San Francisco Giants News

Lincecum has right attitude on deal: 'Whatever'
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February 9
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Scott Ostler
"Will a nasty arbitration hearing be the end of the love affair between the Giants and Tim Lincecum? That seems to be a major concern as zero hour approaches. Experts and baseball insiders warn that arbitration can cause relationship damage because the ballclub goes to great lengths to highlight the player's shortcomings. Look, we love Timmy, but have you seen his clubhouse locker? Here's a photo. It looks like a gypsy camp. He leaves his Cy Young Awards lying around, someone's going to trip and break a leg. Lincecum is asking $13 million. The Giants are offering $8 million. What we're worried about, then, is that Lincecum might go into a huge sulk if the arbiter rules that Timmy must play ..."
Sabean likes Schierholtz in right field
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February 7
MLB.com
 
"Nate Schierholtz's status as the Giants' Opening Day right fielder shifted from "projected" to "likely" on Saturday.Though nothing's certain until Spring Training ends, general manager Brian Sabean endorsed Schierholtz based on the latter's defensive prowess.Right field scarcely concerned the Giants through most of the previous 4 1/2 seasons while Randy Winn, a skilled and underrated defender, patrolled the position. Winn's migration to the New York Yankees through free agency has left the Giants searching for an able replacement. Sabean, addressing reporters at the KNBR 680/Giants FanFest, is convinced that Schierholtz can handle the position regularly."You always need your best fielder ..."
Schierholtz favored to start in right
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February 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Nate Schierholtz will arrive in spring training the odds-on favorite to be the starting right fielder in 2010. On Saturday, general manager Brian Sabean quashed the notion of John Bowker competing for the job. Sabean said at FanFest that the team views Bowker as a left fielder. Though Andres Torres or Eugenio Velez could compete for time in right field, the team wants as much lineup consistency as possible, so this could be Schierholtz's time. "You almost want your best fielder in right field, and the only guy who really has a chance to do that against the standard of Randy Winn is Schierholtz," Sabean said. "Schierholtz can really play right field. There's no doubt about it." Schierholtz, ..."
For now Nate Schierholtz right man for San Francisco Giants in right field
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February 7
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants might have conceded some defensive skill in an effort to improve the batting lineup, but general manager Brian Sabean isn't willing to take a risk when it comes to AT&T Park's treacherous right field. At the club's annual Fanfest on Saturday, Sabean said John Bowker wouldn't be a candidate to play every day in right field — apparently clearing the way for Nate Schierholtz to become a regular there. Right field was believed to be the biggest battle of the spring as a number of unestablished players would attempt to replace Randy Winn, who made one of baseball's toughest defensive corners in baseball look routine. "The only guy who has a chance to do that against the standard of ..."
Lincecum unfazed by arbitration process
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February 7
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For a guy who is supposed to be steaming mad at his employer, perhaps worried about being browbeaten in an arbitration room and weighed down by a very public pot bust this winter, Tim Lincecum looked like his usual Timmy self Friday. His sense of humor is intact, as he laughed heartily at the absurdity of where he was storing his two Cy Young trophies at the moment: in the backseat of his car. His hair is 3 inches shorter. He said he cut it before last month's baseball writers' banquet in New York because "it looked unhealthy." Finally, his sense of proportion seems to be sound, at least publicly. Maybe Lincecum has sat home wondering if he should view the Giants' $8 million arbitration ..."
Lincecum unfazed by arbitration process
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February 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For a guy who is supposed to be steaming mad at his employer, perhaps worried about being browbeaten in an arbitration room and weighed down by a very public pot bust this winter, Tim Lincecum looked like his usual Timmy self Friday. His sense of humor is intact, as he laughed heartily at the absurdity of where he was storing his two Cy Young trophies at the moment: in the backseat of his car. His hair is 3 inches shorter. He said he cut it before last month's baseball writers' banquet in New York because "it looked unhealthy." Finally, his sense of proportion seems to be sound, at least publicly. Maybe Lincecum has sat home wondering if he should view the Giants' $8 million arbitration ..."
Giants Beat: Posey in the infield?
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February 6
San Francisco Chronicle
 
