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
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 says the Giants and Jonathan Sanchez have agreed on a one-year contract. The deal is for $2.1 million. Sanchez went 8-12 with a 4.24 ERA in 32 appearances. He did pitch San Francisco’s first no-hitter in 33 years over the San Diego Padres on July 10th.
The Giants are expected to exchange salary figures later Tuesday with their two most pricey arbitration-eligible performers: Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson.
King of Cali thoughts: We all know that all these arbitration guys are going to get raises. $2.1 million for J-Sanchez isn’t bad. I mean his win/loss and ERA is nothing to write home about, but the potential is there. He gets a lot of swings and misses. Plus he’s also got a no-hitter under his belt. I’m sure he’s going to be pitching with a lot more confidence this year.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, Giants, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that the Giants and Brandon Medders agreed on a one-year contract for $820,000, avoiding salary arbitration.
Medders went 5-1 with a 3.01 ERA and 1 save in 61 games while earning $475,000.
King of Cali thoughts: Medders did a great job last year, so his raise is well deserved. It’s always better for teams to sign players before the arbitration hearings. I just don’t like the idea of a player submitting his worth and the team saying his worth less. Just seems like only bad feelings can come of that no matter who wins the hearing. The Giants still have three players that are arbitration eligible. Those players are Jonathan Sanchez, Brian Wilson and Tim Lincecum.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brandon Medders, Brian Wilson, Free Agents, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
John Manuel of Baseball America has an article on SI.com. He has listed his the top 20 prospects. I’m not going to run through the list, but did want to pass along to Giants fans. That number 9 and number 10 on the list are Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner. Below is what he had to say about each player.
Buster Posey, C, Giants
Why he’s here: The 2008 College Player of the Year, Posey combines athletic ability and hitting prowess with playing a premium position.
What he’ll be: Remember Russell Martin before Joe Torre played him 150 games a year? Posey may not have Martin’s fiery leadership, but he’ll be a similar catcher with better hitting ability.
When he arrives: As soon as he shows he can receive effectively for pitchers such as Brian Wilson and Matt Cain, who have premium velocity. Then he’ll have to take it up another notch to handle Tim Lincecum.
Madison Bumgarner, LHP, Giants
Why he’s here: No pitcher has had Bumgarner’s sheer results the last two seasons, when he went 27-5. He did it in 2009 with diminished velocity but it didn’t seem to matter as he mowed down Double-A competition at 19.
What he’ll be: Bumgarner’s mound presence and ability to pitch off his fastball evokes Cliff Lee. He has similar mound presence and could match Lee if he regains some of his slider’s lost bite.
When he arrives: The Giants have enough other rotation options to keep Bumgarner on the farm for at least part of 2010, and perhaps until late in the season, when he could get another bullpen cameo.
King of Cali thoughts: Now this is good to know that we have two of our top prospects in the top 20 list. Fans had said to me they would rather have Bengie Molina back, and aren’t confident in Posey. I hope this post changes their mind a bit. No he’s not going to come in and just be the best catcher in the Majors, but he does have a nice upside. I think he’s ready to get his feet wet in the pro’s and see what he can do out there.
Sabean wanted to re-sign Brad Penny and leave Bumgarner in Triple-A for more seasoning. He has recently said that Bumgarner does have a shot to be the teams No. 5 starter. Yes, he’s young, but he’s shown that he can dominate the minors. I think Bumgarner is ready to be a starter for the Giants. I’m not saying he’s going to be lights out, but I’m sure we will see him grow into a front of the rotation guy right before our very eyes.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Bengie Molina, Brad Penny, Brian Wilson, Buster Posey, Cliff Lee, Free Agents, Joe Torre, King of Cali, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, MLB Hot Stove, Prospects, Russell Martin, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
The question now is will either team be willing to part with a draft pick in order to sign the free agent reliever?
King of Cali thoughts: Betancourt would be a great reliever to add to the bullpen. The Giants might look to save some money by not signing him and hope Sergio Romo, Dan Runzler and Waldis Joaquin can fill the gap to get the ball to Jeremy Affeldt and Brian Wilson.
