Giants Still Need Infield Help

On Saturday, the Giants finalized a 2 year contract extension with Freddy Sanchez, who they acquired in July for Tim Alderson. The new deal for Sanchez will pay him 12 million over the next 2 seasons instead of 8.5 million for just 2010, which was his option for 2010.

I've voiced my disappointment in Sanchez a few times here since the Giants dealt for him over the summer. He wasn't able to stay on the field full time to help this club with their run at the NL Wild Card, and even when he was in there, he didn't seem to make much of an impact in the lineup. Now, I wasn't necessarily hoping the Giants would cut ties with Sanchez (they probably would have had to pay 4 million or so to buy him out), just didn't think he was worth upwards of 10 million dollars, and would have liked to see the Giants pursue someone like Orlando Hudson with that money. The Giants already have an infielder who's being paid about 3-4 times what his play over the last 2 seasons would indicate. However, I really can't say I'm too upset with the terms of his new deal. I think Sabean did the best he could given the situation in this case. Sanchez has shown that he's capable of hitting .300 if he stays healthy, and I think his gap power could translate into dozens and dozens of doubles for the second basemen here at the spacious AT&T Park. So, to sum this situation up in a sentence; I wasn't looking forward to having Sanchez back at 8.5 mill in 2010, but having him around at 6 mill is much more reasonable and in line with his value, and it also gives the Giants an extra couple of mill to use on more infield help.

With Sanchez (2b), Renteria (SS) and Sandoval (1B-3B) all penciled in for starting spots in the Giants infield, it would appear that their is still one opening in which the Giants may be able to store that big bat they so desperately need. Travis Ishikawa and Ryan Garko will be the returning options if the Giants fail to upgrade in that department, and they also have potential free-agent Juan Uribe who they appear to have sincere interest in keeping. I was stoked on the performance that Uribe gave the Giants last year, playing for the ML minimum, but being truly honest, I don't think he's an everyday player, and I'd hate to see Sabean give him something like a 2-year, 10 million dollar deal with the belief that he can be. I want Uribe back on this team next year, just not as a guaranteed starter, and I can't help but think that there are going to be other teams out there that are going to want Uribe's services after the year he put up for the Giants in '09, and I certainly wouldn't get into any kind of bidding war if that's the case. Uribe is especially valuable to the Giants because of his ability to play shortstop, where Edgar Renteria may need a caddy throughout the year.

Yankees Win World Series: The New York Yankees reeled in their 27th World Championship on Wednesday night, defeating the Philidelphia Phillies and Pedro Martinez to clinch the Series in 6 games. The Yanks' starting pitching was the superior of the two, and the Yankees were only using a 3-man rotation. What was really surprising to me though, was how well the Yanks bullpen threw. I think the pen was key for them in this series as they really held the potent Phills lineup in check. Offensively, everyone knew the Yankees would score enough runs, and they certainly did. Series MVP Hideki Matsui sported a ridiculous .625 batting average with 3 home runs and 8 RBI in the 6 game set. Mr. November, Derek Jeter, continued his November brialliance, hitting .407 with 6 runs scored and led both teams with 6 hits in November. The Yankees were definitely the best team in this postseason and as much as it pains me to say it, they certainly deserved to win this thing.