Giants Offseason News: Angel Villalona Receives Approval For Work Visa, Expected At Spring Training

There are a multitude of questions surrounding one-time top San Francisco Giants prospect Angel Villalona, but for now at least one of them has been cleared up.

According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News, reports that the U.S. Immigration Service has approved Villalona's application for a work visa and the first baseman is expected at spring training in Arizona on Feb. 23.

Five years ago, the Giants signed a 16-year-old Dominican Republic native to a contract that included a $2.1 million signing bonus, which set a new record for the Giants in signing an international free agent. There were a couple years when Villalona was pegged as the top prospect in the organization. That all changed in 2009, when Villalona was charged with murder in his home country. The charges have since been dropped and Villalona has returned to the Giants organization.

Now, Villalona is set to return to the U.S. for the first time since September, 2009.

For all news and information regarding the San Francisco Giants, please visit McCovey Chronicles.

Justin Christian Designated For Assignment By San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have designated Bay Area native and current outfielder Justin Christian for assignment, needing to make room on the 40-man roster for Ryan Theriot and Guillermo Mota.

Christian, 31 batted .255 (12-for-47) over 18 games with the Giants towards the end of last season after hitting a very respectable .294/.376/.459 between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Fresno.

Christian does have some speed and is proficient enough with the glove to play all three outfield positions. He turns 32 in April and likely could find himself somewhere else if he slips through waivers.

Here is Giants Insider Andrew Baggarly on Twitter:

Tough day for Bay Area guy Justin Christian. He just attended FanFest last weekend. Bet he had a blast. Today, he’s off the roster.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) February 8, 2012

Best of luck Justin, wouldn’t mind seeing you in Fresno next season.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the San Francisco Giants, make sure you check out McCovey Chronicles and get in on the action.

Andrew Baggarly Joins Comcast SportsNet Bay Area As San Francisco Giants Insider

San Francisco Giants Offseason 2012: Angel Pagan Likes San Francisco [Video]

With Spring Training only a few weeks away the San Francisco Giants are gearing up to head the Scottsdale to start their 2012 campaign, but not before a stop in the city by the Bay this plast weekend for San Francisco Giants Media Day and San Francisco Giants FanFest 2012.

CSN Bay Area's Amy G caught up with one of the newest of Giants, outfield Angel Pagan, where Pagan described how much he likes being here and what he hopes to accomplish in 2012:

Pagan will be a big spark plug for the Giants offense this season, let's hope he can deal defensively in the vast reaches of AT&T Park.

For up to the minute news update and in depth discussion and analyisis of everything Black and Orange, make sure you head on over to McCovey Chronicles, the most dedicated Giants blog on the entire interwebs today. For more on the game of baseball in general, make sure you mosey on over to SB Nation's dedicated Major League Baseball Hub.

San Francisco Giants Offseason 2012: Freddy Sanchez Discusses Rehab [Video]

With the excitement of Spring Training beginning to build, the San Francisco Giants are readying themselves for what hopefully will be a fruitful 201 season extending long into October and maybe even November.

Veteran second baseman Freddy Sanchez has been working out and rehabbing his injured shoulder all offseason long, and took some time last Friday to talk about what it takes to get prepared to play on Opening Day, and what it's been like during this offseason

Freddy is going to be a key cog of the offense and defense for the Giants next season, so getting him back healthy is a top priority.

For up to the minute news update and in depth discussion and analyisis of everything Black and Orange, make sure you head on over to McCovey Chronicles, the most dedicated Giants blog on the entire interwebs today. For more on the game of baseball in general, make sure you mosey on over to SB Nation's dedicated Major League Baseball Hub.

San Francisco Giants News: Buster Posey Recovering Well, Unsure Of Reaction Once Games Begin

The San Francisco Giants will rely heavily on Buster Posey in 2012 to carry the load on offense, which is a scary thought considering the young catcher basically had his entire ankle reconstructed about eight months ago. Fortunately for manager Bruce Bochy and the other Giants, Posey is reportedly feeling much better and is working out at a high level.

While just about everyone in baseball feels good at the beginning of February, it remains to be seen how Posey's ankle reacts once the games begin. According to Andrew Baggarly of Mercury News, even the catcher himself is anxious and unsure of what will transpire once Spring Training and the regular season arrive.

The Giants need Posey for more than his leadership or his ability behind the plate. Sure, they missed those attributes after he tore three ankle ligaments and fractured his leg in a home-plate collision May 25. But their worst-in-the-majors offense missed his cleanup-hitting presence most of all.

That's why manager Bruce Bochy and G.M. Brian Sabean already are talking about playing Posey at first base at least once a week, and possibly more, to keep his bat in the lineup. They don't expect to have a gauge on his durability as a catcher until the end of the spring.

And as for if Posey and the training staff have done their part to get as healthy and strong as possible?

"The work's been done," Sabean said. "(Trainer Dave) Groeschner has been pleased with where they are. But we'll be very conscious and diligent about what his schedule will be gamewise. At the finish line is to get him ready to be the opening-day catcher and then to figure from there how many games he can catch."

"But that will evolve as we see the workload and what that ankle can tolerate. Because everything he does is weight bearing, whether it's shifting or throwing or blocking."

It sounds like all of the work has been put in for Posey to be successful, but we simply will not know his prognosis going forward until the rigors of being a catcher catch up to him.

(Posey) is confident. But he is not foolish. There is so much uncertainty as he moves forward, knowing there are sure to be adjustments along the way.

"I try my best not to think about it," he said. "I think the main thing for me is I'm going to enjoy playing. I'm excited to be around the guys again and excited just to have the opportunity to play again. I saw how quickly it can be taken away, so I'm going to enjoy the game as much as I can."

Spring Training is less than three weeks away and the regular season will be here before you know it. Posey's health will undoubtably be the biggest storyline for the Giants throughout most of the season and their success will depend heavily on his production.

For more on Posey and the team, head on over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Media Day 2012: News and Notes on Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval and More

San Francisco Giants Media Day took place this Friday on the eve of FanFast 2012, and there were some news of note from beat writers Hank Schulman and Andrew Baggarly:

Schulman reports that from speaking with both Bruce Bochy and Pablo Sandoval himself that Pablo isn't in the shape that he was in last winter, with differentiating reports saying gains of 10 to 25 pounds. Much of that may be muscle by Boch noted "He's got a few pounds to work out before spring training."

Speaking of weight, Tim Lincecum lost 20 pounds during the offseason after gaining mass last season for 'durability.' Obviously he didn't like it and is back to his 'fighting' weight around 175 lbs. He allegedly got upwards of 197 lbs. this offseason. Baggarly reports that Timmy's two-year deal is where he and the team "found the most common ground," and expects conversations down the line to possibly buy out his free agent years.

As for Matt Cain and his contract talks, Cain played in close to the chest, making sure not to tip his hand one way or another:

"We've talked ... and it's a process," Cain said. "We'll see what's going to happen. We're definitely here for this year."

Talks of a hometown discount have swirled about, but Cain is also aware of the millions of extra dollars that could await him in free agency. Still, Cain wants to be with a winner and feels the Giants are determined to be one:

"I've been with the Giants for 10 years," he said. "And they've always been motivated to put a winning team on the field. The main philosophy is, `Let's put a good starting rotation and pitching staff together.' In my mind, that's true."

As for the lineup, Bochy noted that he will do some tinkering down in Scottsdale but Melky Cabrera could likely be there leadoff hitter with Angel Pagan batting third and Pablo fifth. Either Cabrera of Pagan could fit the bill at the leadoff spot, and expects both to start in the outfield with Nate Schierholtz the third, playing a corner spot.

Brian Wilson backed off his lifting routines and is doing more baseball activities and cardio/flexibility exercises, dropping about 10 lbs. to around 195 lbs.

Brian Sabean noted Barry Zito's fifth spot in the rotation is his to lose, and that Aubrey Huff and Brandon Belt will compete for playing time without incumbency. Huff's reportedly been doing lots of Pilates and no drinking down in Arizona to get into shape enough to play the outfield if need be, and hopefully improve on his poor performance from 2011.

