Giants Sign Aaron Rowand

wow...any word on how much? I guess technically now they are "going young." Ha ha...

What does that mean for the Phils comp pick?

The White Sox lost out on him. They have to get the 'fire, passion and grinder ball' elsewhere now.

Fukudome and Rowand both gone in like 12 hours, sucks for White Sox.

5 years to a guy who hit his ceiling last year. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

i dont think williams was actively pursuing rowand much, or he would have gotten a deal done. good no move by the sox.

I would not be happy as a San Francisco Giants fan. Not today, not any day in recent history.

I don't understand the strategy behind this one? FIVE years??

Maybe they're looking for the clubhouse presence whilst developing the younger talent?

ahh, the Giants. The only organization that makes stranger moves than the Houston Astros.

I'd love to know how much money is involved...especially in years 4 and 5....and if he gets a no-trade clause.

I hate you Brian Sabean.

F!ck!!!

Does this make them more or less likely to trade for Rios?

Well it's obvious now that the Giants don't care about winning anymore, they're biggest fear is losing their fans, this signing, like the Zito signing is just to make it seem like it to their fans that they're doing whatever they can to win games and keep the fans from not showing up to games. If I was a Giants fan I'd start boycotting and stop going to games until the FO gets the message.

Yarr.

The White Sox are so screwed.

It should not really affect the mindset of the Rios trade, as the Giants still need all the young offensvie talent that can get, it just depends on if it is worth lincecum or not, (Sabean did turn down delmon for lincecum).

HA!

As a Padres fan, I love it.

I'm calling $70mm on the contract, which is insane.

My post did not reflect that it was a good move by Kenny not getting Rowand. No way is that move close to being worth the money. I was only poking fun at some of my Sox buddies who wanted to get him because he has 'fire & passion'...and now a lot of money.

I love Brian Sabean. The Giants have no 1st or 3rd baseman, 10,000 outfielders and they sign another one...

On Giants board it is said to be in the Torri Hunter range..

If this is true, I'm throwing in the towel as a Giants fan this year!

Rowand would have done nothing but made the casual fan happy and eat up 13-15 mil a year of payroll for the next 5 years for the white sox. so hopefully KW comes out of his slumber and pulls off something big, or blows the ship up at the AS break.

I now have complete faith in KW to trade Gio Gonzalez for Coco Crisp.

No no no guys... you're missing the point! Sabean needed to "make a splash!" Don't you get it?

Why does everyone keep saying this doesn't make sense because they won't content for a few years? Er, doesn't that mean they need more players like Rowand?? And he's only 30, so 5 years is no huge deal. Add Matsui, maybe Crede when he gets non-tendered, keep Cain and Lincecum, and suddenly they don't look so horrible...

Withe Rowand gone now, basically Williams is rolling over and dieing on the team now. I don't expect anything better from the White Sox in 2008 from 2007, with who they got I think they'll do worse, I know I'm not sounding like a fan, but quite frankly, we don't have a shot at making playoffs now, we got Jerry Owens and Jermaine Dye in the outfield, those 2 are good, as for if Anderson is gonna play out there, I don't like that idea, he's not good.

So Williams.... it's time to real-build, Scott Merkin "Re-building is not in Kenny Williams Vocabulary" it is now with Rowand gone.
Unload the vets, (Dye, Konerko, Thome, Pierzynski, Vazquez, JUAN URIBE) time to start looking at 2012 for contention =)

but then again, im not gonna count them out just yet, season hasn't started, I still believe

Because of Hunter's contract, I don't think $14 million per would do it. I would say it's $80 million which works out to $16 million per.

I like Rowand, but not for five years and that kind of money.

Seriously, I do not understand this move by Sabean. I did not see him going to SF.

You guys could of had Rios but no sign a guy that just had 1 good in Rowand lol good ol Sabean

ROTHY12--
the sox were screwed long before this. in fact, not signing rowand was the best off season movve they've made so far.
TROBER81--
yes, covelli will be in the sox outfield next year. we're gonna get massacred.

