Offseason Outlook: San Francisco Giants
Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Giants. Their likely commitments for 2010:
C – Buster Posey – $400K
C – Eli Whiteside – $400K
1B – Travis Ishikawa – $401K
2B – Freddy Sanchez – $6MM
SS – Edgar Renteria – $9MM
3B – Pablo Sandoval – $402K
IF – Kevin Frandsen – $410K
IF – Emmanuel Burriss – $404K
IF/OF – Eugenio Velez – $404K
LF – Fred Lewis – $440K
CF – Aaron Rowand – $12MM
RF – Nate Schierholtz -$401K
OF – Andres Torres – $400K
SP – Tim Lincecum – $650K+
SP – Matt Cain – $4.25MM
SP – Jonathan Sanchez – $455K+
SP – Barry Zito – $18.5MM
SP – Joe Martinez – $400K
Other candidates: Ryan Sadowski, Madison Bumgarner
RP – Jeremy Affeldt – $4MM
RP – Brian Wilson – $480K+
RP – Brandon Medders – $475K+
RP – Merkin Valdez – $401K
RP – Sergio Romo – $402K
RP – Dan Runzler – $400K
RP – Waldis Joaquin – $400K
Non-tender candidates: Ryan Garko
The Giants have about $62MM committed before arbitration raises to Lincecum, Sanchez, Wilson, and Medders. I'm assuming Garko is non-tendered. The pitchers' raises won't be cheap – they'll push the Giants up to the $80MM range. The Giants entered the 2009 season with an $82.6MM payroll, and it's not expected to change drastically. Nonetheless Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News suggested last month that the Giants have enough money to afford "one free agent starting pitcher and one modestly-priced free agent hitter."
Baggarly makes a good point, that the Giants really don't have the payroll space to dabble in the $15MM+ range of Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. GM Brian Sabean at least has positional flexibility with possible acquisitions – the infield and outfield corners are all fair game. Dan Uggla, Johnny Damon, and Mark DeRosa have already been named in various rumors. The Giants are pretty weak at the corners aside from Sandoval, so importing two bats would be ideal.
With payroll looking tight, it doesn't make sense to bring catcher Bengie Molina back. Instead, that money should be applied toward a starting pitcher to round out the rotation. Rumor has it, the Giants hope to re-sign Brad Penny. If he gets too pricey, there are plenty of similar free agents in the $5-8MM price range. It appears that the Giants would like to give Bumgarner some Triple A seasoning.
Sabean has had his troubles at the top end of the free agent market, but last offseason he made shrewd minor league signings with Juan Uribe and Medders. I didn't mind the Affeldt, Randy Johnson and Bob Howry signings either, so maybe the payroll limitations will work in the Giants' favor and give us the best of Sabean.
Rockies Decline Option On Rafael Betancourt
The Rockies declined their $5.4MM club option on reliever Rafael Betancourt, tweets Ed Price of AOL FanHouse. Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post he'll continue to negotiate with Betancourt.
Betancourt, 35 in April, found the NL to his liking after coming over in a trade with the Indians. He posted a 1.78 ERA with 29 strikeouts and five walks in 25.3 innings for the Rockies. Betancourt is a Type A free agent, and if he gets to December 1st unsigned it'll be interesting to see if the Rockies offer arbitration. Other teams would find Betancourt much less appealing with a draft pick cost attached. Troy Renck of the Denver Post feels that the Rockies will offer, as does Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies.
Saunders also mentions that the Rockies will "explore re-signing" Jose Contreras and Joe Beimel.
Dan Uggla Hopes To Remain At Second Base
Yahoo's Tim Brown, talking to Dan Uggla's agent Jeff Borris, learned that Uggla wants to stay at second base. Said Borris:
"Danny Uggla's been a full-time second baseman for the last four years. He's performed exceptionally well at that position. Although he has the athleticism to play other positions, he's performed remarkably over these four years at second base and there should be no reason to consider a position change at this time."
That's technically true, since Uggla hasn't been traded yet. But many of his suitors, including the Orioles, Giants, Red Sox, and Braves, would have Uggla play a position other than second base. Perhaps it is unwise to acquire a player and force him to change positions. But Uggla does not have a say in the matter, as we learned with Alfonso Soriano heading into the 2006 season with the Nationals.
Uggla has only played second base in the Majors. In 2005 at Double A, Uggla played all four infield positions. The previous year, he spent some time in the outfield.
Brewers, Tigers Discuss Edwin Jackson
Between trades and free agents there are easily more than 50 starting pitchers available. The Brewers, looking to add two starters, figure to be linked to many.
One new name to pop up today is Detroit's Edwin Jackson; Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says that Brewers GM Doug Melvin has spoken to the Tigers about him. Atlanta could also match up with the Brewers, as MLB.com's Mark Bowman sees a possible match with Javier Vazquez and, to a lesser extent, Derek Lowe.
By my calculations, the Brewers should have more than $15MM to spend if they non-tender Dave Bush, Jody Gerut, and Seth McClung. Who would you like to see them pursue?
Dodgers Javier Vazquez Rumor Shot Down
1:24pm: MLB.com's Mark Bowman talked to a team source who said the Dodgers and Braves are not currently having trade discussions. Bowman believes the Brewers do have interest in Vazquez.
As for Derek Lowe, Bowman doesn't see the Yankees in the mix but does consider the Angels and Brewers possibilities.
