Giants-Renteria Rumor False

6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold.  Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants’ fallback for Furcal.  He notes that the Tigers would’ve loved to see Renteria sign today, as they’re unlikely to offer him arbitration.  Goold learned that Meister will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere.

5:02pm: Via an email from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Renteria’s agent Barry Meister says the report of Renteria signing is not true.  Renteria is at home in Colombia; nothing is close.

3:59pm: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle talked to a Giants source who said the below report is not true.  Schulman admits the Giants may be splitting hairs, as they might deny a deal if only formalities remain.

Rafael Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer says he’s still talking to the Giants, which would seem to indicate a Renteria deal isn’t close.

2:45pm: According to Sweeny Murti of WFAN, the Giants signed shortstop Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18MM contract.  We’ll update the post with more details and confirmation as it becomes available.  If the report is accurate, the Tigers tentatively get the Giants’ second-round pick without worrying about whether to offer Renteria arbitration.

Renteria, 33, hit .270/.317/.382 in 547 plate appearances for the Tigers this year.  Defensively, he made nine fewer plays than the average shortstop.   Will a move back to the NL rejuvenate his career?