Dan Uggla – The Giants have been linked to Uggla all offseason. The Marlins wanted Jonathan Sanchez in the deal. The Giants have lost Randy Johnson (retired) and Brad Penny (Cardinals). With that said I’m sure that’s why the Giants felt like they couldn’t part with J-Sanchez.
Nick Johnson – It was reported that the Giants had an offer on the table for Johnson, but he decided to take less money to sign with the Yankees ($5.5 million). The Giants had upped their offer to Johnson to $6 million, but that wasn’t tempting enough to land him.
Johnny Damon – The Giants have been linked to Damon. This is because it’s been known that the Giants needed a outfielder and leadoff hitter. When the Giants decided Mark DeRosa was going to be in left-field. That pretty much shut the door on any Damon signing in San Francisco. Damon is still a free agent, so let’s wait and see where he lands.
Adam LaRoche – The Giants had a two year contract offer on the table for LaRoche. He declined it, and the Giants ended up signing Aubrey Huff. LaRoche signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for a one year contract for less money ($4.5 million). The Giants had offered him a 2-year contract worth $17 million.
Eric Byrnes – The Giants never came out and said they were interested in signing Byrnes. KNBR the Giants Flagship station had Byrnes on the air a couple times and he made it public he wouldn’t mind playing for the Giants. Byrnes has since signed with the Seattle Mariners for the league minimum ($400,000). The Arizona Diamondbacks are paying his remaining $11 million that they owe him before they released him.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adam LaRoche, Arizona Diamondbacks, Aubrey Huff, Brad Penny, Dan Uggla, Eric Byrnes, Florida Marlins, Johnny Damon, Jonathan Sanchez, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, New York Yankees, Nick Johnson, NL West, Randy Johnson, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Seattle Mariners, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, St. Luis Cardinals
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says the Giants still looking to add some pop. The Giants have already lost out on Nick Johnson to the Yankees and could lose Mark DeRosa to the Yankees, Braves or Cardinals too. The Giants still remain confident that they will get a free agent hitter.
One source with knowledge of the teams (Giants) thinking says they wouldn’t say it’s impossible for the Giants to land Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. The Giants believe Holliday and Bay will receive more attractive offers from other clubs, the source said. They also might prefer to distribute their money to several players rather than allocate most of it to just one.
Rosenthal believes Adrian Beltre is a logical fit, because defense remains a priority for the Giants. The Giants still want to add a catcher and fifth starter as well as a big bat.
King of Cali thoughts: I’m sure a lot of Giants fans out there would love to see the Giants sign Bay. I just don’t see this happening. If they did sign Bay or Holliday. They would have a lot of money tied up into a few players. We still have Zito, Rowand and Lincecum that are going to take a big chunk of this year’s payroll.
I’m sure the Giants are going to try to spread the money out a little bit to get multiple players. I can see them trying to sign Beltre, but that won’t be until next month. Once Beltre brings down his contract demands. Then the Giants might try to zero in on him. They still have the Uggla deal to fall back on if other players sign elsewhere.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adrian Beltre, Free Agents, Jason Bay, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, Matt Holliday, MLB Hot Stove, Nick Johnson, NL West, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors San Francisco Giants Baseball
Comments Off
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says Johnny Damon’s time in New York may be over. Sources told Rosenthal that Damon lowered his price to the Yankees to two years, $20 million. By that time the Yankees were already close to a one year deal with Nick Johnson.
The Nationals, Braves and Giants are among the teams that could be interested in Damon says Rosenthal.
King of Cali thoughts: Everyone knows that Damon wanted to stay in New York. He’s even said the Yankees are the best organization he’s played for so far. Well I guess you will have to find someone else that needs your services. The Giants don’t need Damon. He’s not the player he use to be. Plus his homers went up this year, because he’s playing in the new launching pad they have their in New York. I’m glad the Giants are committed to a young team, so I’m hoping that will keep them from signing Damon.
King of Cali thoughts: Now this is another guy we can pass on. Yes he does provide some good pop. He has a career .239 AVG. Plus he bats from the left side. His power numbers would take a big dip at AT&T park. Lets go after Xavier Nady instead of Damon and Cust.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Free Agents, Giants, Jack Cust, Johnny Damon, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, New York Yankees, Nick Johnson, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blogs, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Xavier Nady
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
Technorati Tags: Adam LaRoche, Adrian Beltre, Brian Sabean, Dan Uggla, Florida Marlins, Free Agents, Giants, Jason Bay, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, Matt Holliday, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, Nick Johnson, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Scott Boras, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors
Comments Off
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com says the Giants have increased their offer to Nick Johnson. The offer was $5.5 million and now is at the $6 million range. The Yankees and Mariners are also looking to sign Johnson.
King of Cali thoughts: This isn’t a sexy signing to me, but I’m sure Johnson can help if he stays healthy. He will take a walk and does get on base a lot. He’s not a power bat, but would sure be an upgrade at first. If the Giants sign Johnson or Mark DeRosa I won’t be happy unless they sign at least two players. Just one of them will not cut it. They can’t boost this offense by themselves. They need multiple bats since they are probably not going to sign that one big bat.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com tweets, and says “NYY on the verge of signing Nick Johnson. Contract details to be worked out — it’s not final — plus the physical. At the 1 1/2 yard line.”
