The World Series continues in San Francisco tonight as the Legend of Panda continues to grow. Here’s the latest on Pablo Sandoval and the rest of the National League:
- Without an obvious internal replacement at third base, it’s hard to imagine the Giants will let Sandoval leave even if he asks for a deal similar to the one Hunter Pence received, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Pence netted a five-year, $90MM deal from the Giants and they have shown a willingness to pay big dollars in order to keep their most identifiable players.
- The San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman also isn’t as quick to dismiss Sandoval returning to San Francisco tweeting money flows more freely when a franchise reaches the World Series.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times profiles Giants GM Brian Sabean, who answers those who label him as espousing an “old school” philosophy. “When they hear ’old school,’ they don’t understand that ’old school’ is trying to get any and every edge,” Sabean told Kepner. “We’re all looking for the misfit toys. We’re all looking for the guys we can plug in that were overlooked because sometimes, you know what, that’s what you’re down to because your payroll’s your payroll. There’s not enough players to go around, so you better be creative.“
- The Pirates have a delicate balancing act in weighing whether to re-sign Russell Martin, opines Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Pirates’ dilemma is whether a small-market team should make the financial commitment to retain a signature player and a clubhouse leader or avoid the risk of extending a catcher who might decline significantly over the course of his next contract.
- Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton provided reporters, including Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown, with an update on his recovery from being hit in the face with a pitch in September. “I feel great,” Stanton said after being honored as the NL recipient of the Hank Aaron Award. “It’s a lot better than I thought it was going to be.” Stanton did acknowledge he feels an occasional jab of pain when he chews food and has yet to swing a bat. When he does, will likely wear a face guard.
If the Giants re-sign Panda and Peavy, they’ll be up there with the Phils right behind the big two in payroll. Ahead of the Red Sox and Angels (although the Sox might top them this off-season). Even with 3 WS in 5 years, it’s hard to imagine they can do that.
It’s not that they can’t do, cuz fact is, they’ve been making a ton of money since after the 2010 world series. It’s that they won’t do it because they still want to conserve their money, even though they definitely could afford to expand their budget.
Hard to say. Consider that the average 1 bedroom apartment in SF’s Russian Hill costs $4000, and that’s not far ahead of a dozen other neighborhoods.
There’s big money in this city. I think you’ll see a further ticket cost increase before you see the Giants let go of any dynastic dreams.
It would be interesting to see what happens if Sandoval resigns with the Giants. I think Headley may end up the beneficiary of a bidding war between the Red Sox and Yankees. Unless the Red Sox manage to trade for a third baseman, but there doesn’t seem to be many players who are both available, descent and left handed/switch hitters.
A trade between my two favorite teams would make sense….
JBJ for Castellanos.
Castellanos is very well suited for Fenway and is still only 22. He projects to be “can’t miss” line drive hitter (though he is a righty). His defense was poor last year, but he is growing into the position after being put in OF for a year (because of Fielder/Cabrera blocking him at the corner IF positions).
JBJ is the opposite of Castellanos. He is a great fielder than cannot hit. Castellanos has more value because he can always DH or switch to a Corner OF position if he fails as a 3rd baseman… but JBJ cannot be a “designated fielder”. He has to hit to stay on an MLB roster. Plus Castellanos is two years younger than JBJ.
I don’t think the tigers would be very keen on that trade for the very reason you listed. A reasonable third basemen for a player who can’t hit?
The Tigers have 4 Shortstops, three of whom are relatively young (Iglesias, Suarez and Perez.. and the older Romine).
They could easily move one of them to 3rd.
They could then not have to worry about defense in their massive CF and hope that JBJ can hit .250.
To make the deal fair, the Red Sox would have to add something.
Well yes it makes sense if you say the red sox will add in…
Castellanos had a -.5 fWar last season JBJ had a -.1 fWar last season. Both were horrible, but it makes no sense that you would expect an additional player in that trade. You’re expecting the Red Sox to pay for Castellanos’ potential while the Tigers get to assume JBJ is as good as he’s going to get. The trade itself would be one below average hitting and fielding third baseman for one far below average hitting outfielder with gold glove defense. No way the Red Sox have to add extra in that scenario. That said, I don’t like the trade either way, but you can’t say it isn’t a fair one.
I know you love this idea, but I think my initial objections still stand. Castellanos isn’t a good fielder or hitter (yet). Nor is he left handed or a switch hitter. The Red Sox already have five or six players who could be starting outfielders on most teams (that doesn’t even count JBJ who is either dealt or in AAA next season). So there is no spot for Castellanos if he isn’t a third baseman.