""Infielder Buster Posey" has a nice ring to the many fans who believe the Giants need to protect their 2008 first-round draft pick by moving him away from the plate. Manager Bruce Bochy insisted Friday that catching remains Posey's long-term position but said he and general manager Brian Sabean have talked about Posey playing some infield this spring to boost his chances of making the team. "We're going to give him a lot of playing time this spring," Bochy said. "Everybody looks at the situation with Bengie (Molina) and Eli (Whiteside) and think that Buster has to go to Fresno. But that's not etched in stone." The Giants will not carry three catchers, so Whiteside and Posey essentially ..."
Giants will get Posey work in the infield
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February 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants aren't sure what uniform Buster Posey will be wearing in April — or how he'll accessorize it. On the eve of the team's FanFest on Friday, Manager Bruce Bochy said it's possible that Posey could have a place on the Giants' opening day roster — potentially playing positions other than catcher. Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean have talked about giving Posey some work in the infield — first base, mostly — to give the heralded rookie and the team additional flexibility. The manager also said he plans to curtail Bengie Molina's playing time, acknowledging that the veteran catcher's 120 starts were too many last year. "I overworked him," Bochy said. The odds remain that Posey ..."
Lincecum readies for arbitration hearing with Giants
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February 6
San Jose Mercury News
 
"It was a February softball question to Tim Lincecum before reporters came with the hard stuff: Where does he keep his two Cy Young Awards? "I have both of them in my car, actually," said the Giants' 25-year-old ace, his normally pallid cheeks blushing a bit. No kidding. In the trunk, we hope? "Nah, on the backseat," he said. "It's locked, though." Lincecum could use a different set of wheels in a few days. Whether he wins, loses or settles his arbitration case, he'll need to back up the truck to haul the money away. The real price of an arbitration hearing can be tougher to quantify, though. That's because a team must point out a player's shortcomings in the hopes of convincing an ..."
Giants' showdown with Lincecum is only natural
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February 5
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Ray Ratto
"Ahh, kids. They grow up so fast. One day, they're winning the regional spelling bee, the next, they're learning the subtleties of the fine print. It's not like we didn't know this coming in, that Tim Lincecum's arbitration would be the first true intrusion of business into what has been a child's game. He throws pitches that others cannot hit, everyone tells him how swell and noble he is, and life is good. Really good. But as it comes for everyone, this is the day when the dollar sign gets put on the muscle, to borrow the title from Kevin Kerrane's instructive book on the art and science of baseball scouting. This is when Lincecum finds out for the first time the limits of his power and ..."
Debate rages over Lincecum's case
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February 4
MLB.com
 
"There's a good chance Tim Lincecum found out sometime Wednesday night that the Tigers and Justin Verlander agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract, avoiding arbitration. And even though Lincecum grew up near Seattle as a Mariners fan, he could have been raised in Wichita and still be well aware that Felix Hernandez and the Mariners re-upped for five years and $78 million a few weeks ago, also avoiding arbitration. So naturally, with the Giants ace right-hander's arbitration case still looming and starting to take up more and more space in the daily headlines, the baseball world collectively asks one question: How much is Tim Lincecum really worth? The basic guidelines have been set to ..."
Lincecum, Giants, wont be agreeing anytime soon
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February 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"t appears the Giants and Tim Lincecum won't be agreeing on any long-term deal and that the pitcher will have to "settle" for whatever the arbitration panel concludes. In a recent SFGate poll, most readers said they thought the Giants should give Lincecum a five-year deal, but that's probably not going to happen."
Tim Lincecum's arbitration case headed for a hearing, his agent says
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February 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The agent for right-hander Tim Lincecum said the Giants have not engaged in significant contract negotiations, and he is convinced the two-time Cy Young Award winner's arbitration case will reach the hearing stage. Rick Thurman said the Giants have not discussed a one-year deal and talks have been limited to "some very insignificant two-year conversations," which leads him to believe that "it's quite clear the case is headed to a hearing." The agent said he was surprised at the minimal level of conversation from the Giants, adding, "I think that's the direction (a hearing) they've wanted this to go from Day 1 simply because there's been little or no discussions with regards to a contract." ..."
Giants sign RHP Guillermo Mota to minor league deal with camp invite
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February 3
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants signed RHP Guillermo Mota to a minor league deal and invited him to big league camp. Mota becomes the third right-hander pitcher with big league time to ink a minor league deal with the club in the past 48 hours. But B.K. Kim and Horacio Ramirez will nto be invited to big league camp, a club spokesperson is telling me. Mota, 36, has a checkered reputation in more ways than one. He tested positive for a performance enhancing substance in November, 2006, and served a 50-game suspension. He's also got a reputation as a bit of a headhunter. You could ask Mike Piazza about that. He's charged the mound twice and tried to separate Mota's head from his shoulders, even venturing into the ..."
Giants sign pair of relievers
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February 2
MLB.com
 
"Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim, who surrendered Barry Bonds' 715th home run, and left-hander Horacio Ramirez have signed Minor League contracts, the Giants announced Monday. Kim, 31, owns a 54-60 record, a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine Major League seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. He has not pitched in the Majors since 2007, one year after he yielded the homer that made Bonds the No. 2 home run hitter in history, breaking a tie with Babe Ruth. Bonds ultimately became the all-time home run leader."
Cooperstown calls for Miller
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February 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Growing up in the Bay Area, Giants play-by-play man Jon Miller spent hundreds of days and nights listening to Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons call Giants games. On Monday, Miller received the ultimate honor for a baseball broadcaster, one Hodges and Simmons each earned. The National Baseball Hall of Fame announced that Miller was selected as the winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, given annually to recognize excellence in baseball broadcasting. Miller, on vacation in Cartagena, Colombia, got the news in phone calls from Hall President Jeff Idelson and Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan, Miller's partner on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" telecasts for the past 20 seasons. "The first people I ..."
Giants' radio voice, baseball's treasure
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February 2
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"I almost drove off the road one night on my way home from a Giants game. Things were getting a bit blurry from the tears of laughter. Jon Miller put me there, and it's a good thing I recovered, because it was the Devil's Slide, and that's a long way down. The Giants had just lost to the Dodgers, and to begin the postgame wrap, Mike Krukow awarded his "player of the game" to someone on the Giants' bench, a guy who hadn't even played (anyone but a Dodger). Things got sillier from there, and not long after Miller unveiled his priceless Vin Scully imitation, he could be heard in the background doing John Ramsey, the revered voice of Dodger Stadium for so many years. "He always sounded like he ..."
Miller wins Frick Award
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February 2
Baltimore Sun
 
"Jon Miller, who called the final out of the Orioles' last World Series title in 1983, has been named the 2010 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions in baseball broadcasting. He will be honored in Cooperstown, N.Y., during this year's National Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony July 25 along with the 2010 Hall inductees: outfielder Andre Dawson, manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey. Bill Madden of the New York Daily News will receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing. A list of 10 Frick finalists was whittled to three last month by a group of 15 former winners and five historians/columnists. "I am obviously very excited to be the one," Miller said in a ..."
Phillies to observe workout of former Giants lefty Lowry
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February 2
Philadelphia Daily News
 
"Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed that the Phillies plan to watch Noah Lowry, who hasn't pitched since 2007 because of a series of arm injuries, when he auditions for scouts in Arizona. That was supposed to happen today, but the session was postponed to give the 29-year-old lefthander more time to prepare. The Phillies general manager last night characterized the team's interest as "moderate." The Astros, Mets, Rangers and Red Sox also are reportedly interested. About half the teams are expected to be represented when he has his open bullpen session. Lowry's agent, Damon Lapa, told the Associated Press that the former Giants No. 1 draft choice hasn't had a setback, but decided it would be to his ..."
Giants sign pair of relievers
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February 2
MLB.com
 