Whew, that is strike three Kenny Williams. Is this trent ringing any bells? Out of all the Major League Managers, if I was a MLB player, I would hate to have to play for Ozzie Guillen. And as a fan, (and I do like the Sox), but I hate going to a game at US Cellular Field, I get dizzy when I stand up in the upper deck, afarid to fall out of the deck.

So next up, Sabean signs Tony Clark to a 4 year deal, and brings back Vinny Castilla to man the hot corner....the Giants are AWESOME!

ARodsucks

Kenny Williams is just gonna sit back and relax now Williams should be smarter and trade Paul Konerko for some Single A prospect like they did with Iguchi cause that's SUCCCCCCCCH a good idea....
pffff NOT

the White Sox are set for next year, no more acquiring, done, out, now we're gonna have some BUM in the outfield for us

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

I am a Phillies fan and an Aaron Rowand fan but that contract is absurd. The man has always been a good player defensively and in the clubhouse hes awesome. BUT he had his first above average year with the bat last year and that was at the Bank.

Good luck and Good Bye Aaron. Hello Flyin Hawaiian in CF.

yea really, Strike 3 for Williams, he should be fired,
this is BS, does he know he's getting the fans angry at him, I dont trust him to sign anything now

I love that the Sox did not get him, however giving that type of a contract to Rowand is absurd. The effect of this is it drives up all outfielders salarys for years to come. This is no more than an average player hat just had a career year in hi walk year.

My username says it all.

For the second year in a row, the Giants have made the worst move of the off-season, and one that is clearly perceived as mind-numbingly dumb at the time.

Rowand is a nice player but there's no way he approaches his career numbers, let alone his numbers last year, in Willie Mays Park with no lineup protection.

Its not my money, so I (barely) prefer this to the Rios trade as we at least don't lose Timmy. However, when the Giants have to let Caincicum go as free agents because they can't afford them, it'll be because of the albatrosses that are the Zito and Rowand contracts.

If we had to "make a splash," at least we could have done it at a position of need.

Pardon my bad typing.

IF KW ever traded gio for coco crisp, that is when i'd jump off the ship.... until then, im still hanging on for the ride.

fire saben

we're both in the same boat
hahaha
I want Kenny Williams gone too

All these people keep saying the sox are screwed cuz they didn't get these overpaid guys. I say fine. Anything the sox would have done short of actually getting Hunter and Miggy would be in vain. Cle and Det are stacked and what Rowand or Fuku is gonna turn the sox into the same contending powerhouse as them yea right. KW efforts at this point are fuedal. I think someone needs to tell him the sox in 08 has basically been decided for him by the changing ladscape of trades and Free Agency. Pulling a lovie smith now, and sticking to the gameplan, would be a huge mistake. Its called apapting to the situation and landscape, I think someone needs to tell KW that he tried to get some impact guys it didnt work out and now regroup and try again for 09 or 10.

Hey ChiSox fans...maybe you can get Dave Roberts or Randy Winn on the cheap now!

I'm a Giants fan, and I don't see the harm in signing Rowand. I am happy about it! Yes, they have 10,000 outfielders, but this means they can get rid of Dave Roberts!

Rios woud have been a very tempting deal. But it would have hurt to give up Lincecum. Now, most likely, Lincecum gets to stay, making the fans happy, and we still get an outfielder, pretty similar to Rios (other than age?).

All I'm saying is, its a good start Sabean! Now we need to find a 3B, and we have OF prospects as well as Roberts to give up, to go along with the pitching we have to offer.

When they bolster their bullpen and add another bat to either 3B or 1B, I will be a very happy Giants fan!!!

Aaron Rowand is NOT comparable to Alex Rios!!!

As a follower of Giants baseball I am impartial to this move unless it is accompanied by other moves.