A bidding war for Headley? Geez!! He’s not even worth it to be in a bidding war, he’s not that great anymore I’ll take my chances with Sandoval.
You can’t take your chances with Sandoval if the Giants resign him. All things being equal I’d love for the Red Sox to sign him. If the Giants win the Series, emotions will be running high and the may give him anything he wants. Headley may be the only free agent option.
And the SD Fans couldn’t wait to get RID of Chase.
Not only do the Giants resign Peavy and Panda…they go after an OF. The top 2 I would go after are: Denard Span or Nick Markakis. They do have the $$ and they definitely will get another bat.
Span has a $9M club option; he won’t hit free agency.
It will cost more than 5/$90MM to get Sandoval. You could argue that he may be more valuable than Lester or even Scherzer over the next 6 years.
I believe that the Yankees may go “all in” to get him.
I’ve said it before…Byrd + Bastardo to San Fran for Lincecum, Blach, and Blackburn. Gives the Giants an extra $7 M in payroll (to be spent toward Panda), and fills a position of need (LF). Gives Phillies 2 good looking SP prospects at AA.
Lopez and Affeldt are signed through next year. I can’t see them having much interest in Bastardo. Byrd could be a fit, but he’s not netting Blach and Blackburn, even including the Lincecum salary dump.
I was looking at Bastardo more as replacing Romo (or Affeldt replacing Romo and Bastardo replacing Affeldt) – not as being a strict lefty specialist (which I think Lopez is).
I’d guess, Byrd can get one of Blach/Blackburn – I thought the addition of Bastardo could get them halfway to the other, and the Phillies taking on Lincecum get them the other half. Maybe I’m wrong in my valuation of what the Giants want to do with LIncecum.
Don’t think the Giants do that deal. If/When a Pagan returns, they have a OF consisting of Blanco, Pagan, and Pence, which is good enough IMO. Now realistically, I could see that deal without Blackburn included, and it would probably be about an even trade for all but, I still don’t see it happening. Plus, the Giants have enough money to sign Panda and probably Peavy too. It’s just that they probably aren’t going to get in a bidding war for either, as I’m sure will happen for Panda (even though, I think it’s very realistic he resigns with the Giants).
I get that. I also see Pagan as a bigger question mark – in which case there is an opening in the OF. I don’t see Byrd + Bastardo for Lincecum + Blach as equal because, right now, I think Lincecum has negative value. If you took Lincecum out, then yea, I’d say that’s close to equal, but it leaves the Giants with an extra $10 M in payroll. Like I said below, I thought Byrd alone could have gotten 1 of the pitchers, adding in Bastardo gets half of the other, and taking on Lincecum’s salary gets the other half. That’s how I arrived at the valuation that I did – maybe I’m misreading Lincecum’s value.
I can’t disagree with your analogy, and I have probably overvalued Lincecum a fair bit. It’s just that I don’t see them being interested in dealing Blackburn, as he is probably their only good prospect at the moment. So, while a deal is unlikely, it could make sense, the Giants will only have to include a couple extra pieces without Blackburn included (which I’m not sure they have).
The Giants would have no interest in those players and they wouldn’t give up those players. Another team is probably going to bid more for Sandoval than what the Giants are willing pay.
Thanks for the inside knowledge on what they are thinking.
The Giants are painfully short on pitching and have won three championships on it. If Game 5 showed us anything, it’s the value of a real ace. Peavy, on the other hand, can’t make it out of the 5th inning a lot of days.
I get that (well, they’ve won 2 championships – look to be poised for a 3rd). But its why I went further down the list with Blach and Blackburn (which leaves the Giants with Crick, Beede, Stratton, and Mejia). Not saying that all 4 listed above will hit, just that – from what the Giants have delivered from their system – they likelihood is that 2 will. And from all reports that I’ve read, neither Blach nor Blackburn look like “aces”. Both have upside of a 3/4 starter.
I don’t know why there’s so much negativity on Sandoval just because of his weight. I’ve been watching this year’s postseason and the guy is an excellent field for a big 3rd baseman, so far he has made some great plays at 3rd on top of that he can hit and he is reliable in big game situations. I rather take him than stick WMB, I don’t mind Cecchini but I prefer Sandoval especially if he bats 3rd with Ortiz batting at clean up.