We're now within a week of MLB's Spring Training and it's almost like baseball is in the air already. Giants pitchers and catchers set to arrive one week from today in Scottsdale, Arizona, and with their recent additions, the Giants opening day 25-man roster may look a little different than it was starting to just a two weeks ago.
Obviously, we've talked a bit about the Theriot signing and how I think he just may end up being the most impacting addition via free agency the Giants made this winter. In a corresponding move though, surprisingly, the Giants axed Justin Christian, who was set to enter camp as their fourth outfielder. Now, this tells me one of two things. Either Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean are fully expecting Brandon Belt to be a major factor in the outfield this season, or they could have another move up their sleeve that brings in another outfielder, cause they'd be playing with fire
entering the spring as thin as they there (only 3 outfielders on the whole 40-man). I've mentioned Magglio Ordonez here, and he really is the only right-handed bat left on the market who'd make any sense whatsoever coming off the bench and helping out in the outfield, in much of the same role Pat Burrell filled so well in 2010. Sure, he's aging and coming off a rough, injury-plauged season in Detroit, but the dude can still obliterate lefties (a major weakness in this lineup) and was having an MVP-like 2010 before he went down to injury! I mean, with his lack of options, he'd probably even take a deal like Theriot's, maybe with a larger payout, but I'd even give him a guaranteed deal if he passed a physical and did a tryout for the team. I like Manny Burris as much as the next guy, but has he done enough to warrant a 40-man spot at the expense of free agent who could help the team win now? Also, Steve Edelfsen is still using up a spot? Are you kidding me? One of the reasons I think the Giants were so hesitant in bringing in those mid-level, high-upside players who could have helped (a la Cody Ross) is because they're too gun shy about using up their 40-man slots (see the Mota contract situation for an example)!
Anyhow, after the additions of Ryan Theriot, who I think Giants fans will become quite fond of as the seasons wears on, and Clay Hensley, the 25-man roster, barring an addition of that much needed outfielder, is pretty much set:
Catchers: Buster Posey, Eli Whiteside
Infielders: Aubrey Huff, Brandon Belt, Ryan Theriot, Freddy Sanchez, Brandon Crawford, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Fontenot
Outfielders: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Nate Schierholtz, ???
Starters: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito
Relievers: Clay Hensley, Jeremy Affeldt, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, Brian Wilson
So, it begs the question as to who becomes that 4th outfielder? There certainly isn't an impressive list of in-house candidates to chose from, again, another reason Cody Ross made so much sense. They could end up making Belt an outfielder full-time and adding Burris to the roster, who can play some outfield as well. Luckily for the Giants, they really only need 4 outfielders because of Belt and Huff's ability to play the left as well as the versatility of the three starters.
Obviously, we've talked a bit about the Theriot signing and how I think he just may end up being the most impacting addition via free agency the Giants made this winter. In a corresponding move though, surprisingly, the Giants axed Justin Christian, who was set to enter camp as their fourth outfielder. Now, this tells me one of two things. Either Bruce Bochy and Brian Sabean are fully expecting Brandon Belt to be a major factor in the outfield this season, or they could have another move up their sleeve that brings in another outfielder, cause they'd be playing with fire
entering the spring as thin as they there (only 3 outfielders on the whole 40-man). I've mentioned Magglio Ordonez here, and he really is the only right-handed bat left on the market who'd make any sense whatsoever coming off the bench and helping out in the outfield, in much of the same role Pat Burrell filled so well in 2010. Sure, he's aging and coming off a rough, injury-plauged season in Detroit, but the dude can still obliterate lefties (a major weakness in this lineup) and was having an MVP-like 2010 before he went down to injury! I mean, with his lack of options, he'd probably even take a deal like Theriot's, maybe with a larger payout, but I'd even give him a guaranteed deal if he passed a physical and did a tryout for the team. I like Manny Burris as much as the next guy, but has he done enough to warrant a 40-man spot at the expense of free agent who could help the team win now? Also, Steve Edelfsen is still using up a spot? Are you kidding me? One of the reasons I think the Giants were so hesitant in bringing in those mid-level, high-upside players who could have helped (a la Cody Ross) is because they're too gun shy about using up their 40-man slots (see the Mota contract situation for an example)!Anyhow, after the additions of Ryan Theriot, who I think Giants fans will become quite fond of as the seasons wears on, and Clay Hensley, the 25-man roster, barring an addition of that much needed outfielder, is pretty much set:
Catchers: Buster Posey, Eli Whiteside
Infielders: Aubrey Huff, Brandon Belt, Ryan Theriot, Freddy Sanchez, Brandon Crawford, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Fontenot
Outfielders: Melky Cabrera, Angel Pagan, Nate Schierholtz, ???
Starters: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito
Relievers: Clay Hensley, Jeremy Affeldt, Guillermo Mota, Santiago Cassilla, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, Brian Wilson
So, it begs the question as to who becomes that 4th outfielder? There certainly isn't an impressive list of in-house candidates to chose from, again, another reason Cody Ross made so much sense. They could end up making Belt an outfielder full-time and adding Burris to the roster, who can play some outfield as well. Luckily for the Giants, they really only need 4 outfielders because of Belt and Huff's ability to play the left as well as the versatility of the three starters.
Comments
Doubt Cabrera has another huge year like 2011 and Pagan is about as average as you can be, just with good speed. I wish they would have brought back Beltran and Ross too. With those two and the re-combination of Sanchez and Posey and Huff new and improved this team would have been a powerhouse.
I'm really hoping Hector Sanchez wins the backup job but you know how Boch and Sabean love their vets and the staff loves Whitesdie even though he cant hit. Same with Crawford.
This is where a guy like Ryan Doumit would have made a lot of sense for this team. He could have backed up Posey, and at first as well as the corner OF spots plus he can rake.. In a platoon/backup role, he'd probably stay healthy too.
Even if they didn't want to spend money, there were still players to be gotten who could have helped!
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