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

12.13.2007
It's Raining Men

Before we move on to a discussion of all those non-tendered players now flooding the free-agent market, please enjoy this video.

I had to share.

Last night several clubs cut players loose rather than offer arbitration. (The pre-free agency kind of arbitration, not the kind that Pedro Feliz was offered.)

There are several intriguing names, including Mark Prior. Who knows if he’ll ever be healthy again, but no doubt several teams are willing to spend several million dollars to find out. 

Topping the position player list is Morgan Ensberg. At his best he had both power and patience. At his worst, he was badly injured. He probably won’t be a .945 OPS kind of guy again, as in 2005, but it would be worth bringing him into spring training for a look-see.

Another guy worth a flier is former Angels blue chipper Dallas MacPherson. Injuries and horror-show strikeout rates made him expendable at 27. I have no idea what his D is like. Probably closer to Jose Feliciano than Pedro Feliz, which would make the flier less likely to, um, fly.

Still, plenty of teams want to bring the Ensberg/MacPherson types in for a look-see. (Or in Sabean-speak, a “tire kick.” Nice PR, Sabes, comparing ballplayers to used cars.) The best non-tendered players will have choices, and with the Giants all a-muddle, our favorite team will have to overpay, guarantee years, or play up the natural beauty and exciting contemporary urban setting of their fine little ballpark. Chances are Selling Point #3 isn’t going to tickle Mark Prior’s jodphurs if a guaranteed second year isn’t stapled to it.  

Best bet for the Giants is to stock up on middle relief arms. Kiko Calero, Chad Durbin, Matt Wise, Mark Hendrickson… the list of pitchers who might bounce back from bad years and/or injury to give a team 60 pretty good innings for pennies on today’s nutty nutty dollar is long.

The Giants offered contracts to Brad Hennessey, Kevin Correia and Vinnie Chulk, all arb-eligible. But they cut Scott Munter. I would be shocked if he plays in the major leagues anywhere this year.



Also on the Network:



[December 13, 2007 2:01 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Boof said

Actually, I think Dallas McPherson is a more intriguing 3B candidate than Morgan Ensberg.

[December 13, 2007 2:20 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

I think Morgan would be a perfect one year try. Hopefully the Giants go for him instead of Feliz. Especially since last year was a total fluke, for some reason he was not able to hit at home, but his road numbers were still great (.279/.360/.500/.860!!!)!

Let's start a campaign, perhaps if ELM challenges the Giants they might do it!

[December 13, 2007 3:27 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

Hmmm, Boof is onto something too, McPherson looks very intriguing and he's still young (27 next year) and unproven, so maybe he'd be willing to come here since he could start.

However, I don't see Sabean or the Giants giving him that chance, since Ensberg is a vet. Anyone knows how good defensively either one is? Also, why was McPherson out all of 2007? Is he even recovered yet? And from what?

[December 13, 2007 7:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Frank said

Everyone says, "oh, give this guy a look." But it's not quite so simple. First, we are in competition with other teams, so may have to pay MLB minimum or guarantee a roster spot. Second, this creates 'issues' with the roster. Sign one of these guys out of ST and you have to put him on both the 40 man and 25 man roster - that means (even tho we are at just 39 now) we have to cut some other prospect - that, I believe, exposes them to FA, and to potential loss to another team. So, it is not without cost and not without risk.

[December 13, 2007 8:37 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Boof said

There is plenty of flotsam & jetsam on the Giants roster that I'd be wiling to dispose of to give McPerson a roster spot.

[December 15, 2007 11:29 AM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive said

According to reports, McPherson has been approached by the Giants. Interest because he can play 1B and 3B.

Plus Boras is his agent, Giants should be buddies now that they shelled out for Zito.