Some news items as we say goodbye to March and hello to another great baseball-filled April…
- ESPN's Rob Neyer thinks the Rangers should just go ahead and acquire Mike Lowell, since the reported $3MM gap between Texas and Boston is a small price to pay for solidifying the Rangers' first base platoon. Given the number of conflicting reports about the deal, it's hard to say if a Lowell-to-Texas trade is imminent or a longshot at this point.
- Tim Redding talks to The Denver Post's Jim Armstrong about being assigned to Colorado's Triple-A team. Four days ago, Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies pointed out that Redding has an opt-out clause he can use if he finds a spot on another team's 25-man roster. That's unlikely; Ringolsby says the Mariners scouted Redding but came away unimpressed.
- The Indians were hoping to hold up Michael Brantley's service clock, but his strong Spring Training and Russell Branyan's injury forced the club's hand, writes Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. Brantley will now be Cleveland's starting left fielder on Opening Day.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times takes a look at Angels catcher Bobby Wilson, who is out of options and faces a tough task in finding a roster spot given the Mike Napoli–Jeff Mathis combo behind the plate in Los Angeles. If the Angels are forced to put Wilson on waivers, you'd figure that several teams would be interested in a catcher who has a solid .283/.338/.423 line in 2642 minor league plate appearances.
- Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com chatted with fans about a number of A's and Giants-related topics, including Urban's belief that the extensions for Matt Cain, Brian Wilson and Jeremy Affeldt may have been inspired by San Francisco's confidence in their upcoming crop of position players.
- In another online chat, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned that the Cardinals are interested in acquiring a left-handed power bat for the bench. Strauss noted the club's "history of eleventh-hour spring training moves."
I’m a huge fan of the Matt Cain extension, he is a great arm to have especially when coupled with Lincecum. I’m not as big of a fan for the Wilson extension, but it doesn’t look too bad either, and he still is a pretty damn good closer.
I just think that they still have some work to do. They have a ton of young rising stars who will soon be eligible for arbirtration and when the 3 extensions are up, they will have about 5 free agents from their own team and about 7 arbirtration eligible players. Possibly, Runzler, Panda (not for the first time), Lincecum, Bumgarner, Posey, and others.
I just think that they still have some work to do. They have a ton of young rising stars who will soon be eligible for arbirtration and when the 3 extensions are up, they will have about 5 free agents from their own team and about 7 arbirtration eligible players. Possibly, Runzler, Panda (not for the first time), Lincecum, Bumgarner, Posey, and others.
No doubt man. I don’t think anyone would say they are complete now with Lincecum and Cain locked up for the next couple years. I think it is a move in the right direction. I’d love to see them lock up Panda after this season. As for those other players such as Bumgarner and Posey I think they still have some time to get those issues solved, but as for now this is a nice start.
You bet. Absolutley. The problem is, locking up their young talent is certainly the right way to go, but what happens when Renteria and Huff become free agents. They do have to fill those spots. They are also paying Rowand and Zito a ton of money.
So bottom line is, Brian Sabean needs to think hard, long, and spend his money wisely.
Yeah, that’s why I’m not so sure about locking up Wilson. I guess in the end the cost of Wilson through arbitration would be more expensive. I’m not sure how much he would’ve been due to make last year. As for Renteria and Huff. I think they can find some guys on the free agent market on the cheap if Sabean would just wait out the market a little longer. He jumped the gun big when he signed Rent to that 2 year deal, he would have saved countless millions if he waited. Huff wasn’t too bad of a signing at 5 mil but they could’ve saved a bit there too.
The Rowand and Zito contracts are the big ones though. Every time I think about an extension for one of their young players I always come back to those two ugly deals, and wonder how they will work around them.
Sabean needs to wise up big time when deciding who to give those big deals to.
Yeah you bet.
Yeah you bet.
