Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com says Miguel Tejada might want to consider moving to third base. Tejada can still be an everyday shortstop, but his options are dwindling. Teams with uncertainty at third base are more numerous and better funded. It might be in Tejada’s best financial interest to be marketed as a third baseman. Teams that are looking for help at third are the Red Sox, Angels, Twins, Cardinals and Giants.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m on board for a Tejada signing. Who’s with me? His power has dropped off a lot since his Oakland and Baltimore days, but who’s haven’t since then right? Tejada can still swing a bat thought. He has a career .289 AVG, and hit .313 last season. It’s reported that Tejada is seeking a three year deal worth more than the $18 million that Placido Polanco received.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, Miguel Tejada, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, Placido Polanco, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Today Giants GM Brian Sabean did a chat with fans on MLB.com. Here is the script of the chat log.
Sabean: Hello everyone, coming live to you from the winter meetings in Indianapolis! Thanks for joining me today. Lets get started with your questions.
treal_jay: Brian, position player-wise, what are the Giants most critical needs in order of high to lowest priority?
Sabean: Regardless of position we need to improve our offense. Pablo will be the fourth hitter and we will need to be able to place someone in back and in front of him.
k90sdrk: Do you think posey is ready to catch at the major league level and how consistent will he be in a 162 game season?
Sabean: We are not sure. Having said that he is ahead of his own development schedule and has been named the minor league player of the year so it may come to that with him being our catcher and if so we are willing to take that risk. Because he’s played so little professional baseball it’s hard to predict what he will do in his first major league season.
dbgiant21: Do you expect to pick up a “Juan Uribe” this off-season, such as Nick Greene, or would it be preferred to use homegrown players?
Sabean: We consider Juan a super utility type of talent at this time, we don’t know of our ability to re-sign him. If he does not re-sign we will look internally at people like Burriss or Rohlinger who can play the middle of the infield.
mescalbean: Mr. Sabean, thank you very much for the opportunity to ask a question; my question is this: on the basis of the 2009 season, have the Giants seen enough of Bowker, Ishikawa and Schierholz to determine whether they can be starter-calibre ballplayers?
Sabean: Short answer is probably not. Having said that they will be given ample opportunities in spring training to distinguish themselves.
eddiesf: Which team in our division do you think will be the biggest challenge to our ball club in 2010?
Sabean: I’m not sure but the West seemingly has a shot gun start every year. From recent history it’s usually up for grabs every year. Our goal is to be in position to win the division.
nomobonds: If both Bumgarner and Posey are on the major league roster next year who in your opinion will be the organizations top minor league prospect?
Sabean: Runzler, Joaquin and Martinez have a chance to make our 12-man staff. I’m going to monitor very closely the progress next year with Crawford, Peguero, Neal and Kieschnick.
nomobonds: Performance wise, which Giant impressed you most last season?
Sabean: Sandoval because of the fact that he met our needs and expectations and actually surpassed our expectations.
sucio1: Hello Brian, my question is are you confident that if the Giants are not able to fill their needs via free agency and/or trades that you could field a competitive ball club in 2010?
Sabean: Yes, by virtue of our pitching staff and it’s depth.
Sandals: Since losing Brad Penny to the Cardinals, do you plan on looking for a starting pitcher this off-season? Or would you be comfortable with a rotation that contains both Sanchez and Bumgarner come April?
Sabean: Because of Bumgarner’s talent alone he is very capable of being our fifth starter, but much like the Posey situation we want to be sure that we are not rushing him. As a result we will continue to look at other options. Bumgarner very well though could be the fifth starter.
Sandals: Are you looking into signing Tim Lincecum to a long term deal this year? Or if not, could it be done next off season?
Sabean: At this time we are going to wait until January and us filing our number for arbitration and then view their filing number to decide if there is a window or opportunity for more than a one year deal. Or decide it’s more prudent this year to go with a one-year contract and if that’s means going to arbitration then we are prepared to do so.
gintssoxfn: I’m a Giants season ticket-holder and look forward to the upcoming season. What are plans to strengthen lineup, especially at LF and 1B? Any interest in players just a level below the top dollar guys – players like Blalock, Nady, etc.
Sabean: We are exploring opportunities to upgrade at 1b and in the OF from a run production standpoint.
APeeler: Your best guess as to what level Thomas Neal will start next season.
Sabean: Probably double-A at the beginning of the year. Who knows at the end of the year where he’ll end up. He played very well in the Arizona Fall League against older and more experienced players.
APeeler: What is the best part of the winter meetings?
Sabean: The Fellowship.
strakman1: how are the health issues with renteria and sanchez?
Sabean: They seem to be doing fine with their off-season rehab programs and will be thoroughly evaluated at the first of the year to get a time table to start baseball activity.
bond1942: Will Garko be tendered a contact this week?
Sabean: We have until Saturday at 9pm to make that decision and as of now we have not made that decision yet.
Sabean: We feel that these meetings are productive at putting our roster together. We don’t feel pressure of having to do something while we’re here. We are prepared to act in a timely fashion when the right opportunities present themselves.
Sabean: Thanks everyone for joining us today. Happy Holidays and we will talk to you again after the first of the year.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Free Agents, King of Cali, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Winter Meetings
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
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
Chris Haft of MLB.com chimes in on Tim Lincecum winning back to back Cy Young’s. Finishing second was Chris Carpenter. Followed by Adam Wainwright in third. Lincecum had a better year then his previous Cy Young Award winning season. Lincecum clearly improved overall. He trimmed his ERA by 0.14. Opponents hit .206 off him this season, compared to .221 in 2008. After walking 84 in 227 innings a year ago, he improved to 68 walks in 225 1/3 innings this season.
Lincecum topped Wainwright and Carpenter in several other statistical categories, including opponents batting average, strikeouts per nine innings and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
NL Cy Young Award Voting
| Player |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
Pts. |
| Tim Lincecum, SF |
11 |
12 |
9 |
100 |
| Chris Carpenter, STL |
9 |
14 |
7 |
94 |
| Adam Wainwright, STL |
12 |
5 |
15 |
90 |
Technorati Tags: Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Cy Young Award, Giants, King of Cali, Lincecum, MLB, MLB Hot Stove, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
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
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
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
This is the MLB Calendar with important dates to look forward too.
Oct. 28: World Series begins
November: Free agent filing period, first 15 days after the World Series ends.
Nov. 9-11: General managers meetings, in Chicago.
Dec. 1: Last day for teams to offer salary arbitration to their former players who became free agents.
Dec. 7: Last day for free agents offered salary arbitration to accept the offers.
Dec. 7-10: Winter owners meetings, at Indianapolis.
Dec. 12: Last day for teams to offer 2009 contracts to unsigned players.
Jan. 5-15: Salary arbitration filing
Jan. 19: Exchange of salary arbitration figures.
Feb. 1-21: Salary arbitration hearings.
March 2-11: Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.
March 17: Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.
March 31: Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2010 salary.
April 4: Opening day, active rosters reduced to 25 players.
July 13: All-Star Game, at Anaheim, Ca
July 25: Hall of Fame inductions, in Cooperstown, NY.
July 31: Non-waiver trade deadline.
Technorati Tags: All-Star Game, King of Cali, MLB, MLB Calendar, Opening Day, San Francisco Giants Roster/Contracts, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Trading Deadline, World Series