Finally, Brett Pill was supposed to play in the Mexican winter league this offseason, but had a stress fracture in his hip that kept him to R&R for most of the winter. He is reportedly good to go now.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

CSN Bay Area Announces Wide-Ranging San Francisco Giants Coverage For 2012 Season

Ryan Theriot Will Compete With Brandon Crawford, Emmanuel Burriss For Shortstop Position

Even though newly acquired Ryan Theriot has a lot more experience in the big leagues than Brandon Crawford on the San Francisco Giants, that doesn’t necessarily put Theriot ahead of Crawford on the depth chart per se.

Per Hank Schulman on Twitter:

Crawford remains the staring SS going into camp, I’m told. Fontenot, Theriot and Burriss all competing for backup jobs.

— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) January 27, 2012

Crawford is a really, really good defensemen, definitely ahead of Theriot in that regard, but the fact the Bruce Bochy loves veterans and Theriot has a rather high OBP (.344 career) could be playing in his favor., I wouldn’t doubt seeing Crawford on the pine and Theriot in the starting lineup come opening day if he has himself a decent Spring Training this season.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of everything San Francisco Giants make sure to check out McCovey Chronicles to show off your fanhood.

Clay Hensley, San Francisco Giants Agree To One-Year Deal

According to the San Jose Mercury News the San Francisco Giants and right handed reliever Clay Hensley have agreed to a one-year contract for the base salary of $750,000, with the possibility of another $300,000 in playing incentives and possible awards.

The deal is pending a clean bill of health from the physical exam.

Hensley, 32, owns a career 24-29 record, including a a 3.94 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in six seasons in the league with the both the San Diego Padres and the now Miami Marlins. He was non-tendered by the Fish in December after posting a 5.19 ERA and 46/30 K/BB ratio in 67 2/3 innings for them in 2011.

Most Giants fans will remember Hensley as the pitcher who gave up Barry Bonds’ 755th home run in San Diego, tying Hank Aaron’s record. I know I will, I was there. But that’s neither here nor there. He can hopefully turn it around a bit with the Black and Orange.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Ryan Theriot, San Francisco Giants Agree To One Year Deal, According to Report

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the San Francisco Giants and veteran infielder Ryan Theriot have agreed to a one-year deal, giving the Black and Orange another veteran infield option along with Mike Fontenot and Freddy Sanchez.

Per Jon Heyman on Twitter.

theriot gets $1.25M from #SFGiants plus 750 grand in incentives

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 27, 2012

As you can see, the Giants didn’t overpay Theriot, 32, who won a World Series ring with the Cardinals last season. He’ll round out the payroll to right around the $130 million the team had decided on, and gives them options with youngsters Brandon Crawford and Emmanuel Burriss, while replacing Jeff Keppinger who signed with the Rays.

Theriot is a lifetime .282 hitter, with a .344 OBP. He won’t be raking many out of th park, but gets on base rather well and will fit in nicely in a clubhouse with other LSU alumni like Mike Fontenot and Brian Wilson.

Along with the Cardinals, he’s also spent time with the Cubs and Dodgers.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

AT&T Park Leading The Way In Green Sporting Venues

Tim Lincecum Contract: Without Long-Term Deal, San Francisco Giants Could Soon Be Without 'The Freak'

Looks like Tim Lincecum will be sticking around for another two years, though some Giants fans may not have wanted to hear that exactly.

Giants Offseason: Giants, Tim Lincecum Avoid Arbitration, Come To Verbal Agreement, According To Reports

More: Impact and Implications of Lincecum Signing

The San Francisco Giants have come to a verbal agreement with ace pitcher Tim Lincecum on a deal that will pay him $54 million over final three arbitration years, according to CBS' Jon Heyman. That total is $22 million more than Cole Hamels.

The agreement allows Lincecum to avoid arbitration where he was asking for $21.5 million and the Giants were offering $17 million. The deal is for 2 years and $40.5 million with a $500K bonus, $18 million this year and $22 million next year, according to a tweet from the San Francisco Chronicle's Hank Schulman. Looks like Lincecum could be declared the unofficial victor of the negotiations.

But he's proven to be worth all of it.

Lincecum has grown into one of the best pitchers in all of baseball after being taken with the 10^th pick in the 2006 amateur draft. He is a four-time All-Star and a two-time Cy Young award winner who has compiled a record of 69-41 with a 2.98 ERA.

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain Contract Update: Talks Ongoing With San Francisco Giants

With exactly less than a month before the start of Spring Training, the San Francisco Giants continue their contract discussions with both Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, though each have their own unique perspective on their contract situations.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, Timmy decline a five-year $100 million dollar proposal from the Giants, only to retort with a tens of millions more.

With things they way they are now, a two-year deal seems the most likely. Lincecum request of a record $21.5 million in arbitration, which the Giants countered with a record breaker of their own, $17 million. That would put Timmy in the low $40 million range for a two-year deal if they two sides can avoid arbitration, which runs Feb 1-21 in St. Petersburg Florida.

With Timmy likely keeping his free agent years without a long term contract, Heyman notes that he could break the contract record books if he performs like he did since he’s entered the league:

Industry experts suggest that if Lincecum could put together two more years like his first four that two years from now as a free agent he could possibly become the game’s first $200-million pitcher.

As for Cain, Heyman believes he is much more likely to take another team-friendly deal to stay with the Black and Orange, staying under the $20 million a year earmark for a long-term contract. Obviously Cain is out for the stability and consistency he’s had with the team that brought him up, while Timmy seems content to offer his services to whomever the highest bidder might be.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants Agree On One-Year Deal

According to multiple sources, the San Francisco Giants and right-handed reliever Sergio Romo have agreed upon a new one-year contract to keep him with the Black and Orange for at least another year.

The terms of the contract weren't available, but seeing that Romo requesting $1.75 million and was offered $1.3 million from the Giants on Tuesday, the $1.5 million range would seem logical. The other-other beard in the bullpen posted a 1.50 ERA and 70/5 K/BB ratio across 48 innings last season. The specialist kept right handed batters to a .150 batting average last year and a .177 on-base percentage. He'll likely be the set-up man for Brian Wilson once again next season.

With almost all of the arbitration eligible players taken care of now by the Giants, they can focus on trying to rangle Tim Lincecum before hitting the arbitration table.

For more news and notes on the Giants offseason, make sure you check out McCovey Chronicles to get in on the discussion.

San Francisco Giants Spring Training 2012: Gary Brown, Joe Panik Amongst Non-Roster Invitees

As the San Francisco Giants prep for Spring Training down in Arizona in less than a month, general manager Brian Sabean announced on Wednesday the 25 non-roster invitees they will have down at Scottsdale Stadium this Spring.

Amongst the 25 invitees include a veritable who’s-who of the Giants farm system, from minor-league stud Gary Brown all the way down to the Black and Orange’s 2011 first-round pick Joe Panik.

Below is the entire list, separated by position:

Right-handed pitchers: Jake Dunning, Justin Fitzgerald, Austin Fleet, Stephen Harrold, Heath Hembree, Andrew Kown, Mitch Lively, Shane Loux, Jean Machi, Seth Rosin and Shawn Sanford.

Left-handed pitchers: Brian Burres, David Quinowski, Wilmin Rodriguez and Matt Yourkin.

Catchers: Tommy Joseph, Andrew Susac and Jackson Williams.

Infielders: Joaquin Arias, Chris Dominguez, Nick Noonan and Joe Panik.

Outfielders: Gregor Blanco, Gary Brown, and Juan Perez.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chroniclesto get your fix.

Tim Lincecum Arbitration 2012: Giants VP Bobby Evans: 'Optimistic We'll Find Common Ground'

As the San Francisco Giants and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum begin the long and winding road down the path of arbitration, team vice president Bobby Evans took some time to talk about their situation on CSN Bay Area on Tuesday, noting nothing but optimism that the two sides can work out a deal.

