The Hot Stove is kicking out a lot of smoke; fire has yet to be confirmed. But here’s where things stand.
The Giants put one reliever smartly in the fold by signing Jeremy Affeldt early to a well-regarded deal. If Brian Sabean sticks to his guns, Bobby Howry or another set-up guy will follow soon. Throw in a few non-roster invites and the homegrown guys, and the bullpen mix will be ready for spring competition.
UPDATE: Bingo! Henry Schulman has the Howry-to-Giants scoop. It’s a one-year deal, detes to follow. Score one for the Schulminator!
The Edgar Renteria drama could play out for a while; that leaked 2–year/$18 M contract rumor makes me think Renteria’s peeps are willing to play some games, and now that Renteria won’t cost his new team draft picks, the games could drag on through next week’s Winter Meetings.
The underlying question is this: How desperate are the Giants to keep Manny Burriss away from the starting SS job next year? Was his defense in the Arizona League really that bad? One measure could be the amount of years and dollars they add to the rumored total of the rumored Renteria contract.
Who knows, maybe the Giants will let it ride on Burriss after all. Maybe they’ll go after someone like J.J. Hardy in a trade. But my guess is the Giants want to save their trading chips this winter for someone other than a shortstop.
As we approach the Winter Meetings, here’s my game plan:
* Offer Bobby Howry the same contract as Affeldt (2 years, $8 M). It would equal the money Howry made in 2007–08. If he balks, see if a sprinkling of extra incentives does the trick. If he insists on three years and/or higher annual average salary, strenuously kick other tires.
* Go hard after Renteria but only to a point. If the rumored 2/18 isn’t working, try a little more money. I’m leery of a third year, though making it a team option, or one that vests based on plate appearances might be palatable. If they can’t land Renteria, see if Orlando Cabrera is willing to sign on for a one-year deal with a team option. (Unlikely.) Failing that, if the Giants are absolutely set on giving Burriss more development time, find a cheap defensively minded SS in trade who won’t cost a top trading chip.
* Package Jonathan Sanchez and prospects for a very good third baseman. Ryan Zimmerman had an off-year in 2008 and is no sure bet to live up to his promise. Perhaps he can be pried loose without giving up Tim Alderson or Madison Bumgarner. Sanchez and Pucetas, perhaps Henry Sosa, too, for Zimmerman? Please, not Jorge Cantu.
* To fill Sanchez’s spot and hedge against Noah Lowry’s health, push hard to get a veteran starting pitcher on a one-year deal. Randy Johnson would be a coup. Jamie Moyer can still pitch. The trick is finding someone who is likely to throw 150+ innings at league average and not cost an arm and a leg.
* Find a taker for Dave Roberts. Eat half his salary if need be.
That’s enough for now. More moves — such as trading Randy Winn, Aaron Rowand or Bengie Molina — can happen in the spring or at the deadline as priorities shift. One possible post-winter meeting lineup and rotation:
LF Lewis
SS Renteria
RF Winn
3B Zimmerman
1B Sandoval
CF Rowand
C Molina
2B Frandsen/Burriss
P Lincecum/Cain/Johnson/Zito/5th Starter
Bench: Schierholtz, Velez, Ishikawa