"Right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim, who surrendered Barry Bonds' 715th home run, and left-hander Horacio Ramirez have signed Minor League contracts, the Giants announced Monday. Kim, 31, owns a 54-60 record, a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine Major League seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. He has not pitched in the Majors since 2007, one year after he yielded the homer that made Bonds the No. 2 home run hitter in history, breaking a tie with Babe Ruth. Bonds ultimately became the all-time home run leader."
Giants avoid arbitration with Wilson
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January 31
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants and closer Brian Wilson took the path of least resistance in agreeing to a 2010 contract Saturday, agreeing to split the difference of their arbitration filings and settle on $4,437,500. That is halfway between the $4 million the Giants offered and the $4.85 million that the 27-year-old closer requested after saving 38 games in 45 chances last season. For that, he earned $480,000 and thus will get nearly 10 times as much in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Given how close the two sides were in their official filings, their Solomon-like compromise was the least-surprising outcome. It was difficult to believe they would have ended up in a hearing room over $850,000, and ..."
Winn takes Damon's spot in the Bronx
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January 28
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"After months of aimless drifting on the perimeter of the free-agent market, Randy Winn made a safe and enviable landing Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Given that it probably means the departure of Johnny Damon, this is a move that will be debated well into the season. Winn can't hope to replace Damon as a hitter. Fitting perfectly into the No. 2 slot in the batting order, Damon was a force with his power (24 homers), speed and hell-bent style. Lofting dead-pull drives with his distinctive one-armed follow-through, Damon seemed born to hit at the new Yankee Stadium, with its comforting dimensions and notorious wind tunnel, and he was a beloved member of a world championship team. Where the ..."
Sandoval says he's in good shape
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January 27
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"A rumor made the rounds that when Pablo Sandoval went to Venezuela to play winter ball, he regained the 12 or 13 pounds he lost during Camp Panda in Arizona in the fall. "No chance," Sandoval said Tuesday. One had to take his word that he gained 1 pound, because there was no weigh-in during Sandoval's appearance at the annual Santa Clara County Hot Stove fundraising dinner in San Jose. To the naked eye, Sandoval looked pretty good in a striped dress shirt. Was he svelte? No, but that is not the goal. Slimmer and more muscular? Yes. Plus, the reduced wind resistance from his new mini-Mohawk should help the Giants' best hitter with one of his goals this year: to run better and even steal ..."
Giants ponder options while Sanchez is out
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January 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist John Shea
"For now, the Giants must plan to open the 2010 season with Freddy Sanchez on the disabled list. That leaves holes at second base and the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Juan Uribe is an easy choice for the former, and manager Bruce Bochy said he has options for the latter. "The only one we'll rule out is Bengie," Bochy said. That the Giants would consider Bengie Molina for any role would have been considered preposterous a week ago, but now the catcher is back in the fold after re-signing for one year and $4.5 million, a contract the Giants made official Friday. It might be awhile before he's joined on the field by Sanchez, whose Dec. 23 left shoulder surgery finally went public when Bochy ..."
Giant surprises: Molina's back, Sanchez rehabbing
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January 23
Contra Costa Times
 
"For all their offseason remodeling, the Giants finished the room by putting two familiar pieces in old spots: Bengie Molina behind the plate and Freddy Sanchez in the trainer's room. On a conference call Friday to reintroduce Molina, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract, Giants officials publicly admitted what manager Bruce Bochy had casually mentioned on KNBR a day earlier - that Sanchez underwent left shoulder surgery Dec. 23 and might not be ready to start the season. Sanchez, a three-time All-Star second baseman, felt recurring soreness when he began swinging a bat in mid-December - the same issue that conspired with an injured left knee to limit him to 25 of 61 games after ..."
Sabean playing with fire
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January 23
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Gary Peterson
"Best case scenario, Freddy Sanchez isn't out long enough to be missed. He's back in the lineup before taxes are due. His left shoulder feels like $12 million over two years. By the time the Giants take the field for Game 1 of the NLDS, his offseason medical misadventures are long forgotten (think Jeff Kent's wrist in 2002). Worst case scenario, one or more of the variables in the best case scenario fails to materialize. The Giants are unable to forge their pleasantly surprising 2009 into a pleasantly confirming 2010. Sanchez becomes a magnet for fan dissatisfaction, the Armando Benitez of the 20-teens. If you want to go full doomsday, Tim Lincecum free-falls to third in the Cy Young ..."
Familiar territory: Giants sign Molina
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January 23
San Jose Mercury News
 