Yeah, that’s why I’m not so sure about locking up Wilson. I guess in the end the cost of Wilson through arbitration would be more expensive. I’m not sure how much he would’ve been due to make last year. As for Renteria and Huff. I think they can find some guys on the free agent market on the cheap if Sabean would just wait out the market a little longer. He jumped the gun big when he signed Rent to that 2 year deal, he would have saved countless millions if he waited. Huff wasn’t too bad of a signing at 5 mil but they could’ve saved a bit there too.
The Rowand and Zito contracts are the big ones though. Every time I think about an extension for one of their young players I always come back to those two ugly deals, and wonder how they will work around them.
Sabean needs to wise up big time when deciding who to give those big deals to.
I think the logic behind the Renteria signing and the proposed to Adam LaRoche was to fill a stopgap role until the Giants’ up and coming prospects are ready to take over. Although Brandon Crawford won’t make the 25-man, he’s coming to San Francisco with the team to get some reps in AT&T, and will probably be ready to start in 2011, or more likely 2012. Similarly for Brett Pill, though I think that if Bowker delivers this year, he will take over at first base.
2012 is really when things turn over for the Giants. If things move predictably, Posey will be established behind the plate, Sandoval will be at one of the infield corners, Crawford and Noonan will be up the middle, and the outfield will probably be moving in Neal, Kieschnick, Ford, Peguero, or others as Rowand and DeRosa are on their way out. Ultimately, the goal of these deals is to invest in pitching long term and treat their assets well so they’re still there when the prospects are coming up in force. That, I think, is when the Giants will be most competitive.
Yeah Brandon Crawford will be a star but you are suggesting they just use in-house guys? What about when Howard, Gonzalez, Berkman, Pujols, and Fielder hit the market the Giants just stand pat? I think not. They could get Adrian Gonzalez.
Well, the “Giants’ Way” is theoretically promoting in-house options wherever available, and they project to have a LOT of money committed to their pitching. I don’t know if they could obtain one of those big, established bats. I mean, look at the NL West in general. Apart from Manny, all the big hitters are homegrown: Sandoval, Kemp, Ethier, Tulowitzki, Gonzales, even Helton. The only big hitter to come OUT of the division lately is Holliday, though we all know Gonzales is headed east; I don’t think the Padres will be willing to keep him in the division, much as I’d think he’d be a great fit for AT&T.
Anyway, I was mostly keeping my projections to in-house options because we can’t know how the FA market is going to pan out, especially with Sabean at the helm. Can anybody say Aubrey Huff?
Well, the “Giants’ Way” is theoretically promoting in-house options wherever available, and they project to have a LOT of money committed to their pitching. I don’t know if they could obtain one of those big, established bats. I mean, look at the NL West in general. Apart from Manny, all the big hitters are homegrown: Sandoval, Kemp, Ethier, Tulowitzki, Gonzales, even Helton. The only big hitter to come OUT of the division lately is Holliday, though we all know Gonzales is headed east; I don’t think the Padres will be willing to keep him in the division, much as I’d think he’d be a great fit for AT&T.
Anyway, I was mostly keeping my projections to in-house options because we can’t know how the FA market is going to pan out, especially with Sabean at the helm. Can anybody say Aubrey Huff?
Yeah Brandon Crawford will be a star but you are suggesting they just use in-house guys? What about when Howard, Gonzalez, Berkman, Pujols, and Fielder hit the market the Giants just stand pat? I think not. They could get Adrian Gonzalez.
I think the logic behind the Renteria signing and the proposed to Adam LaRoche was to fill a stopgap role until the Giants’ up and coming prospects are ready to take over. Although Brandon Crawford won’t make the 25-man, he’s coming to San Francisco with the team to get some reps in AT&T, and will probably be ready to start in 2011, or more likely 2012. Similarly for Brett Pill, though I think that if Bowker delivers this year, he will take over at first base.
2012 is really when things turn over for the Giants. If things move predictably, Posey will be established behind the plate, Sandoval will be at one of the infield corners, Crawford and Noonan will be up the middle, and the outfield will probably be moving in Neal, Kieschnick, Ford, Peguero, or others as Rowand and DeRosa are on their way out. Ultimately, the goal of these deals is to invest in pitching long term and treat their assets well so they’re still there when the prospects are coming up in force. That, I think, is when the Giants will be most competitive.
