Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News lists some notable Type “A” free agents who were offered arbitration, and would cost the Giants their first-rounder: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Chone Figgins, John Lackey, Marco Scutaro, Rafael Betancourt.
Here’s a list of notable Type “A” free agents that weren’t offered arbitration and making them instantly more attractive to the Giants: Orlando Hudson, Miguel Tejada, Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye, Octavio Dotel, Darren Oliver, Randy Wolf.
Baggarly says a few guys in the secondary list have been linked to the Giants already, most notably Dye, Damon and Tejada.
King of Cali thoughts:
Jermaine Dye is on the decline of his career. We can’t just pencil him in to be a big bat. He hit under .200 after the All Star Break. He is willing to move to first base which can spark more interest for the Giants. He’s also from the Bay Area, so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind coming back home to play for the Giants.
Johnny Damon to me doesn’t fit with the Giants. It’s already been said that Damon doesn’t want a pay cut. I’m sure his numbers will decline once he puts on a Giants uniform. His homers were up last year, because he was playing and the new launching pad in New York. Knowing that this is the one signing I don’t want. I’m sure this will be the one player we do get. That’s just how my luck goes…
Miguel Tejada is the one guy I really would love to see the Giants sign. He can still hit and he can play shortstop or even move to third. Which allows us to move Sandoval to first. Now we have first and third locked down with good hitters. If Renteria isn’t pulling his weight at short. He can grab a seat next to Fred Lewis on the bench and watch Tejada take over.
Orlando Hudson is another guy that was not offered arbitration and would be a nice fit for the Giants. I wanted the Giants to sign him last year. If we can sign O-Dog. He can play second base and Freddy Sanchez can move to third.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, King of Cali, Miguel Tejada, MLB, NL West, Orlando Hudson, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Comments Off
Hey Giants fans! I know it’s been a while since I have actually did a King of Cali blog. I thought I would do one about some free agents that are out there. With it known that the Giants are probably not going to be able to obtain Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. Let’s take a look at a few second tier players that are out there and should be considered by the San Francisco Giants.
Xavier Nady: Nady is someone that the Giants should really be considering. He’s coming off an injury year. He had his second Tommy John elbow surgery. He is hoping to be ready by spring training. Nady only played in 7 games in 2009 for the New York Yankees. He did have career numbers in 2008 with a .305 AVG, 25 homers and 97 RBIs in 2008. He’s only 31, so if he can stay healthy. He would be a good second tier free agent to sign.
Juan Uribe: The Giants have said they would like to bring back Uribe. He was a very valuable piece for the Giants. He was a steal for the Giants when they signed him for $1 million last season. Uribe was able to fill in where ever he was needed in the infield. He played in 122 games, .289 AVG and had 16 homers for a team that was desperate for offense. Renteria is still penciled in as the Giants shortstop, but if the Giants can re-sign Uribe. Renteria might not hold on to that starting role long if he’s not producing.
Adrian Beltre: Is a nice option at third base. He’s coming off a year where he hit .265 with 8 homers in 111 games for the Seattle Mariners. In 2008 Beltre did hit 25 homers in 143 games. He still has the pop that the Giants do desperately need to add to their lineup. He’s also had 2 Gold Gloves within the last 5 years for the Mariners. Word on the street (internet) is that the Phillies are targeting Beltre.
Do you think any of these guys would be a good fit for the Giants?
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adrian Beltre, Free Agents, Hot Stove, Juan Uribe, King of Cali, MLB, MLB Rumors, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, Xavier Nady
Perry says if the Giants are going to contend in a deep NL West, they must improve a woefully weak offense. Holliday will be a bold move for the Giants, but it’s lineup needs such a signature addition. He’ll be expensive, but regional charms, a return to the NL West, the promise of contention and lots and lots of money should get it done.
The Giants rotation deserves a hitter like Holliday, and unlike fellow free agent Jason Bay, Holliday can play a little defense.
Technorati Tags: Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, MLB, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Ben Reiter of SI.com has his Top 50 Rankings of the top free agents. He has Matt Holliday listed as the #2 free agent available behind John Lackey. The #3 free agent is Jason Bay. Sorry Giants fans, but he doesn’t have either one of these players signing with the Giants.
#2 Matt Holliday -LF
Current Team: Cardinals
Best Fit: Mets
#3 Jason Bay -LF
Current Team: Red Sox
Best Fit: Red Sox
Now the players that Reiter predicts will sign with the Giants:
#5 Nick Johnson -1B
Current Team: Marlins
Best Fit: Giants
#32 Juan Uribe -IF
Current Team: Giants
Best Fit: Giants
#37 Pudge Rodriguez -C
Current Team: Rangers
Best Fit: Giants
#41 Brad Penny -SP
Current Team: Giants
Best Fit: Giants
Technorati Tags: Brad Penny, Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Jason Bay, John Lackey, Juan Uribe, Matt Holliday, MLB, Nick Johnson, Pudge Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Comments Off
Buster Olney of ESPN.com said via Twitter – “Remember that if SF (San Francisco Giants) signs Jason Bay to to 4 years at $64 million type deal, They’d owe him, Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand $46 million annually for the next 3 years. Before even paying Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.
Technorati Tags: Aaron Rowand, Barry Zito, Free Agents, Hot Stove, Jason Bay, Matt Cain, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Comments Off
Jon Heyman reports of SI.com reports that the Yankees have been thinking about a deal that might top out at about $10 million a year, but coming off a superb season. Johnny Damon doesn’t seem to feel he deserves a cut from $13 million he made last season. The Giants, who badly need a productive outfielder, appear to have emerged as one potential competitor.
