The 2011 Giants closely resembled last year’s World Championship team, but change lies ahead for San Francisco. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle explains that health considerations and the rising cost of arbitration eligible players will shape next year’s Giants team. Here are some highlights from Schulman's piece:
- Pat Burrell could again sign a one-year deal when he hits free agency after the season (he earns $1MM this year), but he may have to retire because of a foot injury. Burrell says he’ll play as long as he’s healthy enough to take the field.
- Schulman says it’s hard to imagine the Giants offering Cody Ross a raise from $6.3MM or agreeing to a multiyear deal when the outfielder hits free agency.
- Mark DeRosa is hoping to sign closer to Atlanta, where he makes his home, and realizes he may be in line for a minor league deal.
- The Giants will probably decline Jeremy Affeldt’s $5MM option for 2012, but they’ll “almost certainly” pursue him in free agency, according to Schulman.
- Jonathan Sanchez and Andres Torres are non-tender candidates. When MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes identified Sanchez and Torres as non-tender candidates last month, he pointed out that Sanchez’s salary would rise over $6MM (he now earns $4.8MM) through arbitration.
- Eli Whiteside is another non-tender candidate, Schulman writes.
- Jeff Keppinger, who’s arbitration eligible, will likely return in 2012 and it’s hard to imagine the Giants cutting Nate Schierholtz after seeing him progress in 2011.
- The Giants may not have room on the roster for both Mike Fontenot and Emmanuel Burriss.
Keep Nate and Kepp. Decline affeldt and resign for far less. Trade sanchez. Say goodbye to burrell, derosa, fontenot, torres, whiteside and burriss.
you got that right. They should have traded sanchez earlier, his value wont be as much now. But who should we sign in free agency?
Depends how willing management is to roll the dice…. Prince would be the big bat we need……reyes would be the leadoff hitter we need. Or Rollins who would be cheaper. Other options….cuddyer or berkman.
It makes you wonder if Rollins is just going to be another declining veteran. He may give you 1 good year….but without looking what is he? Mid 30’s now?
Yeah its gonna be interesting, they have problems driving in runs, so prince in that cleanup spot would be refreshing. Cuddyer would be another good bat. But Boras is gonna demand so much for fielder, that sucks
Good luck getting Berkman. Cards will keep him for sure as insurance against losing Pujols. Otherwise I agree with your choices……
Cut Zito!
Ditto. Get it over with
Both Burrell and DeRose would make good coaches, great presences in the club house. I really hope they resign Kepp, I’ve really enjoyed watching him play. As much as Ross is an awesome dude with a great smile, I think it’s time to cut ties with him, he is a fan favorite, but with our crowded outfield and if Brett Pill swoops in as the Giants first baseman, that leaves for Brandon Belt to get moved to the outfield.
As for Whiteside, I think I’d rather have Chris Stewart as the backup catcher next year, he has a cannon of an arm and I love the way he plays the game, he’s not afraid to bark at his pitcher when it needs to be done. He’s always full of energy and seems like a good guy. So I’d take him over Whiteside for the backup backstop next season.
For Jeremy, I’d say decline the option and resign him for less money, he loves San Francisco and is a great asset to the community and a great personality for baseball. I think he wouldn’t mind signing for less money with the Giants.
Next season, I could see a lineup that consists of something like this:
C: Buster Posey
1B: Brett Pill (If he stays with the power he has now)
2B: Freddy Sanchez
SS: Jeff Keppinger
3B: Pablo Sandoval
RF: Carlos Beltran (If the Giants can resign him to a 2-3 year deal)
CF: Gary Brown (ONLY if he amazes in the winter leagues and spring training)
LF: Brandon Belt
Bench: Huff, Schierholtz, Stewart, Maybe Burrell, and someone else.
Keppinger is not a good defender. He has terrible range and bounces almost every throw from 2B. I can’t imagine any possible way he could play SS in anything other than an emergency.
I’ve watched almost every Giants game this season and I don’t believe I’ve seen him bounce a ball once, I could be wrong though.
Mark is right, he has no arm even by 2B standards. Watch how he turns a double-play. Kepp is a great depth guy though
A little too early for brown. Id like to see him get some time in Richmond first. Peguero may be ready though.
Seriously, Huff?
The Giants are not a bad cautionary tale for free agency. Just imagine where that team (and it’s incredible pitching) would be if they hadn’t wasted so much money and actually spent it on useful offensive pieces. It’s really a shame. I did enjoy watching their pitching mow down everyone (except my Braves, of course) last postseason. At least they got one.
Derosa to Gwinett? Sure, why not. Heck, we know they’re going to find someone like Spezio, Lugo, and Proctor to hand a minor league deal to. Might as well give it to someone with actual potential. No harm there.
Lincecum has a good $4mm raise coming, Cain has $8mm coming, Pablo probably 4mm, Wilson has 2mm, then you have Keppinger, Nate, Lopez, Ramirez, Cassilla all hitting arbitration with another 2.5mm spread throughout. Those players have about 22.5mm coming in raises. Replacing Beltran, Torress, Ross, J. Sanchez, Affeldt, Tejada and Burrell with minimum salary players saves about 23.8mm. Shaking all of that out, you have $2,700,000 to spend without adding payroll. Not a lot of impact bats out there for $2.7mm.
Not that I want to see him go, But Cain is a free agent after 2012 and can bring in the biggest return this winter through the trade market. He is going to command a 20mm+ per season deal, and IMO would like to have some offense behind him with the team that signs him next. Also, in the 2012 winter, Bumgarner and Posey will reach Arbitration commanding big pay raises…. I don’t want to see Cain leave, but he can command both usefull players and salary relief next season
Yes and no… Some replacements will come from our system. Players who are already on the 40 man roster. We dont to replace j. Sanchez. Voelsong will take care of that. Surkamp will be next.
Kepp has said he prefers shortstop over 2nd base. I’m not saying he should be a lock for the position next year, but if the Giants can’t find anything in free agency, and Crawford doesn’t hit much in spring training, I think they should give him a shot.