"For all their offseason remodeling, the Giants finished the room by putting two familiar pieces in old spots: Bengie Molina behind the plate and Freddy Sanchez in the trainer's room. On a conference call Friday to reintroduce Molina, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract, Giants officials publicly admitted what manager Bruce Bochy had casually mentioned on KNBR a day earlier — that Sanchez underwent left-shoulder surgery Dec. 23 and might not be ready to start the season. The three-time All-Star second baseman felt recurring soreness when he began swinging a bat in mid-December — the same issue that conspired with an injured left knee to limit him to 25 of 61 games after July 29, ..."
Giants deal reliever Merkin Valdez to Toronto
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January 21
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Merkin Valdez, a right-hander with a blazing fastball once considered closer material, is a Giant no more. The team, which designated him for assignment a week ago, traded the 28-year-old to Toronto on Wednesday for cash. Why dispatch a pitcher with that type of fastball? The Giants needed his roster spot for first baseman Aubrey Huff and decided they had enough younger relievers with more upside. "Roster flexibility gets limited," vice president of player personnel Bobby Evans said. "Merkin doesn't have any minor-league options. By maintaining your other players, you have the ability to option them down. With Merkin, he has been with us a long period of time. He fit well into our bullpen ..."
Blue Jays acquire reliever Valdez from Giants
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January 21
Toronto Star
 
"The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Merkin Valdezfrom the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations Wednesday. Valdez appeared in 48 games for the Giants last season, going 2-1 with a 5.66 earned-run average in his first full big-league season. He becomes the 59th player on the Blue Jays spring roster and will compete for a spot in the bullpen."
Lincecum's day in court ends quickly
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January 20
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants' Tim Lincecum wrapped up his legal dealings with Clark County on Tuesday morning, spending 10 minutes in district court to accept a reduced drug paraphernalia charge, a civil infraction that drew a $513 fine for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Lincecum wore a sleek, gray suit and an open-collared dark green shirt - and no beanie - for his appearance before Judge Darvin Zimmerman. Lincecum's father, Chris, attended the proceedings. Giants managing partner Bill Neukom, a lawyer before the Washington bar himself, was seen outside the courthouse afterward, shaking hands with Lincecum and talking with him briefly. Lincecum had already paid a reported $122 for a speeding ticket in ..."
Tim Lincecum attacks arbitration like the shrewd pitcher he is
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January 20
Contra Costa Times
 columnist Tim Kawakami
"Surprised? Tim Lincecum approached arbitration as deftly as he handles any of his trips to the mound, and it's safe to expect the same final results. Lincecum will be in control of this situation, from start to end. He won't look silly or greedy. And when it's over, he'll probably win. Yes, it's good to be Lincecum, the young Giants pitcher who has already accomplished almost everything and is about to start reaping the financial rewards for it. That's the essence of what happened Tuesday, when the Giants and their 25-year-old star pitcher exchanged 2010 salary numbers in baseball's arbitration process. The Giants' figure: $8 million, the highest-ever offered to a player in his first year ..."
Molina nixes Mets' final offer, returns to SF
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January 20
New York Post
 
"Bye-bye, Bengie. Tired of haggling with Bengie Molina, the Mets yesterday played hardball and made one final offer to the free-agent catcher. They were rebuffed. Hours later, Molina agreed to a one-year deal that will return him to the Giants. An industry source with knowledge of the negotiations indicated the Mets' final offer was one year for about $5 million with a vesting option. Molina instead took a one-year deal for $4.5 million guaranteed without an option. "We feel that our offer was a very good offer," Mets GM Omar Minaya said. "He may end up getting more in bonuses [from the Giants], but he was in a place where he likes it, and to get a player to go to another place, these ..."
Bengie Molina back with Giants
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January 20
San Jose Mercury News
 