Technorati Tags: Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Johnny Damon, MLB Hot Stove, San Francisco Giants, San Francisco Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Yankees
Joan Ryan of Inside the Giants Clubhouse blog says Pablo Sandoval did his Wednesday weigh-in and he lost five pounds in day 11. This is a three week project to get Sandoval to start eating better and try to help him shed some weight. They are calling this “Operation Panda.” They even had T-shirts made with the words “Operation Panda: Discipline – Hard Work – Perseverance.”
Sandoval is lifting weights for the first time in his life and eating vegetables. He’s been meeting with a nutrition professor from Arizona State University.
King of Cali’s thoughts – I think this is a great thing. We know he’s not going to end up skinny and lose some of his pop. He will be in better shape though, and he should be able to last a full season without getting to tired near the end of the season. It’s nice to see that he wants to be sure he’s in good shape and not just weight till it’s to late and he’s to heavy.
Technorati Tags: Giants, Giants Baseball, Hot Stove, King of Cali, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
What If the Giants Don’t Sign Molina, Who’s Out There?
by Darrin Reyes
There is a big possibility that the Giants may not re-sign Bengie Molina for the 2010 season. All the Giants fans know that Buster Posey is moving his way up the Giants farm system, but he probably wont be ready by opening day in 2010. The Giants will need to sign a catcher that would be willing to sign for only one year. However if they sign a player for 2 years the second year may be in a back up role.
Rod Barajas
His numbers look to match up to Molina’s the most out of the four candidates. He finished last year with 19 Doubles, 19 Home Runs and 71 RBIs while Bengie has 25 Doubles, 20 HR and 80 RBIs. Rod Barajas has spent 11 years as a major league catcher which is only 1 year less than Molina. The upside is that he’s not a player that going break the bank. He made $2.5 million last year while Molina made $6 million. The Giants could give him a two year deal for $8 million and I think that would be a good deal for him. They could do have the deal be $6 million for ‘10 and $2 million for ‘11 or $5 million for ‘10 and $3 million for ‘11. I think the $6 million and $2 million deal would be better for the Giants because his role in 2011 would be more as back up rather than an everyday catcher. The Giants could also add a buyout option for ‘11.
Henry Blanco
Henry Blanco seemed to be a Giant killer in 2009. He batted .357 vs. the Giants in 2009 with 3 of his 6 Home Runs against the Giants. Blanco has played for 12 seasons with most of his time as a back up catcher. He’s only caught over 100 games twice in his career with the last time being in 2004. He is not a catcher that will stunt the growth of Posey since Blanco is used to being a back up anyways. He only made 750k last year so he’s not someone that is going to be asking for a whole lot. I think the Giants could offer him a 2 year deal for $5 million. Splitting the contract per year would be good but a safer bet would be adding in a buyout option just in case Posey makes his way up faster through the farm system then expected.
Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall is a player that is also on the down side of his career. He will be going into his 15 season in 2010. He would be the type of player that Giants could use to help Posey as well as the rest of the offense. He has been a big contact hitter for his career. He’s not someone that is going to hit a lot of home runs like Molina but he will help manufacture a run. These abilities has made him a lead off hitter for most of his career. On the Giants I don’t think he would be a lead off hitter but he could help Velez become the everyday lead off hitter they need. He is a very skilled catcher that could also help the growth of Posey as well. He made $5 million in 2009 so he is going to be a little more pricey than Blanco or Barajas. I think he would be a good player to sign, but the money should be used elsewhere.
Ivan Rodriguez
Pudge was a player that was unsigned going into the 2009 season. He showed everyone in baseball that he can still play from his performance in the World Baseball Classic. He has played for 19 seasons with 13 Gold Gloves, 14 All Star appearances, 7 Silver Slugger Awards and 1 MVP. He is a player that his credentials speak for themselves. As long as he still has the drive to play I believe he will do well. He would be a player that would be willing to take a one year contract. Last year he was only signed for 1.5 million. He clearly wants to play and he’s not the type of player to ask for a lot. However the Giants may need to pay more for him to come, because he will have options.
I think the Giants need to go after Barajas or Rodriguez. Bengie Molina was a great Giant but I think his time as a Giant has ended. The Giants should go after a lower costing catcher so the money could be used elsewhere.
Technorati Tags: Buster Posey, Free Agents, Giants, Henry Blanco, Hot Stove, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Kendall, MLB Players Contracts, Rod Barajas, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, What If?
Giants GM Brian Sabean: “It’s not our top priority, but he’s a player we’re looking into.” Agent Arn Tellem: “There is high interest for stoppers in the majors. He’s a player that a lot of teams should show interest in, and we expect good results from him.”
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Free Agents, Hot Stove, King of Cali, Major League Baseball, MLB, MLB Rumors, Ryota Igarashi, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
Comments Off
Uribe’s representatives touched base with Giants general manager Brian Sabean again today as the GM meetings adjourned.
Jon Heyman said on Twitter that Mark DeRosa already has received calls from the Yankees, Mariners, Nationals, Dodgers, Phillies, Rangers, Orioles and the Giants.
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Giants, GM Meetings, Hot Stove, Juan Uribe, Mark DeRosa, San Francisco Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Comments Off