The two sides exchanged figures before Tuesday’s filing deadline, in which Lincecum and the Giants both set new records for asking prices with Timmy shooting for $21.5 million and the Giants countering with $17 million, leaving Timmy’s arbitration middle ground at $19.25 million.

Arbitration talks would go on for three weeks in February if the they can’t reach a deal beforehand. Remember, the Giants avoided the negotiation table two years ago when they pulled out a two-year, $23 million deal in the 11th hour before arbitration.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of everything San Francisco Giants this offseason, make sure you head on over to McCovey Chronicles to get in on the action adn show off your fanhood.

Tim Lincecum Arbitration 2012: Timmy Asks For Record-Breaking $21.5 Million, Giants Offer $17 Million

The San Francisco Giants are down to just two players left to deal with that are arbitration eligible. One of them just so happens to be a two-time Cy Young Award winner. This complicates things.

The Giants and All-Star Tim Lincecum exchanged contract numbers Tuesday afternoon before the filing deadline, with Lincecum asking for a record $21.5 million, while the team countered with a $17 million offer of their own.

Both offers are record-setters for a player in the league less than six years, beating out the $18.5 million Derek Jeter offer from 2011 that was countered with the Yankees $14.25 offer.The Arbitration talks will take place over the course of February.

San Francisco and Lincecum narrowly avoided the negotiation table two years ago when they pulled out a two-year, $23 million deal. If they head there this time around, Lincecum’s mid-point would be $19.25 million.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Sign Nate Schierholtz To One-Year Contract

In a day chock full of signings for the San Francisco Giants, they avoided arbitration with another member of the team as outfielder Nate Schierholtz was signed to a one-year $1.3 million contract to remain with the Black and Orange.

Per Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly via Twitter:

The Giants and Nate Schierholtz agreed to a $1.3 million contract with an additional $150,000 in incentives. Reached b4 figures exchanged.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) January 17, 2012

This was Scherholtz’s first time eligible for arbitration, and made himself a simple deal to remain with his the tem he started with. Nate batted a decent .278/.326/.430 with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 2011, and showed some of his sneaky speed seven stolen bases.

Nate will vie for playing time in the outfield with newcomers Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera, but is seen as a likely candidate to be a starter this season for San Francisco.

For more on the Giants head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants Agree To Three-Year Deal

In a season full of tough news for the San Francisco Giants, Kung Fu Panda will be sticking in the Bay for awhile longer.

Pablo Sandoval has agreed to a three year, $17.15 million deal that'll keep him with the Giants through 2014. The deal lands him $3.2 million in 2012, $5.7 million in 2013, and $8.25 million in 2014 according to Andrew Baggarly. All in all, it's a relatively cheap deal for the talented Giants infielder.

Sandoval struggled in 2010 during the run of the Giants toward a World Series championship, but recovered to form in 2011, notching him his first All-Star bid. The Giants need a hitter like Sandoval to complement the excellent pitching San Francisco currently has in order to make another run at a title. And of course it's always good to have the fan favorite and the Panda hats sticking around as well.

To discuss Sandoval and the Giants, head on over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Ink Melky Cabrera, Santiago Casilla to One-Year Contracts

The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with two other key pieces of their team as newly acquired outfielder Melky Cabrera and relief pitcher Santiago Casilla were both signed to new one-year deals, according to MLB Daily Dish.

Cabrera, 27, joins the Giants in his 8th season in the big leagues, and will get $6 million for his services in 2012. The Melkman hit a very solid .305/.339/.470 with 18 dingers and 20 stolen bags last season for the Kansas City Royals, making only $1.25 million. Not a bad pay raise, no?

As for Casillia, 31, he’s getting a nice bump in pay as well by earning $2.2 million in 2012, almost a million dollars more than he made in 2011. His new contract also has around $200,000 in performance bonuses. Casilla finished the season with a 1.74 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 51 2/3 innings pitched for the Black and Orange.

Some noteable names still on the arbitration docket for the Giants: Sergio Romo, Pablo Sandoval, and of course, Tim Lincecum.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Sign Angel Pagan To One-Year, $4.85 Million Deal

The San Francisco Giants avoided arbitration with newly acquired outfielder Angel Pagan on Monday as both sides have agreed upon a one-year, $4.85 million deal according to the Associated Press's Janie McCauley.

Pagan, 30, batted .262 with seven home runs and 56 RBIs last season, taking over in center field after Carlos Beltran headed for the Giants midseason. His numbers were down from his 2010 posting of .290 BA, 11 hr and 69 RBI, but his switch-hitting abilities coupled with his speed make him a nice candidate for the lead-off spot the Giants have so desperately needed.

Pagan's deal also includes $150,000 in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for reaching plate appearance benchmarks of 550, 600 and 650 respectfully. Still, Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly had another way to look at the signing of Pagan:

Put another way, Pagan will get nearly a third of what Aaron Rowand will receive for not showing up for work every day.

— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) January 17, 2012

The Giants still have six arbitration eligible players left to deal with, including Tim Lincecum, so getting Pagan out of the way is at least one less thing to worry about for San Francisco. Lincecum and the Giants hit the negotiation table on Tuesday as both sides try to hash out some numbers in what should be a historic arbitration case for the two-time Cy Young award winner.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants 2012 Uniforms: Giants Bringing 80's Throwback Jerseys Back

Tim Lincecum Contract: No Discussions With Giants Since December, Likely Headed To Arbitration

The San Francisco Giants and representatives for two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum haven't spoken since December at the Winter meetings according to the San jose Mercury News' Andrew Baggarly, and are more than likely heading to arbitration to try and keep Timmy in Black and Orange for the long term.

Rick Thurman, Timmy's agent, told Baggarly via text message that he is 'just preparing his arbitration brief,' which is set to take place one week from today as both sides exchange terms on what they feel is a fair deal for Lincecum moving forward.

Team vice president Bobby Evans:

"With Lincecum, my expectations is there will always be discussions until there's a deal," Evans said. "There is never anything less than maximum effort on both sides to come to terms in as timely a fashion as reasonably possible. Whether it results in (an arbitration) hearing or not, you can't always control. You do the best you can to find common ground, I remain optimistic we will."

According to Baggs the Giants would like to get Timmy under a four-year deal, taking him through arbitration, as well as buy out his first two seasons of free agency. Lincecum would like either a one- or two-year deal, keeping his opens option for the future, or a proposed eight-year deal that the club has wanted no part of.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Matt Cain Contract: Talks Still Ongoing With Giants All-Star

According to the San Jose Mercury News' Andrew Baggarly, talks between the San Francisco Giants and All-Star right-hander Matt Cain are still ongoing as Spring Training approaches.

Team vice president Bobby Evans told Baggarly that dialogue between the team and Cain's representatives are "very healthy' and confirmed that they have recently spoken to one within the last few days or so.

Cain, 27, is set to make $15 million next season but will become a free agent after 2012. Cain signed a three-year, $27.5 million extension in 2010, paying him $4.25 million in 2010, $7 million in 2011 and $15 million in 2012, plus a $1 million signing bonus.

Cain was an All-Star in 2011, posting a 12-11 record with a 2.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 179 strikeouts in 33 starts for the Black and Orange.

For more news and notes on the Giants offseason, make sure to check out McCovey Chronicles to get in on the action.

Ryan Vogelsong Contract: 'No Better Place For Me Than In San Francisco'

With the news that Ryan Vogelsong has resigned with the San Francisco Giants comes a very excited Vogelsong, who’s rise within the Giants organization last season put him from castoff to All-Star in the span of one season.

Vogey certainly isn’t lacking any confidence after signing his slightly bigger than expected contract:

"The five of us connected very well," Vogelsong said. "We have that competition between us and we want to pick each other up. I definitely learned some things about pitching from all of them. I tell you what, we’ve got a good group. Ill put us up against anybody else in the league, no doubt."

And when asked about his contract, two-years $8.3 million, Vogelsong couldn’t have been more excited:

"the best of both worlds for me. The second year gives me job security and there’s no better place for me to be than in San Francisco. I obviously have a great connection with the fans there and I’m very comfortable with the manager and the coaching staff. I feel we’ll put a team on the field that can win. I enjoy living in San Francisco. To know I’ll be there for two years, and maybe three, is a perfect fit for me."

