Giants GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy discussed the 2011 season at a year-in-review press conference today and Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle has the details:
- The Giants are going to focus on the pitching staff before addressing the offense this winter.
- There are strong indications that the Giants won’t push for free agents Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, according to Schulman.
- Sabean won’t rule out a long-term deal for Tim Lincecum, but negotiations with Matt Cain will be a higher priority, since Cain is eligible for free agency one year from now. Lincecum appears to prefer short-term deals anyway.
- Barry Zito and non-tender candidate Jonathan Sanchez will be in Spring Training competing for the rotation, according to Sabean. This is the strongest indication yet that Sanchez will be tendered a contract this offseason. His salary will likely surpass $6MM in 2012.
- Sabean and Bochy said Aubrey Huff didn’t do enough to get in shape last offseason and they have told him to do more this winter.
- The Giants have said they want to upgrade in center field and the leadoff spot. They don’t consider Justin Christian to be the solution, so Schulman wonders if Coco Crisp could be a fit.
- If the Giants don’t pick up Jeremy Affeldt’s $5MM option, they’ll renegotiate another deal with him. As I explained earlier in the month, Affeldt would be in position to command a multiyear deal in free agency if the Giants allow him to hit the open market.
- The Giants will look to add second base depth, though they may not be willing to meet Jeff Keppinger’s asking price.
- Sabean says the Giants will give Cody Ross "due consideration" as a free agent, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter).
free Agents/ Renewing Contracts?
No on Ross
No on Zito
No on Crisp
Yes on Cain
Yes on J. Sanchez
Yes on Affeldt
Yes on Keppinger (not sure how high his asking price really would be)
HAHAHA on Pujols or Fielder, yeah right.
Realistically, Clint Barmes would be an excellent addition at short, and he wouldn’t cost to much.
Okay…strong indication they won’t go after Fielder or Pujols…big mistake on Fielder. I would definately go after him!!! So one of two things, either Sabean is full of crap and he will go after Fielder or two, he is going after Jose Reyes with Jimmy Rollins as a backup plan.
With that I would have the lineup like this:
SS Reyes
2B Sanchez
RF Beltran (resign)
3B Sandoval
C Posey
LF Schierholtz/Belt
CF Crisp
1B Pill/Huff
SP Lincecum
SP Cain
SP Bumgarner
SP Vogelsong
SP Zito
Jonathan Sanchez will be offered arbitration then traded for either a bat and or BP help. I personally would try too ship him to the Marlins for Logan Morrison and put him in LF.
I think the Marlins are actually trying to IMPROVE their rotation.
“So one of two things, either Sabean is full of crap and he will go after Fielder or two, he is going after Jose Reyes with Jimmy Rollins as a backup plan.”
This isn’t fantasy baseball, this team has no money to go after big ticket items like Reyes or Fielder. They’re basically capped at around $125 million as is and the pitching staff is only going to go up in price, which leaves less room for overhead. Once again, as the Giants always do, they’re going to have to try to make something out of aging FA veterans and hope it all clicks.
Umm…you have no idea what you are talking about. First, the Giants are one of a few teams that have there own TV Contract….They are considered a BIG Market team…..Two, they have a ton of $$$ from WS Revenue/Merchandise……don’t think they don’t have it…if fact, every single MLB Writer/Sportscaster thinks the Giants will be a player in FA…they have the cash too sign whoever they want. So please no what you are talking about ….There is no “cap” they can spend as much as they want ….they won’t come close too the luxury tax, but they are flexible on $$ this offseason.
Larry Baer already said they’re standing pat on payroll.
no he didn’t! he said there’s no way they’re going to lower their payroll.
Haha, so naive.
Yes the Giants have a TV contract, but most teams do, basic cable is great for that. Also, just because the Managing partnership made a lot of money from the WS and the additional revenue that followed, doesn’t mean it goes to the team under player budget. They own the team for a reason, to make money.
The Giant’s ARE NOT going to increase payroll more then they have to for the players they want to keep. Don’t you think they would have done something about their lineup during the preseason/season this year if they could just throw money at any player they wanted too?
And Reyes?????? REYES? The same Reyes that is probably going to get voted within the top 5 for the NL MVP? The same Reyes who we couldn’t trade our best pitching prospect for 3 months of his service? The same Reyes that the Mets are planning to resign and CONTINUE to build their team around? Reallllyyyyy? Not happening.
Lets bring this down for a second though. I can tell by the amount of ellipsis you use, that you REALLY KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT so I wouldn’t… want to… have some stats thrown… back in my… face.