"A few months after the Giants said the ship had sailed on re-signing Bengie Molina, the catcher was pulling back toward the shores of McCovey Cove. Molina agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Giants, pending a physical, according to multiple outlets Tuesday. Also Tuesday, the Giants avoided arbitration with Jonathan Sanchez by signing the left-hander to a one-year, $2.1 million contract with incentives. Molina's re-emergence represented a twist in the Giants' catching saga. In December, general manager Brian Sabean ruled out any chance of Molina's return, saying, "That ship has sailed "... they're way down the road talking to other teams." Instead, Molina's prolonged talks with ..."
Tim Lincecum seeks a record $13 million in arbitration; Giants offer $8 million
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January 20
San Jose Mercury News
 
"In what could be a record-setting arbitration case, representatives for pitcher Tim Lincecum have asked for a $13 million salary while the Giants countered with an $8 million offer. Barring a breakthrough in negotiations, an independent party will be asked to choose one of those figures as Lincecum's paycheck for 2010. There are no compromises in arbitration cases. Lincecum is an unprecedented pitcher, so it was not surprising that agent Rick Thurman asked for an unprecedented price Tuesday. The record for an arbitration case involving a player in his first year of eligibility is the $10 million granted to Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard in 2008. The highest salary awarded ..."
Lincecum accepts drug paraphernalia charge
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January 19
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"The Giants' Tim Lincecum wrapped up his legal dealings with Clark County today, spending 10 minutes in district court to accept a drug paraphernalia charge, a civil infraction that drew a $513 fine for the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Lincecum wore a sleek gray suit and an open-collared green shirt - and no beanie - for his appearance before Judge Darvin Zimmerman. Lincecum's father, Chris, attended the proceedings. And Giants' managing partner Bill Neukom was seen outside the court building afterward, shaking hands with Lincecum and talking with him briefly. The court appearance comes on the same day Lincecum's representatives are to exchange arbitration numbers with the Giants - ..."
Sanchez, Giants agree on one-year contract
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January 19
MLB.com
 
"The Giants have avoided salary arbitration with Jonathan Sanchez by agreeing to a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the left-hander on Tuesday. The settlement, initially reported by SI.com, includes performance bonuses and nearly quintuples Sanchez's 2009 base salary, $455,000. Sanchez, 27, finished the 2009 season at 8-12 with a 4.24 ERA in 32 appearances. After a brief stint in the bullpen to refine his mechanics and recharge his confidence, he emerged to pitch San Francisco's first no-hitter in 33 years, an 8-0 decision over San Diego on July 10. A member of Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic squad last year, Sanchez finished fourth in the National League with 9.75 strikeouts per nine ..."
Huff signing shows Sabean still out of touch with reality
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January 19
San Francisco Examiner
 columnist Glenn Dickey
"The good news is that, because of his past extravagance and the looming huge contract for Tim Lincecum, Giants general manager Brian Sabean can no longer sign players to huge contracts. The bad news: He's no better at evaluating cheaper players. Case in point: Aubrey Huff, who signed for one year at $3 million to play first base and provide middle-of-the-lineup power. A bargain if he could, but he really can't produce either the defense or offense the Giants need from their first baseman. Huff's contention is that he got a reputation as a bad fielder when he started his major league career as a third baseman with Tampa Bay and nobody has noticed that he's improved. Well, I remember when ..."
Giants' Tim Lincecum could set a new salary mark in arbitration
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January 18
Oakland Tribune
 