King of Cali thoughts: Time to start trying harder to sign Beltre, or hope you can work out a trade for Dan Uggla to get some pop before it’s to late.
~King of cali
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Free Agents, Giants, Giants Rumors, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, MLB Hot Stove, Nick Johnson, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors
Jon Heyman of SI. com chimes in on big teams that still have moves to make. Heyman says no team could use a big hitting star more than the Giants. Even though the organization is doing well financially, they don’t appear t be aiming as high as they could. Baseball executives keep wondering whether they’ll jump in on one of the big stars, but for now it appears they are more seriously looking at Nick Johnson, Dan Uggla, Jermaine Dye, Scott Podsednik, Mark DeRosa, Adrian Beltre and others.
King of Cali thoughts: The Giants front office doesn’t feel the pressure of needing to go out and sign a big player. They have a nice stadium and loyal Giants fans that are just happy to get out to the park and see their team. Fan’s out here don’t demand a World Series. In New York the Yankees want a World Series every year or it’s a bad year. Here the Giants are just happy with competing in September and let it turn into a crap shoot if they make the playoffs. If they are doing well financially. Then it’s time to bump that payroll a little bit and get a Super-Star-Slugger!
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adrian Beltre, Dan Uggla, Free Agents, Giants, Jason Bay, Jermaine Dye, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, Matt Holliday, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, New York Yankees, Nick Johnson, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Scott Podsednik, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune says if the Giants don’t trade for Dan Uggla. They could sign non-tendered Rockie Garrett Atkins and leave Freddy Sanchez at second base.
King of Cali thoughts: Atkins I’m sure is someone that Sabean is kicking the tires on. He would be a fall back guy. If the Giants decide to spend a little more money on a free agent in the outfield. They can also add Atkins in the infield. I just see the Giants trying to get Nick Johnson at first or Mark DeRosa at third right now.
Chris Haft of MLB.com reported over the weekend that the Giants declined to tender first baseman Ryan Garko a 2010 contract, casting him into free agency. Garko being eligible for salary arbitration, which would have virtually guaranteed him a significant pay increase from his 2009 salary of $445,100.
King of Cali thoughts: We all know Garko pressed once he was traded to the Giants. I still think he could give the Giants more. He would be a good player to spot start at first and provide some pop off the bench. The Giants have said they are targeting a first baseman, so that’s what makes Garko expendable to them. I thought this was a good trade for Garko last season. Now that they are not bringing him back. It was a wasted move and they basically just gave Scott Barnes to the Indians for free.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Dan Uggla, Freddy Sanchez, Free Agents, Garrett Atkins, Giants, King of Cali, Mark DeRosa, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, Nick Johnson, NL West, Ryan Garko, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Scott Barnes, SF Giants 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
King of Cali thoughts: The two free agents that keep getting brought up for the Giants to sign are Nick Johnson and Adrian Beltre. If it’s a choice of these two. Let’s go with Beltre. He’s a great defender and he does have right handed pop that the Giants need. Johnson doesn’t have the pop, but he will be on base a lot. The Giants need someone who can drive in runs with one swing of the bat. Last season we got guys on. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was driving them in. I’m on board with a Beltre signing. Who’s with me?
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adrian Beltre, Brian Sabean, Free Agents, Giants, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, Nick Johnson, San Francisco Giants Baseball, Scott Boras, SF Giants Blog, SF Giants Rumors, Winter Meetings
Ausmus batted .295 in 36 games for the Dodgers. He does live in San Diego and has strong preference to play on the West Coast.
King of Cali thoughts: This is the kind of guy I would like to see brought in to catch for the Giants. Ausmus will be able to platoon with Buster Posey and then turn into Posey’s back up when he’s ready to take over as the everyday backstop.
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi also chime in on the Giants having options for adding offense. They say the Giants should feel confident heading into next week’s winter meetings, because they can add offense without signing Jason Bay or Matt Holliday although that would certainly help.
Multiple major league sources indicated Wednesday that free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre, free-agent first baseman Nick Johnson and Florida second baseman Dan Uggla are currently high on the Giants list.
King of Cali thoughts:
Uggla – The Uggla rumors never die. Which means they are really true. The Marlins want major league ready players in exchange for Uggla, so I’m thinking they must still want Jonathan Sanchez. I’m not sure which players the Giants are willing to part with. I know the players I wouldn’t mind see going wouldn’t be the players the Marlins would want.
Johnson – The knock on Johnson is that he can’t stay healthy. He’s a guy that’s going to get on base. He will show plate discipline and take a walk.
Beltre – He’s a great defender at third and by signing him Sandoval can play first. Beltre is a career .270 hitter with 250 homers. Last season he only hit 8 but he did 25, 26 and 25 in the three previous seasons. He would bring some right-handed pop to the Giants that they desperately need.
~King of Cali
Technorati Tags: Adrian Beltre, Brad Ausmus, Buster Posey, Dan Uggla, Free Agents, Giants, Jason Bay, King of Cali, Matt Holliday, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Trade Rumors, Nick Johnson, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants Rumors