9:16am: Former Reds and Nationals GM Jim Bowden is on Twitter, and last night he floated a couple of Dodgers rumors. Bowden wrote that the Dodgers are talking with the Braves about pitcher Javier Vazquez and with the Mets about second baseman Luis Castillo.
Vazquez would be an excellent addition to the front of the Dodgers' rotation, and he won't break the bank at $11.5MM in 2010. However, his no-trade clause specifically allows him to block trades to AL and NL West clubs. Plus, do the Dodgers have the trade chips the Braves crave?
At $12MM over the next two years, Castillo is still viewed as a salary dump candidate by most. Juan Pierre has the Dodgers' obvious bad contract, at $18.5MM over the next two years. ESPN's Buster Olney says Castillo no longer appears untradeable, and the Mets will probably go after Orlando Hudson if they move him.
Brewers Decline Option On Braden Looper
The Brewers declined their $6.5MM mutual option on pitcher Braden Looper, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. They'll instead pay a $1MM buyout. Looper posted a 5.22 ERA in 194.6 innings this year; the same kind of financial commitment can probably snag the Brewers someone better. Looper is a Type B free agent, but an arbitration offer is highly unlikely.
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said he'd still consider Looper but wanted to gain flexibility.
Discussion: Jim Thome
Talking to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, free agent DH Jim Thome reiterated yesterday that he'd be willing to return to the White Sox for the 2010 season. At the least, GM Kenny Williams seems open to the possibility.
Thome, 39, hit .249/.366/.481 in 434 plate appearances this year. His performance falls a bit short of Jason Giambi's 2008 line, which netted Giambi a $5.25MM guarantee from the A's in January of this year. The A's ended up releasing Giambi in August. Thome will be limited to the American League, of course. He's competing with free agent DH candidates Vladimir Guerrero and Hideki Matsui, among others.
A few intangibles: Thome is said to be a great clubhouse presence, and he's climbing up the career home run leaderboard. Thome is currently 12th with 564 homers, so he probably won't reach 600 in 2010. He could, however, pass Rafael Palmeiro, Harmon Killebrew, Mark McGwire, and Frank Robinson on the all-time list.
So where do you see Thome signing? There are plenty of unsettled DH spots, and he should cost $5MM or less.
Odds & Ends: Bellorin, Chapman, Cardinals
Links for Friday…
- Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse takes at Yankees prospects who could draw attention in trade talks.
- The Royals signed catcher Edwin Bellorin to a minor league deal, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Bellorin, 28 in February, hit .277/.308/.351 in 216 plate appearances in his fourth Triple A stint.
- David Waldstein of the New York Times profiles new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
- Ronald Blum of the AP chatted with Aroldis Chapman, who doesn't mind beginning his pro career in the minors.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince expects a quiet offseason for the Indians, though he wonders if they could bring back Omar Vizquel.
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reiterates that Joe Crede and Jarrod Washburn are on the Twins' radar.
- Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes the Cardinals will be involved with more than just Joel Pineiro among our Top 50 Free Agents, and he names many candidates.
- Click here to watch our mention as ESPN SportsNation's Site of the Day yesterday.
Red Sox, Mets Express Interest In John Lackey
The Red Sox expressed preliminary interest in free agent starter John Lackey this week at the GM Meetings, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Additionally, David Lennon of Newsday says Mets GM Omar Minaya spoke to Lackey's agent on the phone. There's no cost to express interest, so why not?
The Mariners, Rangers, Brewers, and Yankees have been linked to Lackey in various reports. Earlier this week, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick polled 20 baseball people, and the Yankees, Mets, and Angels were seen as the most likely to sign him. Lackey's agent told Brewers GM Doug Melvin that his client is open to any club.
Trade Market: Closers
The free agent market features closers such as Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Fernando Rodney, Jose Valverde, and Billy Wagner, plus former closers like J.J. Putz and Takashi Saito. How about the trade market?
- Joe Nathan, Twins. Nathan has long been among the game's best closers. He's guaranteed $24.5MM over the next two seasons, and some have wondered if the Twins might trade him as a way to clear payroll.
- Heath Bell, Padres. Even with a small payroll, the Padres don't have to move Bell's salary. He's due a sizeable arbitration raise on this year's $1.255MM salary and is under team control through 2011.
- Francisco Cordero, Reds. Cordero's contract is a burden for the Reds – $25MM over the next two years. With all the closer options named in this post, Walt Jocketty will be hard-pressed to find a taker.
- Bobby Jenks, White Sox. Jenks is due an arbitration raise on this year's $5.6MM salary, and moving him would give the White Sox payroll flexibility. So would non-tendering him, if Kenny Williams comes up empty on the trade front. Matt Thornton would be his replacement.
- Matt Capps, Pirates. Capps is under team control through 2012, and he's due an arbitration raise on this year's $2.3MM salary. It wouldn't be much of a raise, given this year's 5.80 ERA. Like Jenks, we can't rule out a non-tender. The Pirates offered Capps to the Brewers for J.J. Hardy before the Twins trade, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- Kerry Wood, Indians. Set to earn $10.5MM in 2010 with a 2011 vesting option, Wood is an unnecessary piece on the now-rebuilding Indians.
- Matt Lindstrom, Marlins. The arbitration-eligible Lindstrom hit the DL with an elbow issue and lost the closing job to Leo Nunez. He seems a good bet to be unloaded this winter.
- No matter how you slice it, there are more than ten available closers this winter via trade and free agency. The Orioles, Rays, Tigers, Angels, Braves, Phillies, and Astros face late-inning uncertainty, and it looks like a buyer's market.