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Brian Wilson, Dan Runzler, Free Agents, Giants, Jeremy Affeldt, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, NL West, Rafael Betancourt, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Sergio Romo, SF Giants Rumors, Waldis Joaquin
Posted on November 16th, 2009 by admin in
Q&A Hey Giants fans here is a Q&A that Dan Dibley was willing to do for us. As most of you reading this know Dibley works for KNBR. The Giants Flagship Station. Dibley is the Sports/Traffic Anchor. He has been a part of the KNBR Morning Show and Gary Radnich Experience since 2005.
King: What’s your thoughts on Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean coming back in 2010?
Dibley: I think Bruce Bochy did a nice job by enlarge of making that collection of players successful in 2009. I don’t think many skippers would have gotten 90 wins out of the group of hitters. I’m glad to see him back. As for Sabean, while some of his free agent signings are questionable, I applaud him for “trying” to upgrade the offense with Sanchez/Garko. That said, this is his last contract, unless they make a big run in the next 2 years.
King: Who is your favorite player, current and all time?
Dibley: My current favorite player is probably Brian Wilson. He has really nasty stuff and just an odd-enough personality to succeed as a closer. I’d put Affeldt and Velez as my two runners-up, though I have a big soft spot for Freddie Lewis and Randy Winn. My all-time favorite would have to be Willie McCovey. He was in his heyday while I was growing up.
King: What is your best Giants memory?
Dibley: I’d have to say my best memory, and I cannot recall the exact date, was the night of the double-header with the Dodgers back at the Stick when anarchy ruled. I was in the outfield seats when fans began jumping over the wall, clamoring for home run balls, even on short pop ups. It was the last night they allowed fans to leave the seats and chase down HR balls. The crowd was unruly a bit but it was an awesome night.
King: What free agent player out there would you like to see the Giants go after?
Dibley: I would like them to go after Jason Bay, a power hitter who will not totally kill the Giants defense.
King: There has been rumors about a Cain, Fielder trade. If you were the GM would you make this trade?
Dibley: Initially, I would have made that trade but something about the deal does not feel right for me. Maybe it’s the fit of Fielder with the Giants but my gut says don’t do it.
King: There are some 09 Giants players that are now free agents. Which players would you like to see brought back?
Dibley: I would love for them to bring Bengie Molina back, but for only one year, a pipe dream I realize. Aside from that, it’s good that Freddy Sanchez is coming back but aside from that, they can all pretty much go away.
King: There is a lot of people that want to see Posey as the starting catcher next season. Do you think Posey is ready for that role?
Dibley: I don’t think he is ready to be the everyday catcher. The inside word is that he needs to get more musculature. Once he gets bigger he will tear it up.
King: What’s your thoughts on the NL having a DH?
Dibley: Hate the DH. Always have, always will. Baseball is a game of 9 on 9. We teach kids the ethos of playing the field and getting rewarded with an AB. The DH ruins that.
King: For the record… Who do you enjoy working with more.. Murph and Mac or Gary?
Dibley: Murph and Mac are the main course and Gary is the dessert. I get a well balanced meal from 5-9 then I get a terrific, varied “treat” from 9-10:30ish. I’m the the luckiest broadcaster in the market to be able to span two great, yet different shows.
King: Is there anything you want to let Giants fans know about you that they might not know?
Dibley: I love my job at KNBR and it is a partial culmination of my dreams. The fact that a mediocre student who never played professional sports can be such an integral part of a 50,000 watt sports station is testimony to the fact that dreams come true. I want people to know that dreams do in fact come true so keep believing and don’t give up, don’t ever give up.
I just want to say thank you very much to Dan Dibley for taking the time to do this Q&A for us. You can check out Dibley’s blog at dandibley.com and you can also follow him on twitter (twitter.com/dandibley).
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Bengie Molina, Brian Sabean, Brian Wilson, Bruce Bochy, Buster Posey, Dan Dibley, Giants, Jason Bay, KNBR, Matt Cain, MLB, Prince Fielder, Q&A, Randy Winn, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News says trade is the only realistic option for the Giants. There are numerous big swingers out there who might be acquired. But in return, the Giants will have to give up one of their talented young arms.
Purdy says Tim Lincecum is untouchable. He thinks the Giants will have to part way with someone they love. Which can be Matt Cain or Brian Wilson.
Technorati Tags: Brian Wilson, Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants Roster/Contracts, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum, Trades