However, if Rowand receives anything over 14 million per year, which he absolutely should not due to the length of the contract, I will be irreconcilably upset with the SF front office. The idea of locking up nearly $40 million dollars per year for two mediocre players (Zito, Rowand) is a scary thought.

Bad move giants. 5 years to Rowand?? Don't know about that... They now have Davis, Roberts, Lewis, Schierholtz, Rowand, Ortmeier, and Winn in their OF.

I guess this means Davis is moving to RF? I never understand Sabean's moves. He consistently plays for now even when it is ill-advised. So the Giants continue their trend of signing FAs to huge deals and paying them through the roof in their declining years.

Maybe now he'll pull the trigger on the Rios deal but force the Jays to take Winn or Roberts. The OF of Rios, Rowand, and Davis would be a pretty impressive OF defensively. Plus Sabean could mortgage the future for the present... and we know how much he likes to do that!

@ cubbyrick, I totally agree with what you're saying, but what free agent would you rather have signed at a position of need that would have "made a splash"?

I'd assume you're talking about 3B, and the markets pretty slim!!!

J.L.
i wouldnt rule any of those two out....its a mystery who the CF for 2008 will be....
hahahahah.

People do dumb things for money. Rowand will not have the same stats in SF as he did in Philly. There are little league teams that could hit a steady stream of homers in Philly.

$60 mil for 5 years according to yahoo.

@ The Juice - why would Davis move to RF? He'll move to LF. Winn is clearly a RF, and the best in the league at playing the bricks at AT&T Park...

If it's 5 years for $60M, you can't be mad at that. But the Giants site says it's in the Torii Hunter range ($90M).

Joey, we have a championship caliber team if we would had just signed a above average OF. Don't tell me this is a bad team

C. A.J Pierzynki
1B. Paul Konerko
2B. Juan Uribe/ Danny Richar
3B. Joe Crede/ Josh Fields
SS. Orland Cabrera
LF. Fukudome (IF WE GOT HIM)
CF. Jerry Owens/ Aaron Rowand
LF. Jermaine Dye
DH. Jim Thome

if we got Aaron Rowand, simply move Owens over to Left and there's the outfield

Fukudome in Left and Owens in center

i dont know why you'd say we wouldn't be able to contend against the Tigers

I just found out that 76yr old rocker Ike Turner has died. Now what is Sabean going to do for a back up infielder?

Not a good deal for the Giants. Yikes.
Also, did someone say Rowand was similar to Rios?! Nonononononono.

*Pierzynski
*Orlando
i do that everytime

BaySick - exactly what I thought. 12mil a year isn't bad. The closer you get to 18mil a year for Rowand...yikes.

5 years 60 million, what a relief!

"i dont know why you'd say we wouldn't be able to contend against the Tigers"

Cause they have a lineup way better than Sox. And their rotation is better too. It's not even close. The White Sox could end up 4th or even 5th in the AL Central this year.....

LMAO!!!!!! Rowand is compareable to Rios?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Agreed ChicagoWhiteS0xFan...

LOL at people making "old" jokes. I mean, I understand, the Giants have been an old team for years, but Rowand is 30.

I hear it was 5 @ 60.

Now the Padres can go and sign Cameron. Then Gov. Arnold can declare the State of Cal-i-fornia the home of this years top CF free agents signed.

Baysick, I think you had my comments confused with somebody else?

Maybe trade Brian Sabean for Kenny Williams?

@baysick

you really think Winn is a RF??? I love the guy, but his arm is very weak. A bad arm in RF costs a team a lot of runs. I'd rather teach a guy to play the bricks b/c you can't teach arm strength.

^^^ you make a good point. I love Davis' potential, I could see him learning RF.

Darin I know, you can put together a good team on paper, the season hasn't started yet, if we were to acquire something better then garbage, i dont know why we wouldn't be able to contend, I said "CONTEND" not beat, all though it could happen, just wait till season, you can't count ANY team out until it starts

I'm not sure how I feel about this deal yet.

