By late tonight we'll know a bit more about fates of the remaining arbitration-eligible Giants. Of the 13 entering the off-season -- more than double the size of this year's average, according to MLB Trade Rumors -- Jonathan Sanchez, Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres have been traded. But the Giants have also acquired two, Melky Cabrera and Angel Pagan. Brian Sabean has already said publicly that either Jeff Keppinger or Mike Fontenot will be tendered a contract, but not both.
Santiago Casilla
Mike Fontenot
Jeff Keppinger
Tim Lincecum
Sergio Romo
Ramon Ramirez
Jonathan Sanchez
Pablo Sandoval
Nate Schierholtz
Andres Torres
Ryan Vogelsong
Eli Whiteside
Emmanuel Burriss
Melky Cabrera
Angel Pagan
Before the Winter Meetings, I would have bet a six-pack of tofu pups that Manny Burriss was not in the club's near-future plans, but then Sabes & Co. talked him up as having the door to a utility role wide open. Best shape of his life, of course. Been working out with Ryan Braun. OK, maybe not. It's also possible all that happy-Manny chatter last week was a last-ditch attempt to pump up his trade value before he's non-tendered, but if that thought crosses the mind of a doofus like me, I don't think it's going to fool anyone who runs a baseball team as a full-time job. So I'll assume the Giants are serious about Burriss, who has yet to show the ability to hit a ball more than 250 feet. If Burriss becomes Freddy Sanchez's main backup, the Giants could spend much of the year with a keystone combo of Burriss and Brandon Crawford, which would be one of the best defensive middle infields in San Francisco since Jose Uribe and Robby Thompson but one of the worst offensive middle infields since Johnny LeMaster and Rob Andrews. (At least Burriss wouldn't describe a ground ball through his legs as God's will.)
If I had to guess about one out-of-the-blue move today, it might be a trade of Nate Schierholtz. No particular reason, just the sense that the Giants will never, ever give him a full-time gig, and that his value might be at its peak right now after more great D and the flash of timely power he showed in 2011.
But the big one is the Keppinger-Fontenot Decision, which sounds like a failed World War I strategy. I want Font, but with all the public posturing about the need for a right-handed infield bat, I'm worried the line will not hold. Aux barricades, les citoyens!
Santiago Casilla
Mike Fontenot
Jeff Keppinger
Tim Lincecum
Sergio Romo
Jonathan Sanchez
Pablo Sandoval
Nate Schierholtz
Ryan Vogelsong
Eli Whiteside
Emmanuel Burriss
Melky Cabrera
Angel Pagan
Before the Winter Meetings, I would have bet a six-pack of tofu pups that Manny Burriss was not in the club's near-future plans, but then Sabes & Co. talked him up as having the door to a utility role wide open. Best shape of his life, of course. Been working out with Ryan Braun. OK, maybe not. It's also possible all that happy-Manny chatter last week was a last-ditch attempt to pump up his trade value before he's non-tendered, but if that thought crosses the mind of a doofus like me, I don't think it's going to fool anyone who runs a baseball team as a full-time job. So I'll assume the Giants are serious about Burriss, who has yet to show the ability to hit a ball more than 250 feet. If Burriss becomes Freddy Sanchez's main backup, the Giants could spend much of the year with a keystone combo of Burriss and Brandon Crawford, which would be one of the best defensive middle infields in San Francisco since Jose Uribe and Robby Thompson but one of the worst offensive middle infields since Johnny LeMaster and Rob Andrews. (At least Burriss wouldn't describe a ground ball through his legs as God's will.)
If I had to guess about one out-of-the-blue move today, it might be a trade of Nate Schierholtz. No particular reason, just the sense that the Giants will never, ever give him a full-time gig, and that his value might be at its peak right now after more great D and the flash of timely power he showed in 2011.
But the big one is the Keppinger-Fontenot Decision, which sounds like a failed World War I strategy. I want Font, but with all the public posturing about the need for a right-handed infield bat, I'm worried the line will not hold. Aux barricades, les citoyens!