I promise you, that if the Giants sign Fielder or Reyes, I will eat my hat. Otherwise, go play MLB The Show if you want a team like that.
Reyes is not resigning with the Mets….the Giants are one of a FEW teams that have there own TV contract: Dodgers/Giants/Cubs/WhiteSox/Mets/Red Sox/Yankees….that is it…no other teams have there own TV contract…
when do you believe any management when they say they aren’t going after players????
Pretty sure every team has a TV contract. I really doubt the Cardinals are letting FSMW show every game of theirs while getting no money out of the deal.
It’s more of a long term problem that presents itself to the giants. Sure, hypothetically they could get Fielder or Reyes, but then they couldn’t keep Cain, Posey or Lincecum in the future. If you remember a few years ago, the Giants had a terrible habit of trading their top prospect for “Better Players” or they would make really hasty signings (Zito, Rowand)
As a team they haven’t offered a contract longer then 4 or 5 years since, and they are working on building their depleted farm system. Why would they go against all the homegrown talent, that they spent years developing, to risk it on players that will almost surely have a worse year coming to AT&T?
Where are you getting your facts for the TV contracts? FSN and CSN alone broadcast a number of different teams on contract. Even NBC and FOX still pick up non-cable games. ESPN, MLB network TBS and WGN handle the rest. Not to mention MLB.TV
All of these bring in additional revenue for all baseball teams.
I don’t want either Beltran in right or Belt in left. Beltran is too slow and lazy and he doesn’t have the range to play in right at ATT.
Belt can’t play the outfield, he’s too slow and cumbersome. If Belt is going to be the Giants future, i would rather have him share first base with Huff until Huff either becomes expendable or they kick him loose after 2012
If Beltran was to resign, i would put him in left or center(preferably left) and put Shierholtz in right field where he excels. We need someone with speed and range to play in CF at ATT If they can get Crisp for center I would go with that.
Unless they don’t like what Crawford can do at SS they would have no place to put rollins though i do think Rollins has a better upside than Crawford
Brandon Crawford will NOT be the starting SS in 2012…he is not even close too ready and when he is, they will have Panik ready too play….this is why I said if not Reyes (who would be perfect at AT & T hitting triples), Rollins would be a stopgap for 3-4 years……
Rollins is a good idea.
Rollins is an aging, past his prime player who will fetch a salary that greatly exceeds his worth on the field. In short, he’d fit right in on the Giants.
i heard that they looking for more hitters like i think that they need go after Jonny Gomes and conor jackson for them they are very good what they do.I think to trade and Mark Derosa with zito and get for Ryan Ludwick and Heath Bell.We need to Resign cody Ross and Beltran and And Jonathan Sanchez And Pat Burrell.maybe get Jose Reyes and kelly Johnson and Jose Lopez.this my my lineup.
Rf Schierholtz/cody ross/Ryan Ludwik
1b pill/huff
3b Sandoval/Jose Lopez
cf Conor Jackson/ Baltran/ludwick
Lf Jonny Gomes/Pat Burrell/Ryan Ludwick
2b kelly Johnson/Sanchez
ss Jose Reyes/Kelly Johnson
Sp Lincecum
Sp Bumgarner
SP Vogelsong
SP Sanchez
SP Cain
and have 2 Closer if some one is hurt
Brian Wilson
Heath Bell
I don’t say this lightly, but: this DeRosa/Zito for Ludwick/Bell trade proposal is almost certainly the most absurd I have ever seen. Let’s examine the four pieces to this trade, shall we?
DeRosa: is a free agent
Bell: is a free agent
Ludwick: is a free agent, but furthermore, did not even last play for the team who is supposed to be trading him, as he was traded to the Pirates at the deadline this year
Zito: is horrible and owed more money still than the rest of the Padres combined
they are going after Crisp and Reyes……both will be Giants I feel….if not Reyes, they are bringing in Jimmy Rollins. Are you kidding me about Clint Barmes??? what are you ridiculous??? we already have a player who is just like him called Fontenot……Clint Barmes…..give me a break….he stinks!!!!!
Zito isn’t going anywhere … he will start the season as the 5th starter unless you trade him too the Cubs for Zambrano……Sanchez will be offered arb and then traded…(see my suggestion below)…..Ross might be back…the person I feel will be back for the bench is Burrell if his foot heals over the winter. He wants too come back….plays for league minimum…good clubhouse presence and doesn’t complain bout playing time. He will be the RH Power Hitter off the bench…(and they can do a promo for 300 HR’s around him)….Affeldt will resign unless for some reason they really try too lowball him and offend him. They have the whole month of October as well as 5 days after the WS to get it done. Beltran I think might be resigned as well. Just put it like this…..it will be a very interesting offseason and changes are a coming.
Barmes is an excellent back up infielder, who costs nothing, and has a 2+ War and is a good fielder. Zito should and probably will be released.
For someone who earlier showed that they believe everything management said, well today they said Zito will be competing for a spot. He is not going too get released. More than likely Sanchez will be signed and shipped off. He has more value. Barmes is no better than Fontenot or Keppinger. Why would you want Barmes??? hell we could keep DeRosa (even though he will end up on the Braves).
I don’t know what you’re talking about when you say: “For someone who earlier showed that they believe everything management said”
I don’t believe everything the management said, that’s why I frequent a site about trade rumors.
Zito will be released, or traded with the majority of his contract paid for by the giants, for a prospect of average caliber. Sanchez might get traded, but it will have little to do with Zito’s situation other then they are both “competing” for the 5th spot.
More like they are both being shown to the league to gauge interest.
Additionally, I only like Barmes as a back up, not an upgrade. The fact is, you cant pay everyone big money and you need holes. In those holes, go people like Barmes, Fontenot and Keppinger. Cheap and efficient and reliable.
I agree with you. the only thing that bothered me was that every time you typed too instead of to!!
Had never really thought about Crisp to SF before, but now that saw the story it makes sense and for those who have never had the PLEASURE to watch that guy cover turf out in CF.. You have missed something indeed because that guy covers ground with the best of them and is one of the best “small ball” players around. he can bunt for hits, sacrifice, hit and run and has always had the ability to find a hole in the infield when at the plate. His flaw?? A truly AWFUL throwing arm for a CF and not much power.
Add reyes or rollins and crisp…bring back beltran. Zito stays unfortunately. Sanchez should go…
affeldt at 1-2 mill
Ross goes
burrell goes
Fontenot goes
Torres goes
Ramirez goes
Derosa goes
Whiteside goes
Ramirez might be back with Ross…..Affeldt won’t get 1-2 more like 6-8 million a year……..Affeldt is a veteran LH RP he could get that tomorrow from the Yanks/Phllies/Cardinals/Red Sox……
Stewart as Backup C ……I agree with Fontenot…get rid of him and Burress…Burrell if he can come back 1 year vet minimum RH PH off bench….Ross if for minimum if not, let him go……Torres I believe is still under contract?? maybe….
Why would they pay. Him 6-8 mill when he has a 5 million option?? They would just pick up his option in that case. No setup man is worth that much.
You know Rollins is going to an almost as expensive, crappy version of Reyes. While he was born in the Bay Area, I doubt he will wear orange and black next year.
Well living in the Philadelphia area as a Giants fan, I get great pleasure out of rooting for the Phillies losing. Rollins already cameout and said he will not be giving a home discount and the Giants are one team with the A’s he would play for. The Phillies will not give him what he wants.
Definitely some truth there. The Phillies prolly want to cut ties with him at this point.
I disagree… I think reyes gets 5-7 yrs at 17-19 mill per yr. Rollins will get 3-4 yrd at 10-12 mill per
You think Rollins will go for that little? I was thinking it was going to be closer to 12-14 million per. Either way, while his offense will surely decline at AT&T, I do think he would make a good addition to the Giants. I just find Reyes completely unrealistic, and Rollins an unlikely sign for the Giants but obtainable none-the-less.
It looks like you are all Giant Fans here and it looks like the majority either think Ross won’t be back or don’t want him back. What is the reason for that? As for me, I would love it if the Orioles were to sign him. Although it depends on the fact on the one person who truly is in charge and that’s Brian Sabean. Sabean has to let him go first. Ross would be a perfect fit in Baltimore
Ross was an excellent waiver pick up in 2010, he played really well and did even better in the post season. The problem was we gave him a contract that reflected his post season performance and he was never fully able to live up to the roll he had assumed. Not a bad player but he would have to be asking for less than Burrell in order to come back. He’s a “4th outfielder” which is great, but not for a team whose outfield is filled with average players.
Sabean doesn’t have too let him go. He is a FA.
the cody ross anyone but giants fans know is the cody ross in the postseason..the real ross is a totally different player, mediocre at best
I guess only time will tell. If the Giants don’t re-sign him. I do hope he lands with the Orioles. Thanks, all
Non tender Jonathan Sanchez please. He isn’t worth anything close to 6 million.
Or trade him for at least something. Teams may be looking for a starting pitcher like him, but Giants fans know he’s worthless.
i know seriously, sanchez isnt worth 6 friking million dollars plus. And they’ll worry about the offense later, like it wasnt a problem at all this year. I know we need to lock matty up but if they stand pat and dont get a significant bat(s). Next season is in jeporady
The moment after Sanchez struck out Evereth Cabrera, Sabean should have been on the phone shopping this guy for a bat. His value has done nothing but plummet since.
Surprised I haven’t heard Juan Pierre mentioned as one year deal for the Giants until Gary Brown is ready. He would be an affordable leadoff hitter for the short term. At SS I would sign Keppinger to play short or someone similar until Crawford is ready to hit major league pitching. I’d like to see the Giants bring back Beltran but only on a 2yr deal at most. That probably won’t happen and it’ll be Schierholtz in RF.
The only thing we have to fix about pitching is getting rid of Barry Zito and something I’d like to call RUN SUPPORT.
OH, wait. That’s called offense.
I think it’s realistic we pick up Coco Crisp ($5M, 1-yr.) and Jimmy Rollins ($40M, 4-yr.), and resign Beltran (30M, 3-yr.). I guess it’s all dependent on what new managements budget limits will be, but, from they’re saying, I think there will be an allowance above the norm. I believe both Bonds and Pac Bell Park came off the books this year and, although we’re still paying Zito and Rowand, I wonder if they won’t write that off as a loss and go over budget for the remainder of those bad contracts. I sure hope so.
This would look pretty swell:
1. Coco Crisp, CF .264/.314/.379 (49 SB, 70 R) – Torres
2. Jimmy Rollins, SS .268/.338/.399 (30 SB, 16 HR, 70 RBI, 87 R) – Crawford
3. Buster Posey, C .294/.353/.462 (25 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Eli/Stewart
4. Pablo Sandoval, 3B .315/.357/.552 (30 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Who backs third? Kepp?
5. Carlos Beltran, RF .300/.385/.525 (25 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Shierholtz (maybe a cheap Ross, too?)
6. Nate Shierholtz, LF .278/.326/.430 (15 HR, 70 RBI, 50 R) – Be nice to pick up Willingham as a utility outfielder, particularly along with Ross.
7. Brandon Belt, 1B .260/.350/.460 – Huff
8. Freddy Sanchez, 2B .289/.332/.397 – Keppinger
That’s a cumulative .283/.344/.450 slash-line. Not bad. Also, gotta love the thought of the 6-8 hitters not necessitating distracting yourself with a crossword puzzle…
I also really like the utility group of Huff, Josh Willingham, Keppinger, Ross, Torres, Fontenot, Crawford, and whichever of Eli or Stewart.
Lincecum
Cain
Bumgarner
Voglesong
Sanchez
Keep the bullpen tight, and that looks and awful like like another run.
I think it’s realistic we pick up Coco Crisp ($5M, 1-yr.) and Jimmy Rollins ($40M, 4-yr.), and resign Beltran (30M, 3-yr.). I guess it’s all dependent on what new managements budget limits will be, but, from they’re saying, I think there will be an allowance above the norm. I believe both Bonds and Pac Bell Park came off the books this year and, although we’re still paying Zito and Rowand, I wonder if they won’t write that off as a loss and go over budget for the remainder of those bad contracts. I sure hope so.
This would look pretty swell:
1. Coco Crisp, CF .264/.314/.379 (49 SB, 70 R) – Torres
2. Jimmy Rollins, SS .268/.338/.399 (30 SB, 16 HR, 70 RBI, 87 R) – Crawford
3. Buster Posey, C .294/.353/.462 (25 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Eli/Stewart
4. Pablo Sandoval, 3B .315/.357/.552 (30 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Who backs third? Kepp?
5. Carlos Beltran, RF .300/.385/.525 (25 HR, 90 RBI, 80 R) – Shierholtz (maybe a cheap Ross, too?)
6. Nate Shierholtz, LF .278/.326/.430 (15 HR, 70 RBI, 50 R) – Be nice to pick up Willingham as a utility outfielder, particularly along with Ross.
7. Brandon Belt, 1B .260/.350/.460 – Huff
8. Freddy Sanchez, 2B .289/.332/.397 – Keppinger
That’s a cumulative .283/.344/.450 slash-line. Not bad. Also, gotta love the thought of the 6-8 hitters not necessitating distracting yourself with a crossword puzzle…
I also really like the utility group of Huff, Josh Willingham, Keppinger, Ross, Torres, Fontenot, Crawford, and whichever of Eli or Stewart.
Lincecum
Cain
Bumgarner
Voglesong
Sanchez
Keep the bullpen tight, and that looks and awful like like another run.