It’s here, and it’s heating up – BASEBALL’S HOT STOVE.
I haven’t posted a blog since the Giants traded for Ryan Garko, and I decided that since I don’t have a job, it’s really silly I haven’t been able to sharpen my pencil and post a blog topic.
While disappointing we didn’t get to see Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Barry Zito in a short series was a disappointment, he 2009 season was a huge success – the team remained competitive until the final weeks, the team identified Pablo Sandoval as building block for the offense, and the team was able to watch some of its young players take steps in the right direction.
I haven’t posted a blog since the Giants traded for Ryan Garko, and I decided that since I don’t have a job, it’s really silly I haven’t been able to sharpen my pencil and post a blog topic.
While disappointing we didn’t get to see Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Barry Zito in a short series was a disappointment, he 2009 season was a huge success – the team remained competitive until the final weeks, the team identified Pablo Sandoval as building block for the offense, and the team was able to watch some of its young players take steps in the right direction.
Now it’s the off season, that short few months between the last out of the World Series and pitchers and catchers reporting in February where teams scurry frantically to improve, pay too much for free agents and feel free to make trades. Here, after careful thought, is what I think the Giants should do heading into the 2010 season:
At first look, I thought the team was going to be able to be major players in free agency – they had 31 million dollars come off the books with Bengie Molina, Noah Lowry, Dave Roberts, Randy Winn, Bob Howry, Rich Aurilia, Juan Uribe, and Randy Johnson coming off the books. But it’s time to pay some of the youngsters.
At first look, I thought the team was going to be able to be major players in free agency – they had 31 million dollars come off the books with Bengie Molina, Noah Lowry, Dave Roberts, Randy Winn, Bob Howry, Rich Aurilia, Juan Uribe, and Randy Johnson coming off the books. But it’s time to pay some of the youngsters.
The team has 57 million committed to the 2010 payroll next year, and with an estimated 15 million going to Lincecum and Brian Wilson being arbitration eligible. Add in all those 400k players and the team already has around 80 million committed to the 2010 roster.
The hot rumors are that the team will be in on Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, but I just don’t see it. They only have ten million to play with, and would like to find at least two bats with that, plus have two bad contracts already in Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand that would restrict them from signing a big free agent
With that in mind, this is how I would proceed:
1. Let Molina walk. He is a type-A free agent and would net two draft picks if he left. Offer him arbitration, get more draft picks to stock the minor league system and replace him with a cheaper option. I think Buster Posey is close to ready, but pairing him with a catcher who can take on more of the load is wise in case he struggles. I suggest signing Yorvit Torrealba to a two year deal; he provides excellent defense, a solid bat and can help mentor Posey along the way.
2. Let most of their free agents walk. Lowry, Winn, Aurilia, Howry can all walk. The only one I offer arbitration to is Howry, because he is a type B free agent, can net the team an additional draft pick and wouldn’t hamper the team if he decided to accept and come back.
3. Trade Rowand and Fred Lewis to the Cubs for Milton Bradley. This works on multiple fronts. One – it improves the offense – in 100 less at bats, Bradley nearly matches Rowand’s numbers, plus got on base at a much higher clip. Bradley is only signed for two more years where Rowand has three years left, which frees up cash down the line for raises to Cain, Lincecum and Sandoval in two years. This allows the cubs to get rid of a headache and pick up some leadership they lost when Mark DeRosa left town.
4. Trade Jonathan Sanchez and Emmanuel Burriss to the Florida Marlins for Dan Uggla. Wherever Uggla ends up playing – Third, First, Second – he represents an upgrade
in the offense. He’s averaged 30 homeruns and 90 RBIs over the past 4 seasons playing in a ballpark where homeruns are tough to come by. His average isn’t very high, but his on base percentage is, something this team sorely needs to upgrade. This allows the Marlins to shed some payroll, get an electric arm in return for Uggla. Plus, this allows the Giants to capitalize on Sanchez while he still has value. I think he has great stuff, but ala Shawn Estes – will most likely never put it together for a full season. Trade him while people can still remember his no hitter.
- 4b. If unable to make a deal for Uggla, sign Miguel Tejada to play third. Shift Pablo over to first and let Tejada play third. He can play a little shortstop if Renteria falters like he did in ’09.
5. Resign Brad Penny and Juan Uribe. Both of these players injected life into the team when they played – since Sanchez will be gone, Penny slides into the 4th starter position and Uribe returns to be the super sub and, in my opinion, eventual replacement for when shortstop Edgar Renteria struggles.
