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Giants Interested In Rowand, Fukudome

By Tim Dierkes [December 11, 2007 at 1:13pm CST]

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a few new tidbits concerning the Giants.

They're considering a late push for Kosuke Fukudome. Baggarly notes that Fukudome is expected to get at least 4/44. I think Fukudome makes a bit of sense for the Giants; he could be a draw.

Baggarly says the Giants are in more heavily on Aaron Rowand. This makes less sense to me, as Rowand probably isn't going to put butts in the seats. He is, however, going to require four or five years at $12-14MM per. Indeed, Buster Olney heard the Giants could be the one team willing to give Rowand five years. It would be a contract the Giants might regret. They're not expected to be in contention until at least 2010.

Nothing new on the Tim Lincecum for Alex Rios front. The general vibe, though, is that Brian Sabean will pass.

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Comments

They should go after Fukudome. It is a risk worth taking that very young talented rotation in my eyes is the best in the NL, and they need help!

Posted by: CUBS=NOTHING | December 11, 2007 at 01:26 PM

Fukudome YES
Rowand H3LL NO!!

Fukudome and Matsui!!

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 01:30 PM

Best rotation in the NL?

Cain and Lincecum are both really nice pieces to start, but you're kidding yourself if you think they're as valuable(at least next season) as Peavy /Young or the upcoming Penny/Bedard.

Lowry and Zito aren't anything special at this point no matter what the Giants decided to pay for Zito.

Posted by: Ace2110 | December 11, 2007 at 01:34 PM

Go all out SF!
Hideki Matsui
Isuro Tanaka
Kosuke Fukudome

Posted by: PhilsPhan | December 11, 2007 at 01:35 PM

on 670 the Score radio in Chicago, Steve Stone weighed in on Fukudome.

This isn't representing inside information ... just Stone's educated guess.

He thinks that playing in a media center (chicago) would be attractive to Fukudome. He predicted he'd sign with the Cubs for 4 years and between 55 and 60 million.

If the Cubs pay that much, then it's likely the cash rather than the appeal of playing in a major media market...

Anyway, I think the Cubs have positioned themselves such that not getting Fukudome would represent a failed off-season. I think they will get it done (hopefully for less than $60 million).

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 01:37 PM

Ace,

If you look at the 5 man rotation, yes the Giants do have one of the best rotations.

They were up with league leaders in quality starts.

Peavy/Young are great. Penny had a great season. Dodgers don't have Bedard yet, so that isn't in the conversation.

Zito (Lefty Curveball)
Cain (Righty Heat)
Lowry (Lefty Changeup)
Lincecum (Righty Heat & 12/6 curve)
Correia (Righty nibbler)

That is a great rotation.

Posted by: zito4cyyoung | December 11, 2007 at 01:39 PM

The Giants have the worst lineup in the history of baseball.

Posted by: beauhoopman | December 11, 2007 at 01:50 PM

I don't know if I would call it a great rotation but they were pretty good last year as a group. I don't think it is a stretch to think they will take a big step foward in 2008. It is too bad the Giant's everyday lineup is so bad - even an average offense would keep this team in most games.

Posted by: cubz23 | December 11, 2007 at 01:50 PM

It is the deepest and most talented. I am not a Giants fan but I do think that rotation could be savior for the Giants. I wouldn't trade lincecum for Rios at all either.

Posted by: CUBS=NOTHING | December 11, 2007 at 01:52 PM

cubz23

You are right...we lost a lot of games by 3-1 4-3 scores. If we had Fukudome/Matsui or Rios/Fukudome. Some kind of 3-4 punch, that would help. Still not contenders yet, but not laughable.

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 02:43 PM

Well, Fukudome will be better for the Giants, but I guess that the would love to overpay for Rowand.But either signing will help the Giants keep there young starting pitching.

Posted by: LAD Lavigne | December 11, 2007 at 03:38 PM

I would only be pursuing Fukudome if I am the Giants. His plate discipline is a good sign he can contribute moderately at the Major League level. He is still relatively young, at 30 years old, and has shown he can play any OF position. I wouldn't however, commit more than 12 million annually to him due to the high risk of failure in the league transfer.

Rowand would be a joke in a Giants roster, and that they would offer him 5 years is laughable.

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 04:10 PM

I have no idea why they would pursue and overpay for Rowand when it seems they could land both Fukudome and Matsui at the combined cost of $23 million per year and Jonathan Sanchez to the Yanks. It would still allow them to pursue a 1B or 3B with other pieces and young pitchers, even if it cost them Lowry, but they would still have the core Zito/Cain/Lincecum/Correia rotation for years.

Paying Rowand the kind of money he is seeking over too many years only repeats the Zito mistake from last year.

Posted by: | December 11, 2007 at 05:00 PM

I'm not surprised the Giants would inquire on Rowand, they should inquire on every position player avaliable with the lineup they have, but the fact that they would prefer Rowand over Fukudome seems odd. I still think the Giants shoulda signed Andruw Jones to a short term deal like the one the Dodgers got him for. He would fill seats and be a solid middle of the order guy, and wouldn't financially hinder the team when they get back into contention

Posted by: scribbletone | December 11, 2007 at 06:39 PM

Maybe I'm missing something, but why are the Giants so set on paying older outfielders? They already have Schierholtz, Lewis, Roberts, Davis and Winn. Not that I think there is a winning combination in there anywhere, but at this point, isn't overpaying another decent outfielder actually a loss? One more average bat isn't going to help the team, but the long term contracts will hurt it. Plus, shouldn't they be worrying about the complete lack of infielders instead?

Posted by: angryseals | December 11, 2007 at 08:41 PM

REPORT FROM ESPN 1000 chicago Fukudome to CUBS for a 4 year deal

Posted by: uww1 | December 11, 2007 at 09:36 PM

4 year 50 mil

Posted by: uww1 | December 11, 2007 at 09:41 PM

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