"Tim Lincecum owns two Cy Young Awards, and soon he will be able to afford one heck of a trophy case. The Giants' 25-year-old ace, who filed for salary arbitration Friday, is expected to break the salary record of $10 million for a player in his first year of eligibility. The entire baseball industry — agents, club executives, the players' association, and yes, commissioner Bud Selig — will be monitoring the proceedings with intense interest. The arbitration process is like a game of chicken and Texas Hold'em rolled into one. The club and the player's agent blindly submit figures. A hearing is scheduled. If the two sides cannot settle before the hearing date, an arbitrator listens to ..."
Eric Byrnes says Giants would be 'best fit'
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January 18
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Though Eric Byrnes said he's finally 100 percent after two injury-marred seasons, the Diamondbacks gave up on him despite owing him $11 million next season. He could sign with another team for the minimum salary, and he's open to playing for the Giants if the interest is mutual. "It's not a real secret (that) I'd definitely be interested," Byrnes said in a phone interview. "The Giants, of course, that's the best fit geographically." Byrnes was a Giants fan as a kid, graduated from Mountain View's St. Francis High and makes his offseason home in the Bay Area. He has had memorable games at the Giants' park, where he's a .295 hitter in 132 at-bats (five homers, 20 RBIs, 6-for-6 in steals) and ..."
Eric Byrnes says Giants would be 'best fit'
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January 17
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Though Eric Byrnes said he's finally 100 percent after two injury-marred seasons, the Diamondbacks gave up on him despite owing him $11 million next season. He could sign with another team for the minimum salary, and he's open to playing for the Giants if the interest is mutual. "It's not a real secret (that) I'd definitely be interested," Byrnes said in a phone interview. "The Giants, of course, that's the best fit geographically." Byrnes was a Giants fan as a kid, graduated from Mountain View's St. Francis High and makes his offseason home in the Bay Area. He has had memorable games at the Giants' park, where he's a .295 hitter in 132 at-bats (five homers, 20 RBIs, 6-for-6 in steals) and ..."
Giants' sense of order may not help lineup
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January 16
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"In their obsession to improve the lineup and satisfy an angry fan base, the Giants have made enough improvement to draw some attention in the National League West. Defensively, they have overplayed their hand. Pablo Sandoval's weight is going to be an issue for the rest of his life (he lost 10 pounds through a rigorous conditioning program in Arizona, then gained most of it back when he returned home to play in the Venezuelan winter league). Many scouts around the National League can't figure out why the Giants simply don't stick him at first base and leave him there. The Giants obviously don't see it that way. They made a two-year offer to Adam LaRoche, who wisely turned it down (no ..."
It's official: Lincecum files for arbitration
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January 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Tim Lincecum owns two Cy Young Awards, and soon he will be able to afford one heck of a trophy case. The Giants' 25-year-old ace filed for salary arbitration Friday and is expected to break the salary record of $10 million for a player in his first year of eligibility. The entire baseball industry — agents, club executives, the players' association, and yes, commissioner Bud Selig — will be monitoring the proceedings with intense interest. The arbitration process is like a game of chicken and Texas Hold'em rolled into one. The club and the player's agent blindly submit figures. A hearing is scheduled. If the two sides cannot settle before the hearing date, an arbitrator listens to ..."
Torrealba could return to Giants
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January 14
MLB.com
 
"Catcher Yorvit Torrealba and the Giants maintain mutual interest in a one-year contract agreement, though the free agent might wait until after the weekend to make a deal with the Giants or any club. According to a tweet from Diario Meridiano in Venezuela, Torrealba indicated that he soon will meet with the Giants. First, however, Torrealba wants to finish participating for Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League round-robin playoff. The Bravos could be eliminated as early as Sunday. Giants officials and Torrealba's agent, Melvin Roman, could not be reached for comment. One industry insider with knowledge of the club's functionings said that a Torrealba signing, if it indeed ..."
Huff ready to clean up in S.F.
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January 14
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Aubrey Huff is a heart-of-the-order hitter, a big man with a big swing. Six times, he topped 20 home runs. Twice, he topped 30. He has more career homers (203) than any Giant since Barry Bonds' departure. Even his sense of humor is vast. Asked about hitting at China Basin, which has been tough on lefty swingers, Huff said, "If Barry Bonds can hit home runs there, I can, right?" The Giants made the Huff signing official Wednesday (one year, $3 million) and said he'll play first base and bat fourth in a lineup they envision looking like this, 1 through 5: Aaron Rowand (.341 on-base percentage in 50 games leading off last year), Freddy Sanchez, Pablo Sandoval, Huff and Mark DeRosa, who's ..."
With Aubrey Huff in the cleanup spot, San Francisco Giants' lineup takes shape
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January 14
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Say this about Aubrey Huff: The Giants' new first baseman and cleanup hitter has personality. Asked Wednesday during a conference call whether he was dissuaded by the prospect of hitting at AT&T Park, a place where left-handed-lashed drives go to die, Huff let out his playful side. "Listen," he said. "If Barry Bonds can hit home runs there, I can, right?" The Giants aren't counting on a Bondsian season from Huff. They won't get a 1.000 OPS or 70 home runs or 100 intentional walks or swelling walk-up crowds. But they hope they have added a legitimate run producer, and they hope their lineup, along with fellow free-agent addition Mark DeRosa, will improve from wretched to merely average. ..."
Sources: Bengie Molina has lowered asking price
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January 12
Foxsports.com
 