6. Sign Free Agent Outfielder Xavier Nady to a two year contract with an option for a third. He made 6.55 million last year, but missed the year with a season ending injury, so he shouldn’t be too pricey. He hails from California, so this may be a nice destination for him – plus he has been a player who has gotten better with age – in 2006 he hit .280 with 17 homeruns and 63 RBIs for the Mets and Pirates, in 2007 he hit .278 with 20 homeruns and 72 RBIs, and in his last full year in 2008 he hit .305 with 25 homeruns and 97 RBIs with Pittsburg and the Yankees. He could play left – and maybe a little first base – and not cost the team the price Bay or Holliday would, and doesn’t have the potential for a steep drop off in play that the team might face with a Jermaine Dye or Vladimir Guerrero.
in the offense. He’s averaged 30 homeruns and 90 RBIs over the past 4 seasons playing in a ballpark where homeruns are tough to come by. His average isn’t very high, but his on base percentage is, something this team sorely needs to upgrade. This allows the Marlins to shed some payroll, get an electric arm in return for Uggla. Plus, this allows the Giants to capitalize on Sanchez while he still has value. I think he has great stuff, but ala Shawn Estes – will most likely never put it together for a full season. Trade him while people can still remember his no hitter.- 4b. If unable to make a deal for Uggla, sign Miguel Tejada to play third. Shift Pablo over to first and let Tejada play third. He can play a little shortstop if Renteria falters like he did in ’09.
5. Resign Brad Penny and Juan Uribe. Both of these players injected life into the team when they played – since Sanchez will be gone, Penny slides into the 4th starter position and Uribe returns to be the super sub and, in my opinion, eventual replacement for when shortstop Edgar Renteria struggles.
6. Sign Free Agent Outfielder Xavier Nady to a two year contract with an option for a third. He made 6.55 million last year, but missed the year with a season ending injury, so he shouldn’t be too pricey. He hails from California, so this may be a nice destination for him – plus he has been a player who has gotten better with age – in 2006 he hit .280 with 17 homeruns and 63 RBIs for the Mets and Pirates, in 2007 he hit .278 with 20 homeruns and 72 RBIs, and in his last full year in 2008 he hit .305 with 25 homeruns and 97 RBIs with Pittsburg and the Yankees. He could play left – and maybe a little first base – and not cost the team the price Bay or Holliday would, and doesn’t have the potential for a steep drop off in play that the team might face with a Jermaine Dye or Vladimir Guerrero.
7. Explore signing Matt Cain to an extension. He is sign for two more years, and the team will surely want to hold onto him and Lincecum past when Zito comes off the books. In Zito’s last year this may require spending nearly 60 million just on the rotation, but will be offset by some of the team’s younger starters (Madison Bumgarner, Henry Sosa, etc) filling out the rotation cheaply in those years. Lincecum has gladly stated he will use his arbitration years, so Cain is the more likely to sign an extension sooner. He had a minor break out season this year, and he has the build to continue pitching strongly – signing him past Zito’s current deal allows the team to focus on retaining Lincecum once his last arbitration eligible year is here.8. Let some of the kids play. Sure, I have the team acquiring three solid veteran players. But this leaves right field open for Nate Schierholtz to play every day. Bruce Bochy was infuriating with ramming Randy Winn down our throats when Schierholtz had more power, a higher batting average and a stronger arm. If Nate is allowed to
9. Look out for bargains. Last year one of Brian Sabean’s best moves was signing Juan Uribe to a minor league deal. Another solid scrap heap deal was the Angels picking up Bobby Abreu when no one wanted him – he ended up being their third place hitter. Players that might go under the radar and be available to short term/minor league deals: Chad Tracy, Gary Sheffield, Hank Blalock, Rick Ankiel, Scott Potsednik, Ivan Rodriguez, Brian Schneider, etc.
- Lineup:
1. Bradley - CF
2. Sanchez – 2B
3. Sandoval – 3B
4. Uggla – 1B
5. Nady – LF
6. Schierholtz - RF
7. Torrealba/Posey - C
8. Renteria – SS
- Rotation:
1. Lincecum
2. Cain
3. Zito
4. Penny
5. Bumgarner/Kevin Pucetas/Henry Sosa/ Free agent
- Bench:
Util Inf – Uribe
Util Inf/OF – Eugenio Velez
C – Posey
Of – Andres Torres
1b – Travis Ishikawa
-Bullpen
Rhp - Brandon Medders
Rhp - Waldis Joaquin
Lhp - Dan Runzler
Lhp - Jeremy Affeldt
Rhp - Sergio Romo
Closer – Wilson
Is this a lot of moves in one off season? Yes. Is it probably this all happens? NO. Heck, Sabean has already said he isn’t interested in Bradley. But if I were running the show, this is what I would do, and I think it would make for an exciting team-and probably would win the NL West.
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