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 Bay and Matt Holliday: The Giants don’t seem to be major players for either of the top two sluggers.
King of Cali thoughts: 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.
~King of Cali
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Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says during the Marlins Dan Uggla trade talks with San Francisco, Giants players who were discussed were Jonathan Sanchez and Clayton Tanner (a top minor league pitcher) and a mid-level pitching prospect.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Marlins are still trying to trade Uggla, who stands to make $8 million this year. There’s also a chance he could start the season with the Marlins, who won’t trade their slugger in a below-market deal.
King of Cali thoughts: I want the Giants to get Uggla, but the Marlins are going to want a lot for him. Sabean can’t count on the Uggla trade to happen. He needs to start kicking the tires on other ways to get some offense. I hope he’s really trying to make a move for an infielder and outfielder soon. All the big teams make moves and get who they want right away. You don’t see good teams waiting and hoping someone falls in their lap.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Clayton Tanner, Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Free Agents, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Trade Rumors
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Giants have offers on the table to more than one free agent. Sabean said “Nobody at this time is close to saying yes.” Baggarly believes the players are Mark DeRosa, Nick Johnson and Scott Podsednik, but he hasn’t been able to confirm that.
The Giants also spoke with the agents for catcher Rod Barajas. When asked about a trade for Dan Uggla. Sabean said “I’ll make a blanket statement: We’re not in any trade discussions that are close to happening as compared to the free agents.”
King of Cali thoughts: DeRosa, Johnson and Podsednik are not sexy names, and sure aren’t the big power bats that we need. Anyone of them would sure help though. Our offense needs help anyway we can get it. By Sabean going after 2nd tier guys. He would need to make a couple moves to boost our offense.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, Nick Johnson, NL West, Rod Barajas, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Scott Podsednik, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Winter Meetings
Joe Capozzi of Palm Beach Post says the San Francisco Giants are said to have shown the most interest in Dan Uggla, but they’re reluctant to give away their top prospects. The Marlins are asking for left-hander Madison Bumgarner, among other players, but the Giants consider him off-limits.
King of Cali thoughts: I would love to see a trade for Uggla, but there is no way the Giants will part with Bumgarner. If that’s a deal breaker. Then let the rumors end there and move on. We can find someone on the free agent market and keep our top prospects.
~King of Cali
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Nick Cafardo of Boston Globe reports that the Marlins could deal second baseman Dan Uggla or third baseman Jorge Cantu; both are in demand. The Giants are very interested in Uggla.
King of Cali thoughts: Nothing new on that Uggla rumor, but everyone around the Major League keeps reporting how interested the Giants are in trading for Uggla. The Giants do not want to part with any pitching, so the question is how they can get this deal to work.
Nick also says the Giants need bats. At least two big ones for the middle of the order. Anyone and anything is possible. With Molina likely to depart, the Giants want a veteran to nurture rookie Buster Posey (Pudge Rodriguez?), one back-end starter, and some bullpen help. He does think pitching prospect Jonathan Sanchez could be dangled for the right bat.
King of Cali thoughts: Pudge would be a smart move for the Giants. He had a down year with the bat, but if he’s willing to platoon. That’s someone you want to mentor Posey. He also will draw some fans into the seats to see him. He’s not the big name guy you want, but Pudge still has a fan base.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Buster Posey, Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Free Agents, Giants, Jonathan Sanchez, Jorge Cantu, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, NL West, Pudge Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com say he heard that the Marlins Dan Uggla trade talk with the Giants and Rangers got “pretty hot and heavy” at the GM meetings, according to one baseball man. Florida has told other clubs that if it doesn’t get what it wants, it will keep Uggla and deal someone else from it’s pool of arbitration-eligible players.
King of Cali thoughts: Uggla wouldn’t be a bad pick up for the Giants. He’s got some pop that they can use in their lineup. This would just have to be an addition to whatever big bat they go out and get. This can’t be the big bat that they get and that’s it. Marlins may want more than the Giants will be willing to give for Uggla.
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Giants, GM Meetings, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
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Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Marlins are looking to trade some players to free up space on their already microscopic payroll. Dan Uggla is still the name that keeps coming up, and the Giants and Orioles are still showing interest.
Milton Bradley: The Cubs are eager to unload him, with the Rangers, Rays and Giants appearing to be the most likely to land the talented-yet-troubled outfielder.
Mark DeRosa: There is now around a dozen teams that have inquired about DeRosa. The San Francisco Giants are one of those teams.
Technorati Tags: Chicago Cubs, Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Free Agents, Mark DeRosa, Milton Bradley, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, MLB Trade Rumors, San Francisco, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors
