The latest from San Francisco….
- The Giants haven't engaged in any discussions about a multiyear deal or even a one-year contract to avoid arbitration with Tim Lincecum, the hurler's agent Rick Thurman tells Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Thurman is not too concerned about the lack of talks so far, as teams deal with long-term contracts later in an offseason. We've heard the Giants want to lock up both Lincecum and Matt Cain to multiyear deals, though Thurman reiterated to Schulman that Lincecum prefers short-term contracts.
- The Giants' priority is more outfield help, with Carlos Beltran topping their wish list, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (Twitter link). San Francisco has already acquired one outfielder this winter, picking up Melky Cabrera two weeks ago.
- The club designated outfielder Darren Ford and right-hander Waldis Joaquin for assignment, according to Schulman (Twitter link). Both players were DFA'd off the 40-man roster to clear room for players the Giants wanted to protect from Rule 5 draft. Ford has 16 career plate appearances in The Show and has stolen 306 bases (out of 384 attempts) in the minors. The White Sox picked up Joaquin off waivers last November but was granted free agency and re-signed with the Giants less than two weeks later. The righty has a 5.40 ERA in 21 2/3 Major League innings.
- Angel Villalona has been taken off Major League Baseball's restricted list, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Villalona was charged with murder in the Dominican Republic two years ago but the charges were dropped. Giants VP Bobby Evans tells Baggarly that he doesn't expect any issues with Villalona attempting to get a new U.S. work visa. The Giants played Villalona on their 40-man roster earlier today to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Good to see we are still in on Beltran! Protecting Villalona makes no sense to me! He’s been out of baseball for a couple years due to the MURDER charge! Why would anyone claim him and waste a 25 man roster spot??
I remember when he was one of the top 2 prospects in our system. If I remember correctly he’s still really young (19? 20?). If he can return to form it’s like having a second Panda waiting in the wings. Time will tell.
Also can you imagine the trade benefit if he returns to being one of the top prospects in baseball? It’s a win/win situation hanging onto him and seeing what we’ve got.
He’s 21 and Evans says he still has the bat speed but needs to get in to playing shape. Can you imagine him in the locker room? Wonder how the others would feel.
Have you even considered what is probably the most likely scenario, that he was wrongly charged? They did drop the charges. It always seemed like a fishy situation to me. Why would a guy with a multi-million dollar signing bonus commit murder and risk spending the rest of his life in jail? Also, it was supposedly several people against just him in whatever conflict that led up to the shooting. Maybe it was self-defense? No one will ever know. Let the guy get back to doing what he was meant to do. I wonder what level he will start out at…
IMO, it sounds like he paid off the family to drop the charges.
He’s 21 and hey were projecting 40/40 out of him a while ago. He still has power but speed not there.
No WAY he was every considered a 40 SB guy! He is huge and fat!
When he was first signed at age 16, the Chronicle (I believe it was them, and I’m too lazy to check right now) article said something about him having the potential to be a 40/40 player.
He’s on the 40 man roster. They’ll still have the players they want on the 25 man roster and he won’t have any effect on it.
Like HummBaby said, he’s still young (21) and has a lot potential.
Anyone else catch “The Show”?
MLB Network right? Homers. All they want to tell you is how much more experience means than talent.
They played Villalona on the 40 man? Typo right?