On one hand, Rowand is'nt exactly the middle of the order presence the giants need but he may make for a good #3 (so does randy winn). Also, I think he could be injury prone but I'm not sure. More so, the giants already have alot of outfielders and more need in their infield.

On the other hand, maybe this allows the giants to move some of the other bad contracts or aging players and still get younger. If they can somehow dump 1-2 of the Arulia, Roberts, Durhams and maybe move Winn/Molina, along with giving the youngsters some P.T., maybe they can set themselves up for a bright '09. Also, I think Rowand brings something the Giants just don't have, Toughness, Heart, and Hustle on the field and one hell of a clubhouse presence off it. He reminds me alot of Paul O'neil. If thats the case, I definatly can handle that. Just as long as they don't mortgage the future.

5 years is a very long time though when you make a mistake and as Giants fans we know all about those. For 60mil, Maybe it's a "splash" that just might workout. Now if they can just hold on to Lincecum and Cain. How about sending over some combo of Lowery/Hennessey/Sanchez and either Winn/Roberts for Rios? Probably wishful thinking...what do you jays fans think?

Just because you overspend on someone does not mean your making a splash.A contract like this can weigh down an organization for years to come.

I was refering to the "splash" reference above in regards to sabean's way of saving face. I agree, a contract like this can weigh down an organization for years. Combined with Zito's, the Giants had better make the PERFECT desicions over the rest of this offseason and nexts' in order to not set the organizations sights back 5-6 more years.

I'm not sold this was the right move, but i'm not sure it was the wrong move. I'm going to withold judgement until spring training to see if Sabean can pull of some magic. As unlikely as it is that he can, this may (MAY) end up being a good move.

Roberts or Winn will be trade so who could have interest for a CF. Winn can play there even though his weak arm? Braves, Philles, Padres, Twins, White Sox. That all i can come up with. Who's left in the FA CF market Patterson, Lofton, and who else. If Rowands price is in the 90 mill than imagine what Boras wanted for Andruw if he didn't sign yet!!!

^^^ I AGREE WITH YOU CHICAGOWHITS0XFAN

There are two main positives and two main negatives with this signing. Positive- they got him for waaaaay under market value. This is only $12 million a year, and most people thought he would get $14-$16 million a year. Negative- It's for five years and he's 30. Other positive- He can supposedley help youngsters and will bring a drive to win. Other negative- Last year was his best year and will be his best year. His range, speed, arm, overall fielding, power, and contact will keep decreasing throughout the contract, and even if the Giants have him under market value this season, after that he'll be overpaid.

White Sox Fan.....yes that lineup u posted wouldn't be bad especially if it includes Rowand and Fukudome, which never would have happened. The rotation still contains 60% of guys who had a 5+ ERA last year and the bullpen looks better but Im not sure how good it will be. My point is anything short of actually getting KW Plan 1-A or impact players (which didn't include in upgrade to SP) or whatever u call them wont even come close to measuring up against the real teams like CLE, DET, BOS, LAA, NYY.

It doesn't seem to me like Rowand is overpaid. He's making about the same as Fukudome per year. At least Rowand has proven himself. 5/60 isn't bad considering he was asking for Torii Hunter money. He can be good until he turns 35, but with his style of play he might not be able to make it through a whole season a couple of years from now. All in all the Giants could have done worse.

Jimmie, there isn't any way the Jays would go for that. They equated Rios to Cain and Lincecum. Think to yourself if you would trade Lincecum or Cain for: Lowery/ Hennessey/ Sanchez/ Winn/ or Roberts. It isn't quantity, it's quality.