If Vogelsong can keep his numbers similar to where they were in 2011 (13-7 2.71 ERA, 139 K) he may just wind up on the All-Star team again. But that can’t necessarily be expected of him, a 34 year-old guy who’s taken a wacky route to get back to the bigs, plus hitters will have another year of experience against him. I expect him to have a solid year, but not as spectacular as 2011.

For more on the Giants, check out McCovey Chronicles.

Ryan Vogelsong Signed By San Francisco Giants To Two Year Deal

The San Francisco Giants will get at least one deal done to appease the fanbase. Ryan Vogelsong will be with the club for a few more years. According to Jon Morosi, the deal amounts to $8 million for two years plus the option, which is not at all bad value for a pitcher who could be experiencing a career resurgence. It also avoids an arbitration case which would've been hard to sort out.

Vogelsong was one of the few bright spots of a painful 2011 campaign for the Giants, finishing with an impressive 2.71 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP for the team. Vogelsong lost a couple of games because the Giants would provide him with no run support. It made sense to lock him up a little longer to try and ensure the pitching staff remained as strong as possible for the next few seasons.

So the Giants have at least one of their best pitchers back from last year's rotation. Will they now be able to have to the flexibility to try and lock up Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum to long-term deals?

To discuss Vogelsong and the Giants, head on over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Spring Training 2012: Pitchers & Catchers Report Feb. 18, Full Squad Feb. 23

The San Francisco Giants have announced the beginning of Spring Training as pitcher and catchers are to report Feb. 18 while the rest of the team to join them Feb. 23.

MLB Opening Night 2012: Giants Take On D-Backs As Part Of ESPN 5-Pack Of Games

San Francisco Giants Offseason News 2012: Buster Posey Increases Running As Part Of Rehab

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is coming along very well on his road to recovery for the 2012 season, adding things like 30- and 60-yard sprints, mild distance running and agility drills into his rehabilitation routine according to MLB.com's Chris Haft.

"We're just building him up right now. So far, so good," Head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said.

Pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale in just over a month on February 18, and the Giants want to make sure Buster is all the way ready to return to work next season:

"Part of it is rehab for his ankle and part of it is normal conditioning to get ready for the season," Groeschner said. "He has been lifting [lower-body weights], but he has to run to get his legs functionally strong."

Groeschner also indicated that Posey will start doing more 'baseball-specific' running soon, like running corners to prepare for running bases. Posey has already started hitting off a tee three times per week.

Buster tore ligaments in his ankle and a broke a bone in his lower leg after a home-plate collision last season, limiting him to only 45 games in 2011.

For more on the Giants offseason, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Offseason Updates: Freddy Sanchez, Buster Posey

According to mlb.com's Chris Haft, San Francisco Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez is making progress in his rehab of his dislocated right shoulder as he began hitting from a tee but still is struggling with throwing with about a month or so away from the start of spring training.

Hitting hasn't been the biggest issue, the throwing has, though he recently increased his toss length to about 75-80 feet, planning to ramp up his workouts now from three to five days a week. Nevertheless, Freddy is confident in where he is at right now:

"Obviously you want it to go easier," said Sanchez, "you still want to hurry up and rush things. But having gone through it, I know that I'm a lot further than I was last year or the year before."

As for Buster Posey, the Giants tweeted earlier on Wednesday this update about the third-year backstop:

Buster Posey,"I started back up throwing and hitting today. January is always an important month" #SFGiants

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) January 4, 2012

Everyone is getting ready for a big 2012.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Sign RHP Boof Bonser To Minor League Contract

The San Francisco Giants continued their bargain hunting this offseason with the signing of right handed pitcher Boof Bonser according to his agency Reynolds Sports on Twitter, despite the fact that he won’t even be able to pitch until this summer.

Bonser, 30, hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2010 after having Tommy John surgery earlier this year. He likely won’t be ready to pitch until at least midway through the season with his ongoing rehabilitation, which must be going well if the Giants are throwing some money his way.

Bonser owns a 5.18 ERA along with 7.2 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 416 2/3 career innings and . The team already has a rapport with Bosner as the Giants originally selected him with the 21st overall pick back in the 2000 draft. Hopefully he can get healthy and contribute somewhere within the Giants organization this season.

For more in depth discussion and analysis of the San Francisco Giants, make sure to check out McCovey Chronicles and show off your fanhood.

Tim Lincecum Contract Extension: Giants, Lincecum Still 'Far Apart' In Contract Talks

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports the San Francisco Giants and their All-Star ace Tim Lincecum are still a ways away in discussions to sign the two-time Cy Young winner to a long tern deal in San Francisco.

Heyman notes that talks have gone on this winter, but are not in the same ballpark as apparently multiple years and millions of dollars separate each side's respective offers.

The Giants are said to have offered an upgraded proposal of the four years and $80MM they said this past summer Lincecum is believed to be looking for around an eight-year deal according to Heyman, though one and two-year options are likely also on the table. But with a 13-14 record in 2011 largely due to the anemic offense, the Giants will likely have to prove to Timmy that the Bay is a place worth staying for his career with some improved offense.

The Giants control the 27 year old Lincecum through 2013, where he could fetch up to around $25 million through arbitration, something the team obviously would like to avoid.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Carlos Beltran To St. Louis Cardinals Could Limit San Francisco Giants Offense

With Albert Pujols departing the St. Louis Cardinals for the San Francisco Giants, the Cardinals needed to replenish the bats this season. So Carlos Beltran became a natural target. He was a free agent with a history of knocking the baseball out of the park, and he was represented by the same agent as Pujols, so the connections became obvious.

The Cardinals eventually agreed on a two-year deal worth $26 million, which is a pretty good deal given the hitting power that Beltran can still produce at 35 years old. Although it'll be impossible to replace Pujols's hitting power, Beltran can definitely come in and play at multiple positions and provide another additional bat to make the Cardinals potent.

The Giants on the other hand, are left scratching their heads. They've now essentially given up a pretty solid prospect in Zack Wheeler for a few months of Beltran, which resulted in no playoff berth. San Francisco is down to only Pablo Sandoval as a great hitter in their lineup, since no one really knows how well Buster Posey or Freddy Sanchez will recover from injury. It's puzzling San Francisco didn't even bother to pursue Beltran, and we'll see if they rue that decision in the months to come.

To discuss Beltran to the Cardinals, head to Viva El Birdos. To discuss Beltran leaving the Giants, go to McCovey Chronicles.

Scott Cousins Speaks Out For First Time Since Buster Posey Injury

Miami Marlins outfielder Scott Cousins has been very quiet in the media after a collision with San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey at home plate in late May ended his 2011 season.

But Cousins will be on MLB TV’s Hot Stove Wednesday evening (2:30, 4:30 PT), and CSN Bay Area got a hold of some of the transcript.

On Posey telling Bob Costas this July that he didn’t have the chance to talk with Cousins since the collision:
"Maybe he didn’t. I don’t know what he was up to. He was very busy, I know that. He was trying to get his leg fixed and he was on the verge of having twins, I know that, so maybe he didn’t have the chance. Maybe he still doesn’t have the chance. I don’t know. That’s up to him."

Don’t think Buster was in any mood to talk then, but I believe both men have grown from it and are past it, as proof in Cousin’s comments about Brian Sabean:

On Giants GM Brian Sabean saying after the game that Cousins tried to be a hero:
"It hurt, I’m not gonna lie. It’s my hometown. The Giants were the team I grew up watching and wanted to play for but … people sometimes in the heat of the moment say things that they regret."

"We talked a little bit and he expressed to me that he regretted the things he had said on-air and that we were all gonna move forward. And that, that meant a lot to me, that he reached out to me to explain himself."

And what of his eventual return to AT&T? Cousins is optimistic about the situation:

On what it will be like during his next game at AT&T Park:
Who knows? I anticipate a lot of boos but hopefully Buster Posey’s catching and I can give him a pat on the back and let him know "You know, I’m happy for you that you made your comeback and that you’re doing so well." That’s what I hope and that’s what I anticipate.

