Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Hot Stove Uptdate: Miggy T Is a Giant and Pat the Bat Is Back

Man, the shortstop market sure revved up to warp speed after the Dodgers signed Juan Uribe. Next domino was Ned trading Theriot to St Louis for Blake Hawksworth. Blake Hawksworth? Didn't the Dodgers bullpen just get WEAKER with the addtion of Blake Hawksworth? Rumors had the Giants in on Jason Bartlett, but then it looked like the O's were starting a bidding war and Sabes must have said, "No bidding war, we're outa here!" which is exactly what he should have said!

I really like the Miggy T signing. Maybe a slight overpay but.....

1 year contract. Check!

No prospects given up. Check!

Great clubhouse guy. Check!

Popular in the local community. Check!

Tejada might not hit as many HR's as Uribe did last year, but he will hit for a higher average and will hit a few dingers too. Does not have great range, but is surehanded. Giants pitching gets a lot of K's and has strong flyball tendencies, so the defensive limitations will account for a very small number of extra runs allowed. If it doesn't work out, hey, they are only out 1 year's worth of salary. If Crawford or Adrianza come on like gangbusters, he won't be blocking them next year.

Sounds like Pat the Bat is coming back on a "discounted" 1 year deal. Again, very little risk in a 1 year deal. If used like Bochy used him last year, taking him out after his 3'rd or 4'th AB if the Giants had a lead, he could easily contribute 30 HR's while limiting his defensive liability in the field. Besides, I thought he played OK D in LF last year. The number of runs he allowed above a defensive LF was a very small number.

Next on Sabean's offseason list: Decide which of the arbitration eligible guys to tender contracts too. I'm guessing the discussions Sabes had with Fontenot's agent(who also happens to be Jeter's agent) was to try to work out a contract before the arbitration deadline because Sabes doesn't want to risk arbitration.

After the tender deadline, I think the Giants offseason is done.

8 comments:

  1. If the Giants non-tender Fontenot they will be in the market for a second SS. I am still holding out hope that Renteria will be that SS. Heck they could still trade Fontenot if they re-sign Renteria even if the do tender Fontenot.

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  2. That's a good point. All of their arbitration eligible players will likely have trade value even at arbitration salaries, so it may be smart for the Giants to offer all of them arbitration. Historically, the Giants have been very arbitration averse, but looking over this group and this market, arbitration may not be such a bad thing.

    Sabes may well be thinking he can pick up Rent as a backup for less than he would have to pay Fontenot after offering arbitration. The other possibility is that even though Burriss is not they type of infielder Sabes would want to go into the season with as a starter, he may be looking at Burriss for the reserve IF role.

    I still say Sabes needs to be looking for an upgrade at backup catcher too. The Burrell signing leaves them very righthanded heavy, although that is not a terrible thing given the way AT&T park plays.

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  3. According to rumors, Renteria would prefer to retire with Atlanta or St.Lou, so it will probably be Jan or even Feb before Giants consider signing him.

    I agree that all the arbitration eligible players will have some trade value. And the roster is in a state of some flux, so it might be worth $1-2M to hold on to somebody just in case you need him later, even if he is on the edge now.

    And just because you offer arbitration does not mean that you are not able to sign him to a contract before the arbitration hearing, which is really what they are adverse to.

    A nice lefty offensive backup catcher would be nice. Haven't looked at FA C, anybody like that available on the cheap?

    Also, if Belt does make the team and assuming Pablo loses the weight the Giants want to win his job back, we would have lefties Huff, Torres, Belt, and Sandoval in the lineup (though obviously Torres is a SH), which is pretty good balance once that happens.

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  4. since the bat is coming back...please tell me that means sabean has found a suitor for rowand...dont tell me he is gonna dfa nate

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  5. I like the Miggy signing, but there is a concern with him...

    He is a DP machine. He has led his league in GiDP in 5 of the last 7 years.

    I would also expect Ishi to be shown the door before Nate. I like Ishi better, but that does not matter. Bochy does not like him, and that is ALL that matters.

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  6. Before Renteria comes back I want to see his REAL birth certificate and also Tejeda's.

    As for Burrell, I take notice when the players run to the mound/field after big victories and walkoffs. It seems like every gathering during last years playoff had Burrell and Huff in the middle.

    To be honest, I rather have Nate in RF than Ross. Ross had a was the fuel NLCS and average the rest of the time. No sold on Ross.

    I really hope they can find a way for Nate and Travis to stay on the team. I still think they wiil find their stride...

    As always, thank you for the website and all the positive vibes it produces...

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  7. Oh yeah, I forgot something.

    Of all the rightfielders that I have seen, NO ONE plays defense better than Nate at ATT.

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  8. I will second that about Nate's defense in RF. He is a magician out there. I've forgotten exactly which game it was, but one of my lasting memories of the postseason is of Nate tracking down that drive up Triples Alley that I thought he had no chance of catching. The speed, the arm, the savvy, yeah, Nate can do it all out there.

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