They fill those spots with Brett Pill and Brandon Crawford is what they do….
We have a pretty good farm system now…
They fill those spots with Brett Pill and Brandon Crawford is what they do….
We have a pretty good farm system now…
nice. Narrowly avoided a “that’s what she said” moment.
nice. Narrowly avoided a “that’s what she said” moment.
You bet. Absolutley. The problem is, locking up their young talent is certainly the right way to go, but what happens when Renteria and Huff become free agents. They do have to fill those spots. They are also paying Rowand and Zito a ton of money.
So bottom line is, Brian Sabean needs to think hard, long, and spend his money wisely.
No doubt man. I don’t think anyone would say they are complete now with Lincecum and Cain locked up for the next couple years. I think it is a move in the right direction. I’d love to see them lock up Panda after this season. As for those other players such as Bumgarner and Posey I think they still have some time to get those issues solved, but as for now this is a nice start.
I totally agree with the reasoning as to why the Giants locked up several pitchers. I’ve been saying that 2012 will be the Giants’ year when many of their pitchers will be reaching their prime and players like Posey, Neal, etc. will be up and have a couple MLB years under their belt. That is why they are not signing guys like Molina, Huff, Renteria, etc. to any long term contracts; they are fill ins until the prospects below are ready to take over. The Giants are going to have one hell of a team in a couple years and will still be young.
I totally agree with the reasoning as to why the Giants locked up several pitchers. I’ve been saying that 2012 will be the Giants’ year when many of their pitchers will be reaching their prime and players like Posey, Neal, etc. will be up and have a couple MLB years under their belt. That is why they are not signing guys like Molina, Huff, Renteria, etc. to any long term contracts; they are fill ins until the prospects below are ready to take over. The Giants are going to have one hell of a team in a couple years and will still be young.
re: Cards & left-handed power bat off the bench — see: Jim Edmonds’ offer to sign for league minimum in January
…unless Lowell had new thumbs implanted onto his hands, why does Texas want him still?
Maybe he does have new thumbs, toe thumbs, perhaps.
Maybe he does have new thumbs, toe thumbs, perhaps.
Veteran presence. Very young inexpierenced team and there is only one Michael Young and Darren Oliver and Vladimir Guerrero.
Veteran presence. Very young inexpierenced team and there is only one Michael Young and Darren Oliver and Vladimir Guerrero.
…unless Lowell had new thumbs implanted onto his hands, why does Texas want him still?
Item 1: Milwaukee has too many outfielders.
Item 2: One of Milwaukee’s outfielders is Jim Edmonds.
Item 3: Jim Edmonds is left-handed.
Item 4: The Cardinals need a left-handed hitter.
Come on, Mozeliak, make justice happen.
As much as StL would love to see him back, Edmonds wants the chance to start or at least be part of a platoon. This opportunity doesn’t exist with the Cards. The ABs aren’t there. It’s not a fit.
Ideally, Mather would hit LH.
As much as StL would love to see him back, Edmonds wants the chance to start or at least be part of a platoon. This opportunity doesn’t exist with the Cards. The ABs aren’t there. It’s not a fit.
Ideally, Mather would hit LH.
Well, let’s see…
Lowell is two years and two surgeries removed from World Series MVP.
Ramirez is one year and a lot of reality removed from “ZOMG! He’s teh best catching prospect evar! Your best pitching prospect is a small price to pay. Throw in more!”
So, yeah. Sounds about right.
Well, let’s see…
Lowell is two years and two surgeries removed from World Series MVP.
Ramirez is one year and a lot of reality removed from “ZOMG! He’s teh best catching prospect evar! Your best pitching prospect is a small price to pay. Throw in more!”
So, yeah. Sounds about right.
I would give up nothing for Lowell.
I would give up nothing for Lowell.