USF Don’s baseball coach Nino Giarratano, where Cousins played his college ball, said that "deep down in his core I don’t think Scott’s ever gonna be past it … but I think he’s learned how to deal with it so that he could be successful as a human being."

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Re-Sign Eli Whiteside To Minor League Contract

According to NBC Hardball Talk’s Aaron Gleeman the San Francisco Giants have re-signed backup catcher Eli Whiteside to a minor league contract, just days after non-tendering him to avoid arbitration.

By non-tendering Whiteside the Giants dodged having to pay him around $750,000 through arbitration, and will now sign him to a minimum contract of $480,000.

Whiteside saw a big jump in his playing time once Buster Posey went down in late May, and generated only a .197/.264/.574 stat line in 213 plate appearances. He also played through elbow problems for most of the season, affecting his throwing abilities and causing him to have an injection of enriched blood earlier in the offseason.

While healthy, Whitey does provide as an admirable backstop. But with Chris Stewart and Hector Sanchez in line as backup catchers as well, there will be a lot of competition this spring down is Scottsdale for No. 2 on the depth chart.

For more on the Giants, make sure to check out McCovey Chronicles.

VIDEO: Giants Fan Bryan Stow Speaks On Camera For First Time Since Dodger Stadium Incident

Buster Posey Injury: Joe Torre Does Not Expect Rule Change For Catchers

The injury Buster Posey sustained this past season with the San Francisco Giants was one of the more horrid injuries of recent years. As more and more catchers do their part to block the plate and in-turn stop a run from scoring, teams around the league are seeing their backstops get hurt more than they ever have.

Many fans around the game have suggested a rule change that would protect catchers from oncoming base runners. The hope would be to keep them on the field longer and off the disabled list, which is appealing for every club in the league. Despite the interest in an amendment to the rule book, Joe Torre, who oversees the umpires around the league, does not see it happening:

Torre heard out Giants manager Bruce Bochy in several phone calls last season but declined to recommend that the rules committee take up the matter.

"Well, listen, I knew it was more emotional than anything else," Torre said last week. "None of us like to see that. But I really haven't heard anything that would encourage me to change anything or recommend a change. Being a catcher for a lot of years, I knew what the consequences were."

While there may be no immediate resolution to change up the rules, Torre did mention he would keep an open mind on the situation:

"We'll continue to listen," Torre said. "I'll listen to anything that makes sense, and you know if it comes from people like them (Bochy and GM Brian Sabean), they always make a lot of sense. So I'll listen."

What do you think should happen? There is no denying that there is a legitimate concern with catchers getting injured in collisions, but a lot would have to happen in order for a rule change to be made. 

For more on the Giants, head on over to McCovey Chronicles.  

San Francisco Giants Sign Mike Fontenot To One Year Deal, Non-Tender Jeff Keppinger, Eli Whiteside

The San Francisco Giants roster for the 2012 campaign is starting to take shape as the team announced on Monday the signing on infielder Mike Fontenot to a one-year deal, while non-tendering infielder Jeff Keppinger and backup catcher Eli Whiteside, per CSNbayarea.com.

Fontenot, 31, played in 85 games for the Black and Orange in 2011, hitting .227 with an OBP of .304, along with 21 RBI and 4 homers. He may not be as prolific with the bat as Keppinger (Kep hit .255 in 56 games with the Giants, a career .281 hitter) but his range with the glove is far superior, likely one of the main selling points on keeping Fontenot and dropping Keppinger. Keppinger likely won’t remain on the market long.

As for Eli Whiteside, he simply wasn’t cutting it. His sore elbow kept him from making strong throws for most of the season, and his .197 batting average was the worst of his career while seeing the most plate appearances in hi career. Hopefully he can find a suitor out there.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Offseason Updates: Could The Giants Have To Part With Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain?

San Francisco Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly had some details about both Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain's contract talks with the team, and how it could eventually lead to one of them leaving the Black and Orange. 

According to Baggs, the team's contract extension talks with Matt Cain will likely have a  'benchmark' set around the six-year $99 million contract that C.J. Wilson reportedly left on the table in Miami. the Giants plan is to have him locked up before spring training begins, and will be as aggressive as the have to be. Cain is set to make a big pay day though, which some folks feel could be very hefty indeed:

 "Cain is younger and better than Wilson," an industry source tells Baggarly.  "He'd get $150 million on the open market."

Baggarly would also mention that "the feeling around the league" is that the Giants will eventually have to part ways with one of either Cain or Tim Lincecum, something Brian Sabean has sworn he's trying to avoid. 

Lincecum could stand to get upwards of $20 million in arbitration according to some sources. His agent, Rick Thurman, could even file for $25 million plus when the Lincecum and the Giants meet for arbitration talks Jan. 18.

Jon Heyman noted that Lincecum was looking for a eight-year contract a few days ago, which Baggarly confirms could have "opt-out language" included. The Giants do not have a policy against opt-out clauses, though they would likely prefer a shorter term contract than eight years. They may be left with few options; either sign 'em both for a lot of dough or watch one of them walk. 

"The Giants' preference is to sign Timmy long term," Thurman said. "They know where we stand on the issues. Nothing has really changed on our end. Our talks would have to progress further down the line to advance it to more of a long-term negotiation."    

One would think the team would prefer Lincecum over Cain, though the value Timmy could bring in a trade would likely be higher that Cain. Tough to even think about, and definitely not a reality yet. But it could happen. 

Hopefully they can get them both to stay, likely with some offensive upgrades to be made for the team to be more appetizing over the next few seasons. The fans want them both to stick around, the question will be can the number all line up?

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Offseason Updates: Cody Ross, Jeff Keppinger, Mike Fontenot,Guillermo Mota, Eli Whiteside

San Francisco Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly has been busy at the 2011 Winter Meetings down in Dallas, pumping out news and information faster that you can say J.P. Arencibia. 

According to Baggs, the Giants are tapped out on making any more moves, as they've essentially reached the end of the line with their budget.  Guillermo Mota has two guaranteed one-year offers to chose from the Giants, and will likely sign soon. They also never even attempted an offer to Carlos Beltran or Cody Ross, much to the chagrin of the Boss:  

"The Giants were definitely my No.1 choice, I was looking at any possible scenario, any way, anyhow. Give them a hometown discount, whatever to help their payroll. But they would not commit to more than a year. It's sad because I really wanted to come back. They never made me an offer."

Cody, like Andres Torres, will forever be held with great esteem with the fanbase, but it was time to make a change. 

Speaking of making a change, the Giants have to make a decision between tendering a contract to Mike Fontenot of Jeff Keppinger by Monday's deadline, and the choice won't be easy: 

"Being brutally honest, we pretty much got to the top of the budget, it's down to Keppinger or Fontenot as the extra man." said Sabean.    

Either would do well as an extra utility infielder, Fontenot's range is a bit better in the field but Keppinger puts the ball in play a lot more than Fontenot at the plate, so it's going to be a tough choice and will likely come down to splitting hairs on who will cost less money. 

Finally, backup catcher Eli Whiteside had an arthroscopic procedure done recently in which he had enriched blood injected into his right elbow. Whiteside injured the elbow way back in the spring and dealt with it all year, likely affecting his throwing throughout the season. Tough guy that Eli is.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.  

2011 MLB Free Agents: Giants Reportedly Will Not Attempt To Re-Sign Carlos Beltran, Cody Ross

According to the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea on Twitter, the San Francisco Giants will reportedly not attempt to re-sign either Carlos Beltran or Cody Ross, leaving them both out on the open market without their former team bidding on them. 

(We know what you meant John. )

Shea tweeted this quote from Sabean on the matter: 

"Simply put, with Ross, we could never get on the same page. And Beltran, we knew it was going to be a stretch." 

