The latest news on the Giants has them in contact with many of the top free agents from this year’s class. Former Dodger’s shortstop Rafael Furcal’s camp has reported “mutual interest” between the club and the speedy infielder, as have other Dodgers Joe Beimel (LHP) and Casey Blake (3B).
There are also rumors linking the Giants with relievers like Juan Cruz (D-Backs), Bob Howry (Cubs), and Jeremy Affeldt (Reds). The Giants are still considered dark horses in the chase for big fish CC Sabathia, and are expected to reach out to other big names such as Edgar Renteria and Kyle Farnsworth.
I think that the Giants have a couple things locked down for the near future. First, Tim Lincecum has become the face of this franchise, and he and Matt Cain are going to anchor this rotation for a while; in addition, Zito’s contract isn’t going anywhere, and Noah Lowry’s return seems eminent, so the rotation is set.
Jonathan Sanchez seems the likely odd-man out if the Giants do decide to use the trade market, but Lowry and youngsters Tim Alderson, Kevin Pucetas, and Madison Bumgarner are pushing to fill the spot he would leave behind.
Also, they have a very solid future at the catcher position. The drafting of Buster Posey, the year of Bengie Molina’s contract they have left, and the emergence of Pablo Sandoval as a consistent backstop have pretty much filled the need at catcher for the next few years. There just aren’t enough good-to-great catchers there who can fill the gap until Posey is ready, and Molina isn’t exactly washed up either.
The outfield is locked down, too. Fred Lewis emerged last year as the real deal, and, before being shut down due to injury, was a focal point of the Giants youth movement. Aaron Rowand, last year’s big free agent splash, had a great first half but faltered in the second, because, I believe, he was expected to be THE big bat in the order, which he isn’t.
And Mr. Consistent, Randy Winn, should be just as consistent in 2009 in right field. On the bench we have Nate Schierholtz, who basically gets the short end of the stick because he’s too good for the minors, but has nowhere to play for this Giants team. Adding another big-name outfielder would just complicate things, displacing some while inhibiting homegrown talent to get valuable playing time.
Now let’s get to what the Giants DO need. They need one more infielder to make it work. Furcal seems like a great fit. He’s a top of the order threat with some pop, and has a rocket arm at short. He may be a bit of a downgrade range-wise from Omar Vizquel, but then again, who isn’t? His signing, though maybe a little overpriced, would help the Giants greatly.
comments (6) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
i like the moves the Giants are making with the bullpen.
i however don't like the idea of Furcal. He has been injury prone and will probably ask for too much money, i think Burris is plenty capable of playing short and hitting lead off for this team.
i really hope if the Giants dont end up signing CC, it comes out that they offered him at least 100 mill and CC declined. Cuz if CC were telling the truth about wanting to play near home, and in the NL so he could hit, i dont understand how he wouldnt take a 100million dollar deal to be a Giant. I know its 40 million less than the yankees, but shit, if i were a big leaguer i would rather be super super rich and be playing where i wanna play, than be super super super rich and be playing somewhere i dont want to play
from about 1 month ago
i also agree with the bullpen moves. AND i agree on Furcal. Its a lot to commit 10 million a year to this guy. a name being thrown around is Orlando Cabrera, but he would not really work with the youth movement either. Personally, I would LOVE to see an infield of Sandoval at third, Burriss at short, Frandsen at second, and Ishikawa at first, with Aurilia backing up the corners. That's just me though.
And i agree about CC. Have some integrity and accountability. If you say you want to do something, then do it. Family should take precedent over money, and either way you're coming away with $100 million, which is MORE than enough to take care of your folks.
about 1 month ago
Wow. You didn't lie when you told me you had an in depth look into things up your sleeve. Really good look at things position by position my friend.
Don't think the big guns in the minors, MadBum and Alderson, will be a factor next season unless the rotation is just bombed with the injury bug. But I do think that there will be a Buster Posey sighting by the end of the year.
Not sure about Furcal though. He's a spark when he's in there, but lately, he hasn't been in there that much. If it's not his legs, it's the back. Not the back, it's a shoulder. Just always something with that guy.
from about 1 month ago
Bumgarner and Alderson probably won't be seen, but i have seen Kevin Pucetas' name come up more and more often. Personally, I don't know too much about him, so maybe you could enlighten us? haha
And like i said with Andrew, i see how Furcal has his upside, but there is a lot of risk involved too. I was very excited when the possibility of Mark Ellis was mentioned a LONG time ago, but his extension put an end to that. And, like i have stressed in a couple different articles, I really like Brandon Inge, and if the Giants could bring him, or something like him, to play first or third, that could work out very well.
from about 1 month ago
Pucetas is certainly a sleeper and somewhat of an unknown commodity. If Baseball America doesn't have him ranked in their bible for prospects, then you know he hasn't been doing much.
I like the Inge mention. He can a lot of positions, and like Sandoval, can spell Molina behind the plate if needed. I was hoping they got him a couple years ago before he went off he hit 27 bombs. But I guess he has gone back to his regular ways of hitting below .240. Still solid as always with the glove.
about 1 month ago
thanks for putting me up at 500 reads guys
ALSO UPDATE: Giants plan to contact Sabathia's people with an offer HIGHER than the $100 million that the Brewers have offered, but LOWER than that of the Yankees $140 million. figures to be around 6 years, $120 million.
STAY TUNED
write a new comment