Whoever tried to say the White Sox could contend with the Tigers in '08 is an idiot. THE TIGERS SCORED 887 RUNS (3RD) AND ADDED A PROVEN SLUGGER IN MIGUEL CABRERA AND A PROVEN SS IN EDGAR RENTERIA. THE WHITE SOX ADDED NOBODY AND LAST YEAR SCORED 693 RUNS (28TH). THE WHITE SOX'S OFFENSE SUCKS.

The Tigers could approach 1,000 runs in '08 and the White Sox won't even crack 700.

Yeah, I know. I said wishful thinking. I honestly don't know the jays needs but think they are after starting and relief help. I don't see too much of a match between these 2 teams now.

wow johansantana your a typical "dumbass fair weather fan"
IT"S NOT EVEN SEASON YET, YOU LOOKING AT PAST STATS, WE WERE SEMI-YOUNG, NOW WE GOT A SEASON UNDER OUR BELT, CANT GO ANYWHERE BUT UP FROM LAST SEASON!!!
LIKE I SAID
DONT COUNT ANYONE OUT TILL SEASON
DUMBSH*T

Rentaria is definitley underrated! Totally agree with JohanSatana17 even though the WSox might crack 700.

and Joey, yea we had 60% rookies in the pen and rotation, now that they have a year in the bigs, they can only go up from there since they were SOOOOOOO bad
i know, it was horrible
Buckvich, im glad that guys down in Charlotte

$12 million a year.. I can live with that as a giants fan. Could have been FAR worse.

Well the phillies should be happy that the Giants beat the White Sox for Rowand. Because now they get the Giants 2nd round pick...and a sandwich first rounder.

Had the White Sox won Rowand then the Phillies would only get the White Sox 3rd rounder(their 2nd came to Milwaukee with the Linebrink Signing) and a sandwich first rounder.

no seriously you CAN NOT, count out any Team, even if they were the worst team in the MLB last year, THEY ARE ALLLLLL PROSSSS!!!
I know some pros are better then others
but to win a world series the team all have to get hot at the right time!
if one guy is doin great, and the rest are doin horrible, WHAT GOOD IS IT FOR THE TEAM!
you tigers better be all on the same pace as far as hitting
and pitching
if i were a tiger fan i wouldn't accept anything worse then 1st place central title and 2nd best in MLB
if your gonnna "look at what you got on the roster"

"IT"S NOT EVEN SEASON YET, YOU LOOKING AT PAST STATS, WE WERE SEMI-YOUNG, NOW WE GOT A SEASON UNDER OUR BELT, CANT GO ANYWHERE BUT UP FROM LAST SEASON!!!
LIKE I SAID
DONT COUNT ANYONE OUT TILL SEASON
DUMBSH*T"

The White Sox actually aren't a particularly young team. And they could quite possibly go down from last season, the Royals may pass them as well. I'm from Chicago, and I've already come to the conclusion that the Sox would be lucky to finish 3rd. Be realistic. I mean yeah, the season hasn't started yet, but the offseason has, and the quality of the rosters in that division continues to improve, while I struggle to say that about the White Sox. But yeah, its true, nobody is out until they're actually out, but you just gotta cross your fingers and hope Fields, Konerko, Thome and Dye will hit 40 HR each, Cabrera bats like crazy again, and John Danks and Gavin Floyd post under 3 ERA's. When that happens, then Detroit and Cleveland, watch out.

Holy crap, the white sox fan is stupid. "You can't count anybody out". I doubt the White Sox will score 300 more runs with just Orlando being added to the mix. Seriously, be realistic. Oh yeah, and I sure am being a fair weather fan of a team I don't even like and isn't improving at all and won't improve at all this season.