Sabean would also mention that re-signing Beltran would have "weakened them in other areas"  and that they never got "deep into it" with his camp with negotiations. Both Beltran and Ross should garner some decent action out on the market (obviously Beltran will get more) though it hasn't sparked up just yet. I'd expect both of them to take a little while before they land somewhere else. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

2011 Winter Meetings: Bruce Bochy Reacts To Angel Pagan Signing, Reflects on Andres Torres

Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly is at the 2011 MLB Winter Meetings, and had some time to speak with skipper Bruce Bochy about a number of topics, including his reaction to the signing of Angel Pagan and his feelings on letting go of the lovable Andres Torres. 

Bochy spoke highly of Pagan, especially about his power hitting potential: 

"A catalyst-type player, can do a lot of things with the bat, dangerous when he's on base, has speed in the outfield, a switch hitter ... and he has some pop that will surprise you."

He would go on to mention that he could even have more pop than their recent acquisition Melky Cabrera, and that his speed will make up for his possible defensive shortcomings (10 errors in '11) and gobble up a lot of possible hits. 

One player Giants fans had gotten used to seeing do just that was Andres Torres, who unfortunately has to pack his bags for the Big Apple after getting traded to the Mets. Bochy had a heartfelt phone conversation with him earlier Wednesday, and had nothing but great things to say about the man:

"What a joy he was to be around," Bochy said. "He was one of those guys who never had a bad day. He always enjoys being around people and he's so thankful for everything that's happened to him in his career.

"He got emotional. He was very thankful. At first, he was fine, then ... he couldn't talk anymore."

I know many a fan will hate to see the biggest-little Giant go, and I certainly am one of them. Nevertheless, everything has it's time, and this was it for the Giants and Torres. I think Baggs summed it up perfectly:

I've always believed the players who resonate with fans are the ones who simply appreciate what they have and what they get to do for a living. They never button up a jersey without a little bit of lightness in their chest. I'm not sure I've ever covered a player who was more grateful, more genuine than Andres the Giant.    

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

2011 MLB Free Agents: Should The Giants Pursue Hanley Ramirez?

The San Francisco Giants desperately need a shortstop. Hanley Ramirez isn't happy in Miami and could possibly be traded. Is this a match made in Heaven? Not quite. In fact, almost not at all. 

First off, Hanley is one of the highest paid shortstops in the history of the game, and the rest of his contract comes with some hefty paychecks:

2012: $15.00 million. 
2013: $15.50 million. 
2014: $16.00 million. 
2015: Free Agent    

The Giants have little wiggle room with the budget they've allotted themselves already, and with them trying to lock up Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain to long term deals, the money might simply not be there. 

Second of all, Ramirez has come to have the reputation of being a bit of a 'me' player that needs an occasional attitude adjustment, while the Giants have been preaching the 'we' mentality of their team for a while now. He's unwilling to move over to third base for the Marlins, a team that could end up being ridiculously stacked next season, who knows what kind of temper-tantrums he'd throw out in the Bay.

Hanley is still a great talent in the this league, but I don't foresee him wearing the Black and Orange anytime soon (unless he somehow gets traded to the Orioles).

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

2011 Winter Meetings: San Francisco Giants Trade Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez to Mets For Angel Pagan

The San Francisco Giants have reportedly made their first move of the 2011 winter meetings as they traded outfielder Andres Torres and relief pitcher Ramon Ramirez to the New York Mets for outfielder Angel Pagan, according to Joel Sherman on Twitter.

As sad is is to see the saga on Andres Torres end in San Francisco, both him and Ramirez with arbitration eligible, and with them off the books give the Giants more wiggle room to make some other moves. 

Pagan hit a respectable .262/.322/.372 for the Mets in 2011, along with 7 homers, 56 RBI and an OPS of .694. He also stole 32 bases and brings a lot of speed to the depths of AT&T's outfield, and likely will take over as the Giants lead-off hitter. The one area of concern is his defense, committing 10 errors for New York last season. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

2011 Winter Meetings: Giants Reportedly Look To Trade Jeff Keppinger, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez

According to CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler, the San Francisco Giants are actively shopping a number of their players at this year's winter meetings in Dallas.

per Knobler on Twitter

Torres hit an unimpressive .221/.312/.330 clip this year after his burst out year in 2010 in which he sported an .823 OPS. As for Keppinger, his role as a utility guy is solid, though would have been a 'luxury' item for the Giants and his spoty defense can be suspect. Nevertheless, he will undoubtedly draw some interest around the league.  

As for Ramirez, he likely be the most sought over of the three after posting a tidy  2.62 ERA and 1.16 WHIP last year for San Francisco, along with a career 3.16 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.    

If the fish bite on any of these 'baits' the Giants could be in line to score some help at the shortstop or outfield position, maybe even both. With the free agent market the way it is right now, trades might be their best shot at getting some more talent this offseason. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

2011 Winter Meetings: Giants News and Notes For Day One

There were a lot of questions heading into the 2011 MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas this year for the San Francisco Giants, many of which had some light shed on a solution during the first day down in big D. 

First and foremost, the Giants did not place a bid on Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, as emphatically stated by GM Brian Sabean:

We did not bid on the Japanese shortstop. Did not. N-O-T. Enough said."

OK, glad that's cleared up. Now to other business:

Both Manager Bruce Bochy and Sabean feel the team is in need of a right-handed reserve infielder who could take over for Brandon Crawford instead of him facing left-handed pitching. But that market is rapidly declining in free agency as  Clint Barmes, Willie Bloomquist, Jerry Hairston Jr. already got their deals from other clubs, while Michael Cuddyer is asking for three years and $30 million, and Jimmy Rollins will probably ask the same. This leaves the Giants in a tough position when it comes to free agents:

"We could be leaning to the trade route," Sabean said.

They also noted that the window of opportunity may be closing on signing Carlos Beltran and that Cody Ross will likely not return because he wants a three year deal and the Giants will only give him a one year deal.    

"Without getting into specific dollars, we only have so much to spread. ... You have to make do with what the blueprint presents itself to be financially. That's what we're trying to do...Until we get a team on the field and start the season and score more runs, you're never comfortable with the offense we have, given what our low water mark was last year," Sabean said.

Another area the Giants are looking is for a fourth outfielder as well, which presents a multitude of options. The Giants have apparently set up a meeting with Ryan Ludwick who could be another Veteran to replace Pat Burrell in the platoon, though Andres Torres or even Gary Brown could become that person eventually. 

As for extensions for Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, the team made contact with Lincecum's camp recently but nothing more, though should continue along this winter. Even if it finally reaches arbitration, Sabean will be not be trying to trade the two-time Cy Young winner

"There's no reason to think that way, we control him for two years." Sabean said. 

As for Matt Cain, his extension talks may be a bit pressured due to the fact that he will be a free agent after net season. He's already under contract for 2012 unlike Linecum, so Timm'ys possibly arbitration comes first and will talk to Cain as soon as he's ready to do so. 

"It could go into Spring Training." Said Sabean. 

Some other quick notes: 

-Freddy Sanchez has begun a throwing regimen, the first time he's done so since back in August before his shoulder surgery. He is likely to be back 100% for Spring Training.

-Bochy said he was comfortable with Nate Schierholtz as his every day right fielder. 

-The Giants didn't' shop' Jeremy Affeldt per se, instead they sent out an e-mail to gauge offers after getting so many calls about him. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Offseason Notes 2011: Aubrey Huff Pledges To Be In Shape For 2012

During the roundtable discussion portion of the first day of the 2011 MLB Winter Meetings, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy spoke about a lot of things, one of those being veteran Aubrey Huff, and his re-commitment to his physical atributes for the 2012. 

According to Andrew Baggarly, Bochy and Huff had a running joke in which Huff was titled "Nanu, the world's greatest athlete" in reference to the movie from the 70's, but it was obvious that Huff was not pulling his weight on the field or at the plate, and now will have to shed some of it to hopefully be productive once more.

"He sent me a text the other day: `Nanu will be back,'" Bochy said.

Bochy noted that Huff will likely have to be playing a lot more outfield this season, and that Huff is preparing as such:

"He is aware (left field) is a place where he could be getting a lot of playing time. ... He's been working out every day and putting in the time like he did the first year he played for us. He told me he feels a lot better with where he's at mentally and he knows it's important that he be the player we need.

