said it’s fair to characterize DeRosa’s market as evolving, because teams such as the Cardinals were looking at other moves first.
King of Cali thoughts: If I really wanted DeRosa to be a Giants. I would say this is really good news. Sounds like he’s tired of playing the waiting game to see if the Cardinals want him back or not. Which means any team that really wants him. Just has to throw out a offer right now that he likes and he’s yours. Let’s just hope that doesn’t get Sabean jumping out of his bed this morning to get this deal done.
DeRosa is not the player the Giants need. He’s a compliment player. Our needs are much more than that. We do have a lot of holes to fill, so lets start by getting a big piece for our puzzle. We need a big bat to bat in-front or behind Sandoval.
UPDATE
Jon Heyman of SI.com said via twitter. He heard the Giants offered Mark DeRosa $12 million for two years, but is the ex-Brave and NJ product waiting for Atlanta, Mets or Yankees?
Chris Haft of MLB.com says the Giants short list of hitters they’d consider acquiring has become shorter. Nick Johnson’s tentative agreement with the New York Yankees could signal to the Giants that the time to make their first major player move of the winter has drawn closer.
Haft says he head reports that Mark DeRosa has dropped his reported salary demand to three years and $18 million from three years, $27 million.
Haft chimes in on the following free agents:
Adrian Beltre: He thinks the Giants can take their time with him, because no other clubs appear to meet Beltre’s reported with for a four year, $40 million deal.
Mark DeRosa: If the reports on DeRosa lowering his demands. Then the Giants will have to act quickly. Twelve teams were reported interested in DeRosa, but that has since dwindled as most teams have balked at his request for a three year deal.
Adam LaRoche: Teams may try to court LaRoche more ardently. Since Johnson has already signed with the Yankees. He also says teams could resist offering him a deal with an average annual value far exceeding Johnson’s.
Dan Uggla: Haft does believe the Giants could have made this trade by now. Even though Uggla has averaged 30 home runs and 90 RBI’s in four Major League Seasons. Giants still are concerned with his sub-par defense and second base and they’d have to part with Jonathan Sanchez. The Giants are hoping that the Marlins will back off it’s desire for Sanchez as time passes. Giants might have to consider Uggla more seriously if they’re unable to sign a free agent.
Jason BayandMatt Holliday: The Giants don’t seem to be major players for either of the top two sluggers.
King of Calithoughts: Now this is the stuff Giants fans should want to see. Now Brian Sabean and the Giants are feeling the pressure. The time is now to make a move. We know Scott Boras will try to keep Beltre on the free agent market for a while. He doesn’t like to let his clients sign fast. That could help the Giants. If other teams fill their needs and Beltre’s options dwindle. He can fall right into the Giants laps.
I don’t think the Giants have much interest in LaRoche. He’s a lefty and we know how AT&T Park plays for left handed hitters. The Giants wanted Johnson to play first. Now that he’s off the table. I’m sure they would like to find a third baseman and move Pablo Sandoval to first base. If the Marlins continue to want J-Sanchez for Uggla. The Giants will hold off until Beltre is off the table before making that trade. If they end up signing Beltre. Then they will pass on Uggla and keep Sanchez.