By the way: White Sox bullpen is the worst in the AL. By far.

ouch for the giants. Way too much money for a guy that wont help them win and will be a pretty bad fit in that park. Whatever, it could be worse. I would expect Rowands line to drop down to something like 270/330/470. Who knows tho, we'll see.

yea scribbletone i know
that's the problem kenny williams didn't pursue
but i was mostly aiming that to our bullpen and starting pitching exception of Jose and Vazquez
but
"HOLY CRAP" dont try to defend yourself johan, our bullpen was one of the youngest too, if you'd pay attention more
you could see that
and no, your the kind of kid that's "RAH RAH! WE GOT THE PLAYERS!" and if your not even a fan of the team, then why are you trying to defend your "theory"

o and you also left out Dye, Konerko, Thome, Pierzynski, FIELDS and CREDE, Cabrera will help out a bit too

nice nugget from Rotoworld:

This means the Giants will be paying $26.5 million next year for an outfield in Dave Roberts, Rowand and Randy Winn that has combined for two 800-OPS seasons in the last three years (Winn in 2005, Rowand in 2007).

-Chicago WhiteS0x fan

Did you forget that you guys got Carlos Quentin and what he showed before early this year was he is good. THIS IS COMIN FROM A CUBS FAN.
CUBS 2008
FUKUDOME HERE
BRIAN ROBERTS NEXT

this carlos quentin guy is gonna blow, i bet you any money

Seems odd that a White Sox fan would be so down on Quentin. The guy was a top prospect 2 years ago, and just hasn't gotten comfortable in the majors. Considering the potential he has, seems like White Sox fans should be more optimistic about one of their better, higher ceiling young guys

Kenny Williams is one of the worst 5 GM's in the game today. He has no plan. He should be re-building but he doesn't know how so he says he's going for it all and does nothing.

He's half way in the middle (trades Garland for an old shortstop) so the Sox will end up in last place for sure. The guy got SOOOOO lucky in 2005.

i dont know about these previous two jokers, but im fairly optomistic about quentin this year. i think quentin was KW's best move this offseason.

trober 81,

what're you talking about, I never bashed Quentin, I think he'll be pretty good in left for the Sox. In fact, in my comment I believe I was defending Carlos Quentin

Wow, this is all so pointless. Before I continue, let it be known that I hate the Sox and I am a Cubs fan. That being said: All these young guys are gonna grow. After the Tigers doing what they have, I dont see the urgency in moving the white sox youth. Damn, this is a blessing, a year to sit back and really train and see what you have. No one will be disappointed with the outcome because they didn't expect much. People grow and develope. Let them. If everyone did what they were supposed to do "on paper", I'd be bragging about my 2004 World Series Champion Cubs. This is why they play the actual games. Kenny didn't do what he wanted, now he needs to farm some players as opposed to buying them at the market. And haha K-Fuk chose the Cubs. LOL

sorry scribbles, i meant whitesoxfan.

He'll be better than Matthews Jr. and Pierre...which were two much worse contracts for CF's signed last season.

barry zito all over again

this teams is gonna be buried in financial deficiencies for years

Well I am still more disapointed about Hunter than anything else, but I still think the White Sox have a chance. Lets see what Quentin can do. I think the guys that come through for the Sox will surprise all of you guys next year. All in all it could have been a better offseason but I am just as excited for spring training this year as I was going into 06, coming off of a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

hey blutarski, I'd rather be LUCKY then good

yea we got lucky everyone got hot at the right time

@ baysick

I know there are no great free agents available at positions like 3B (or potentially 1B) where the Giants have a greater need. But if Sabean felt the need to make a big move, he could have a done a trade as well.

Personally, I'd prefer the Jonathan Sanchez for Hideki Matsui option (although Sanchez might be a little too much to give away). Matsui could play 1B, and he'd at least be a draw for the fans in a city with a large Japanese population. Rowand costs us more, is locked up for too many years, and just isn't the type of free agent who brings the fans out. Now he's better than his (lack of) reputation among casual fans, but he's no splash signing.

That being said, any big splash move is dumb for the Giants given their situation. They need to be going after young guys who potentially break out rather than paying veterans for their decline years.

FIRE SABEAN!!! FIRE SABEAN!!! FIRE SABEAN!!!