"And I'll say this about Aubrey: He took ownership of his struggles and how they were our struggles. He probably took too much of it."

Huff beat himself up pretty good over his struggles, hopefully he can return the favor to some baseball's again next season. 

2011 MLB Winter Meetings: Brian Sabean And The Giants' Quest For The Playoffs

San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean will likely be busy at this year's Winter Meetings in Dallas, TX.

San Francisco Giants Offseason News 2011: Giants Interested in Alex Gonzalez?

The San Francisco Giants are in some serious need of an upgrade at shortstop, and according to sources they are in talks with the agent of free agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez: 

Per Jim Bowden on Twitter: 

Gonzalez hit .241 with 15 homers and 56 RBI in 149 games for the Atlanta Braves last season, and would definitely be an offensive upgrade compared to Brandon Crawford, who is said to be the likely candidate as starting shortstop next season if the Giants don't search for someone else. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Offseason News 2011: Pablo Sandoval Will Not Play In Venezuela Due To Contract Negotiations

On Tuesday I mentioned that San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval will be shortening his time in the Venezuelan winter league to about a week, but in a series of Tweets on Wednesday (all in spanish) Kung Fu Panda said that he will not be playing there at all, due to contract negotiations with the Giants. 

His tweets can be found here, but here is what he said (in spanish):

La siguiente noticia es para expresar que no voy a poder participar con los Navegantes del Magallanes y en la pelota invernal organizada de Venezuela. Debido a que me encuentro en plena negociacion de mi contrato con los Gigantes de San Francisco.

A rough translation into English gives us the following (apologizes if grammatically incorrect, but you get the gist):

The following notice is to express that I will not be able to participate with the Navegantes del Magallanes (Venezuelan team) and organized winter ball in Venezuela because I am in full negotiation of my contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Hopefully Pablo's negotiations won't take too long as he plans on spending the majority of his offseason in Arizona working with Triple Threat Performance as he did last winter. He wants to be in better shape this Spring that he was before, even though he dropped around 40 pounds in the offseason last year. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.  

San Francisco Giants Offseason News 2011: Giants Looking to Trade Jeremy Affeldt Or Ramon Ramirez

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the San Francisco Giants are looking to break up their stellar bullpen and move a couple of their more expensive pieces such as Jeremy Affeldt of Ramon Ramirez to another team this offseason. 

The Giants do have a lot of cash tied up in their bullpen,  so clearing some space on the payroll is vital if they want to improve in other areas. The team already exercised Affeldt's $5 million club option back in October, while Ramirez is primed to earn over $2 million in his final year of arbitration with the Giants. Ramirez, 30, is coming off a great season with the Black and Orange and likely would be the easiest to deal, finishing his 2011 campaign with 66 appearances 2.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 26/66 BB/K ratio.

The Giants bullpen is leaps and bounds more stable then their offense right now, so trading out of the bullpen to improve it makes a lot of sense. Hopefully there will be something worth while to trade for. 

For more on the Giants offseason, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Offseason News 2011: Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford Updates

In a conference call Tuesday with San Francisco Giants General Manager Brian Sabean, skipper Bruce Bochy, and team Vice President Bobby Evans had some offseason updates for a number of Giants players, including Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford.

Kung Fu Panda is mulling over the idea of shortening his trip to Venezuela to just about a week according Sabean and team Vice President Evans. His original plan was to play 10 games in his homeland. Pablo really wants to focus in on on his offseason conditioning program with Triple Threat Performance in Arizona, the group that helped him drop upwards of 40 pounds last Winter.

Shortstop Brandon Crawford will be a 'spirited topic' according to Sabean moving forward, who was impressed with his improvement in the Arizona Fall League this year. Skipper Bruce Bochy and Sabean agreed that the Giants might have to deal with Crawford's low offensive production if they can't improve through free agency or trades, though will not name him as the starter just yet. 

As for Brandon Belt, Sabean wouldn't talk about his playing time next year, but had some nice things to say about his work in the Dominican winter league thus far. 

"He should be proud of his efforts," Sabean said. "Fewer kids want to take on winter ball. He saw the value in getting more at-bats and finishing off what he wasn't able to do because of the time he lost with the injury and somewhat (because of) the lack of performance.

Moises Alou, the GM of Belt's Dominican team Escogido, has been sending Sabean positive reports on his progress and even saw some of him on tape as well:

"I was able to watch a couple of his games on Dominican TV and video and he made a concerted effort to make some adjustments. He was playable in the outfield, although we know his best position is first base. This was a nice step for him. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Offseason 2011: GM Brian Sabean Says 'Big Splash" Free Agent Signing Unlikely, Including Carlos Beltran

Fresh off the news of getting contract extensions from the San Francisco Giants, General Manager Brian Sabean and skipper Bruce Bochy took part in a conference call Tuesday along with team Vice President Bobby Evans discussing the rest of the team's offseason plans, noting that a 'big splash' is an unlikely signing for the Black and Orange this year, including Carlos Beltran. 

Sabean, along with Bochy and Evans, mentioned that most of the money left this offseason will go to their 'gold standard' of pitching, attempting to lock up Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for the long run instead of a player like Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, or even current Giant Carlos Beltran:

"There won't be any big splash," Sabean said. "Our pitching is our gold standard. We have to make sure we take care of that commodity first."

When asked about a lower-tier star such as Jimmy Rollins to plug the hole at shortstop, Sabean wasn't very optimistic either:

"It's going to be a function of what's left in the payroll and what the price point is. A sticker shock type of play, I don't anticipate it, a household name, per se.    

Sabean said that re-signing Carlos Beltran will probably be a 'longshot' as well, though he did mention he would discuss the situation in an internal conference call later today. The prospect of playing for an AL club might be very appealing to him; a place where he could DH and likely be offered a longer-term contract than the Giants are willing to float:

"He is a consideration but term will be an issue with anybody we pursue," Sabean said. "Whether it's him or anybody else. We have a game plan with what we consider a reasonable length."

Sabean also made it clear that Lincecum and Cain will not be his focus at the winter meetings in Dallas beginning this Sunday. He is out to improve the offense, with the outfield being the area most glaring area of need in that regard. Though he did mention that another move might simply not get made:

"I think we have developed enough choices including our young players in the mix and our arbitration eligible players as far as the price point that's suitable," he said. "I think we've created enough food for thought and flexibility."    

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Bruce Bochy, Brian Sabean Get Contract Extension From Giants

For more on the Giants, visit SB Nation's McCovey Chronicles.

PHOTO: Buster Posey Plays Golf At Augusta National

Cody Ross, Pat Burrell Not Offered Arbitration From San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have a number of offseason questions to be answered, but took care of a few on Wednesday as the team will not offer arbitration to outfielders Cody Ross or Pat Burrell according to the San Francisco Chronicle's John Shea. 

Ross, 30, batted a meager .240/.325/.405 in 121 games for the Black and Orange last season, and would have earned upwards of $8 million in 2012 if offered arbitration by the Giants. The 'boss' still has a lot of ball left in him, and should be picked up quickly by another squad for 2012. 

As for Burrell, 35, he acknowledged that his playing career is likely over towards the end of the regular season, batting only .230/.352/.404 in an injury plagued 2011 campaign that he saw time in only 92 games. If he is to retire, Burrell would finish with a .253/.391/.472 carrer line in 11 years in the majors. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Bud Selig To Meet With San Francisco Giants About Potential Oakland A's Relocation

San Francisco Giants Add Angel Villalona to 40-Man Roster, Drop Darren Ford

The San Francisco Giants were one of the last teams to submit their 40-man roster before the upcoming Rule 5 draft, making a number of intersting moves along the way. Giants brass decided to protect prospect Angel Villalona, fresh off dropping his lawsuit against the Giants and being cleared of murder charges in the Dominican Republic, and designating fan favorite Darren Ford for assignment.