"Free agent catcher Bengie Molina has lowered his asking price, multiple sources said Tuesday, raising the likelihood of a long-expected union with the New York Mets. Molina had been asking for a three-year contract, but one source believes he is now willing to sign for two years. Molina is thought to be the key to the remaining marketplace for free agent catchers. Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba and Molina's brother, Jose, are among those still available. It's been assumed for weeks that Bengie Molina won't return to San Francisco. He batted .265 with 20 home runs and 80 RBIs for the Giants last year."
Giants need more Huff, less Sandoval
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January 12
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"Nice pick-up for the Giants, Aubrey Huff, assuming medical science discovers a cure for whatever caused him tooff a cliff last year. From the previous season, Huff lost 63 points in batting average, 17 homers and 23 RBIs. That's got to be some type of record. Mark DeRosa, OK, that probably will work. But the most important gain for the Giants this offseason is the loss of 12 pounds. That would be the dozen or so dropped by Pablo Sandoval in an intense three-week conditioning and nutrition boot camp to which he allowed the Giants to subject him. Sandoval can play plump, he has proved that. He hit .345 as a rookie and .330 last season, and played some surprisingly nimble third base, while ..."
Huff brought in to aid offense
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January 11
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"As Giants general manager Brian Sabean warned reporters at last month's winter meetings in Indianapolis, "Don't get caught up on position. The preference is to make the offense better. The preference is to get somebody in front of Pablo (Sandoval) and somebody behind." Four days after Christmas, the Giants announced the signing of Mark DeRosa, a man of many positions. Another announcement is expected this week because the Giants are signing Aubrey Huff, a left-handed hitter with pop, to a one-year, $3 million contract, pending a physical. He'd be in the mix at first base and provide another bat to complement Sandoval. Huff, 33, had a monster 2008 with Baltimore, hitting .304 with 32 ..."
Giants, Aubrey Huff agree to a deal, source says
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January 11
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Giants and first baseman Aubrey Huff agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't made a formal announcement, which might not come until later in the week once all the details are completed. Acquiring a reliable left-handed hitter with power was one of general manager Brian Sabean's priorities this offseason. Huff, 33, was traded from Baltimore to Detroit in August. He batted .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBI in 150 games between the two teams. San Francisco will be eager to have his offensive punch. The Giants ranked 29th out of the 30 major league teams ..."
McGwire forgiven, is Bonds up next?
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January 8
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Gwen Knapp
"Now that Tony LaRussa has publicly revealed his fantasy of using Mark McGwire as a pinch-hitter if the Cardinals remain in contention when MLB rosters expand Aug. 31, the Giants should feel perfectly comfortable making the same option available to Barry Bonds. We can all agree to suspend judgment, since the commissioner himself, after years of re-casting himself as the steroid sheriff, graciously welcomed the news that McGwire would become the St. Louis hitting coach. Apparently, all is forgiven, including McGwire's decision to duck questions in front of Congress. So why not Bonds' alleged dodges in front of a grand jury? Yes, he is still charged with perjury for testifying that he only ..."