When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

10.29.2007
First Big Deal

The Tigers and Braves just consummated the first trade of the off-season. Edgar Renteria goes to Detroit for two prospects, which means two shortstops we've mentioned as possible replacements for Omar Vizquel -- Renteria and the 25-year-old Yuniel Escobar, who now takes over the starting job in Atlanta -- are probably off the table.

The news also produced this memorable quote from new Braves GM Frank Wren, who just took over for John Schuerholz: "John is the president of the club, and you deal with him like any club president," Wren said. "You inform him what you are doing, but don't necessarily give him a blow by blow."

Good thing, otherwise it would make for some awkward office politics. There was another quote from the story I found interesting: "The Tigers don't wait around for the winter meetings, when all the owners and agents get involved," All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez told The Associated Press. "We got Sheffield early last year and now we got Renteria right away."

Given the circus of the winter meetings -- according to this story, they now have an official corporate sponsor -- I wonder if more teams will take this pre-emptive route. If so, November will be a busy month.

With two marquee shortstops now out of the trade picture (again, probably -- you never know if a just-traded player will be flipped again), I'll put the odds on Vizquel returning to the Giants for one year plus a mutual option at better than even.
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[October 29, 2007 9:00 PM]  |  link  |  reply
BawLa said

Dag Nabbit!!!

I don't know what's worse: Vizquel's offense or Eckstein period. Either way both are real possibilities.

[October 29, 2007 9:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
giantsrainman said

To me Frandsen at SS makes more since then re-signing Vizquel. Vizquel will not be part of the next great Giants team and I just don't see the point in wasting any 2008 ABs or defensive innings on Omar.

[October 30, 2007 5:08 AM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

Hey guys, there's a new SS on the free agent market... :^)

[October 30, 2007 12:34 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Boof said

Frandsen is not a SS. His future, which is not clear, is at 2B. He needs to be played there in order to determine if he is the future. Playing him anywhere else is just wrong.

A-Rod is (a) not a SS anymore and (b) not coming to the the Giants. His defense is just passable as a 3B and would be sub-par at SS. In any case, pencil it in right now......he will be the Dodger 3B next year. Make bank on it.

[October 31, 2007 3:26 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ed said

Resigning Omar would be a huge mistake. Let's not forget that his offense was much worse than Feliz's last year.