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
Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe says there should be no shortage of teams that need a right-handed power bat. Gary Sheffield will be looking for a team this off-season and Nick Cafardo has listed the Mets, Mariners, Braves, Cardinals, Rays, Twins, Orioles, A’s, Rangers and Giants as the teams that could find some role for him. Sheffield wants to reach 3,000 hits and right now he’s currently at 2,689.
King of Cali thoughts: Sheffield was always a guy I wanted the Giants to get. He’s now 41 years old, and he’s by far not the force he once was. Let’s hope the Giants don’t fall back on Sheffield. I would rather Keep Velez, Rowand and Schierholtz in the outfield. Sheffield would need to stick to the American League if he wants to have a chance to reach 3,000 hits.
Technorati Tags: Baseball, Free Agents, Gary Sheffield, Giants, King of Cali, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
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
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News just reported on his blog that Angel Villalona is on on bail and the victim’s family wishes to drop the charges.
The rumors are that Villalona, who received a $2.1 million bonus from the Giants as a 16 year-old, paid $150,000 to the family of the slain man.
Villalona still faces as much as 20 years in prison if found guilty, but we’ll see if there are any witnesses remaining when and if the case goes to trial. We’ll also have to see what the Giants officials plan to do if Villalona is freed.
Technorati Tags: Angel Villalona, Baseball, Hot Stove, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Villalona
Hey Giants fans I’m sure a lot of you were wondering when the Giants Fan Fest will be this year. It will be on Saturday, February 6th. If you missed out last year. I suggest you try to come down this year. It’s a great way to get up close and take good pictures of your favorite Giants. Hope to see you there!
Technorati Tags: Fan Fest, Giants, Hot Stove, KNBR, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors
Schulman thinks fast rising Double-A manager Steve Decker should be a top candidate to replace Rohn.
With the end of the World Series coming, Schulman says the first order of business for the Giants besides their search for a hitting coach, will be deciding whether to exercise Freddy Sanchez’s $8.1 million option or let him walk as a free agent. The Giants most likely want to renegotiate and give Sanchez a two-year deal.
Technorati Tags: Bobby Evans, Dan Rohn, Freddy Sanchez, Hot Stove, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, SF Giants Rumors, Steve Decker
Danny Wild of MLB.com reports that Posey has won the ‘09 Spink Award. Giants catcher Buster Posey, who ascended from Class A Advanced San Jose to the Majors in less than six months, was named the winner of the 50th annual J.G. Taylor Spink Award as the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year for 2009 on Tuesday.
Posey was ranked as the No. 5 Top Prospect in the Minors by MLB.com at the July 31st Trade Deadline after beginning the season at No. 14.
Ben Maller of Foxsports.com says the Marlins haven’t had serious trade talks yet on Dan Uggla, but Maller believes Uggla will draw lots of interest from teams like the Giants, Dodgers and Mariners.
Technorati Tags: Buster Posey, Dan Uggla, Free Agents, Hot Stove, King of Cali, MLB Rumors, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Daily Rumors, Top Prospects, Trades
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle posts on the Giants Splash blog. Tim Lincecum made his major-league debut on May 6, 2007 on national TV against the Phillies. Had the date been May 14, the Giants would have saved millions.
The cut off to be eligible for arbitration is two years and 141 days of service. Lincecum has 2 years and 148 days. Which means he past the cut off and now is arbitration-eligible. Had Lincecum fallen short of arbitration, the Giants could have renewed his contract themselves.
As Brian Sabean correctly suggested, the union probably will discourage any such talks. Because Lincecum won a Cy Young so early in his career, his arbitration case would set a substantial record for a Super Two pitcher’s salary even if he loses the case. That’s why the union loves arbitration.
Technorati Tags: Arbitration, Brian Sabean, Giants, MLB Hot Stove, NL West, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says with spring training just around the corner, it’s time to start fixing the Giants. Firing Carney Lansford last week was a great move. With this team and it’s guiding offensive philosophy, there is no point in having a hitting coach. All a hitting coach can do is clutter up the hitters’ minds with unnecessary thoughts, like, well, thoughts.
Ostler also says the Giants will need a catcher. Sabean says Buster Posey is likely ticketed to another season in the minors.
Joe Mauer was drafted out of high school, spent two years in the minors, and became a full-time starter for the Twins at age 21 (almost 22).
Posey played three years of college ball and spent last season in the minors. He will be 23 when the 2010 season begins.
The Giants’ M.O. has been to bring kids along slowly while their big-league spots are kept warm by overpaid players. Tim Lincecum and Pablo Sandoval showed, sometimes you’re ready when you’re ready.
Technorati Tags: Brian Sabean, Buster Posey, Carney Lansford, Free Agents, Giants, Hot Stove, Joe Mauer, MLB Rumors, Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants Baseball, SF Giants, SF Giants Rumors, Tim Lincecum
