"At 9:01 p.m. Wednesday, free agents could begin signing with any team, ending the Giants' exclusive window to negotiate with Carlos Beltran.

Not that they took advantage of it. The only news on Beltran in recent days was that he switched agents, from Scott Boras to Dan Lozano, who also represents free agents Albert Pujols and Jimmy Rollins and Giants closer Brian Wilson.

No matter who speaks for Beltran, this much is certain: The outfielder makes an awful lot of sense for the 2012 Giants."