The Black and Orange added six players to the 40-man roster, protecting them from being swooped by other teams in the Rule 5 draft:

Charlie Culberson (2B)
Tyler Graham (OF)
Daniel Otero (P)
Hector Correa (P)
Roger Kieschnick (OF)
Angel Villalona (IF)

The addition of Villalona was a bit off a head scratcher considering he hasn’t seen action in a professional game in over two years due to his then pending murder trial and didn’t have a valid work visa. The 21 year old obviously has something that the Giants want, and they must feel that he has a lot of progress to come along with his already present natural talent.

Pitcher Waldis Joaquin joined Darren Ford on the way out, though both could potentially re-sign with the Giants if they don’t attract much interest elsewhere. Waldis was actually claimed by the White Sox last season on waivers, but decided to resign with San Francisco. More likely they will be offered contracts from other minor league affiliates that could give them another (or better) shot at making the Show.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Payroll Around $130 Million in 2012

As the San Francisco Giants are looking to lock up guys like Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum in Black and Orange for a while, they will be making a slight adjustment to their 2012 payroll, bumping it up around $6 million compared to 2011 as they try to get back to the promise land of the playoffs. 

Via Hank Schulman on Twitter: 

I'll take a cha-cha bowl or two. But I digress. 

It's staggering to think that the Giants will be spending $33 million more than they did when they won it all back in 2010, especially since most of the guys on the team then still are now. Mainly the payroll increase coincides with the spike in pay that a number of the Giants will be getting next season, not opening up the piggy bank to try and land some top-notch free agents. 

Waiting around for midseason deals worked for Brian Sabean and the Giants in the past, instead of fishing with all their bait during the offseason for the big catch. Might as well try it again in 2012. Many fans noticed how AT&T Park was full to the rafters every night, and all that Giants swag that they happened to buy during the year, didn't equate to the team being flush with cash (well, at least them letting us know that they're flush with cash). The 'rainy day' that the team is saving for is still around the corner, so if there's no use trying to land a guy like Albert Pujols or Jose Reyes, than paying the stars the Giants have is fine with me. 

For more on the Giants head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Look To Lock Up Matt Cain As Well

The name of the game for the San Francisco Giants this offseason thus far has been clear- keeping their All-Star rotation intact. The Giants already are trying to tie up Tim Lincecum to a multi-year deal, and now they are trying to do the same for Matt Cain.

From Jon Heyman via Twitter:

To use a terrible comic book analogy, Matt Cain is the Robin to Tim Lincecum's Batman, and the dynamic duo alway pack a punch when they are together. Cain's 3.35 career ERA, 1085 career strikeouts, and 1.20 career WHIP are very similar to that of Lincecum (2.98 ERA, 1187 K, 1.19 WHIP), and are arguably the most potent 1-2 punch in the game today. It's no mystery that the Giants have been successful as of late with their arms, so why change the formula now? 

The G-Men have seemed to be 'one hitter away' from being a ridiculously good team instead of a good team over the past few seasons, but still won a World Championship while doing so. Obviously Larry Baer thinks they have another competitive team for 2012, and keeping guys like Cain and Lincecum happy in Black and Orange would do wonders for the team. 

To keep up with the Giants during the offseason, check out our StoryStream. For more discussion, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Giants Sign Minor League CF Gergor Blanco

The San Francisco Giants have signed minor league outfielder Gregor Blanco to a contract, according to CSN Bay Area.

Blanco, 27, was said to have signed with San Francisco through Octagon Baseball, and likely was signed to a relatively cheap minor league deal.

Signed by Atlanta as an amateur free agent in 2000, Blanco had a terrific 2010 with the Braves and Royals. In 2010, Blanco hit .283 with a .360 OBP and 11 steals in 85 games.

Blanco spent 2011 with the Triple-A affiliates of the Nationals and Royals, where he struggled considerably at the plate. In 51 games with the Syracuse Chiefs and 23 games with the Omaha Storm Chasers, Blanco hit a sluggish .201, but still managed to steal 24 bases while carrying a most respectable .350 on-base percentage.

The Giants are seemingly stockpiling outfielders with the recent addition of Melky Cabrera as well, though Blanco likely won’t be seeing much time in the bigs in 2012, unless some sort of injury-locust takes over the team again like it did last season.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Look To Sign Tim Lincecum To Multi-Year Deal

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum is clearly the franchise player the Giants want to lock down for the next few years. He's been the face of the franchise for the past few years, and they really want to keep him around to ensure the Giants keep their hot pitching going in the right direction.

Indeed, the Giants aren't as interested in looking at marquee free agents as they are in bringing back Lincecum. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated reports.

The San Francisco Giants have been quiet so far this winter, but rather than chase free agents their biggest goal at present appears to be to lock up superstar pitcher Tim Lincecum. The Giants will make an attempt to sign the two-time Cy Young winner to a multi-year deal, according to people familiar with their thinking.

The Giants are believed interested in a deal of at least four years -- which would include two free agent years -- and perhaps more. However, Lincecum, 27, has indicated a willingness to go year-to-year. So there's far from a guarantee the Giants can repeat the recent success of their rival Dodgers, who just agreed to terms with their superstar outfielder Matt Kemp on a eight-year, $160-million deal.

To discuss Lincecum and the Giants, check out McCovey Chronicles.

No Signs Giants Thinking Of Moving Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain

There have been talks about the San Francisco Giants trying to possibly trade All-Star pitchers Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain this offseason to get some more big-time hitters in the lineup, though according to Jon Heyman, it’s not even worth asking: 

Cain, 27, is set to make $15 million in 2012 before becoming a free agent next offseason. Lincecum, also 27, could possibly make arbitration history in the near future, though he won’t hit free agency until after 2013. The two have thrown at least 200 innings apiece during the past four seasons, and only once did they post an ERA higher than 3.45 (Cain in 2008). 

I’m sure there are a number of teams in the league that would love to have a guy the caliber of Linceum or Cain in their rotation, while the Giants would undoubtedly love to have some more offensive production coming out of their lineup, but dealing either one of these guys would not be in the Giants best interest right now or even for the next few seasons altogether. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Pablo Sandoval Plans Trip Home To Venezuela Despite Wilson Ramos Kidnapping

With the heightened awareness of security issues in Venezuela with the recent kidnapping of Washington Nationals catcher and Venezuelan national Wilson Ramos, San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval still plans on returning to his native land during the offseason.

According to Andrew Baggarly, Giants officials have not asked Pablo to avoid returning to Venezuela, while Pablo himself said that he won’t even consider traveling home until the beginning of December, and his plans to do so are still unconfirmed.

The 25 year old Ramos was taken from his Mother’s home in Valencia, Venezuela by armed gunmen on Wednesday. Valencia is approximately 25 miles from Pablo’s hometown, though Pablo admits he takes extra security precautions when he travels home.

Pablo is currently is Arizona working with Triple Threat Performance, the same company he worked with last offseason to get into the best shape of his life. Pablo has vowed to enter camp this Spring even lighter and more fit than he was last year. Still, Pablo took the time to reach out to the Ramos family:

“My prayers are with Wilson Ramos’s family,” Sandoval stated from his Twitter account.

All of our’s are too.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Pat Burrell Leaning Towards Reitrement

After fighting through a painful foot injury for a majority of the 2011 season, San Francisco Giants’ veteran outfielder Pat Burrell is leaning towards retirement, though he hasn’t dropped the gavel just yet.

Burrell acknowledged the fact late in the season that retirement was a definite option if his foot couldn’t get back to full strength, though it is starting to look like his time as a player is unfortunately over. Nevertheless, his time with the Black and Orange will be one to be remembered.

The 35-year-old Burrell was picked up by the Giants mid-season in 2010 after being cut by Tampa Bay, and played an integral part in the team’s first World Series championship since moving from New York in 1958.

Pat the Bat was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Phillies in 1998, winning a World Championship with them as well. Burrell owns a career .253/.361/.472 batting line along with 976 RBIs in 1,640 games played.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Is Carlos Beltran Heading to Boston?

Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman has reported via Twitter that the San Francisco Giants are likely out of the running to resign slugger Carlos Beltran, and that the Boston Red Sox is his likely landing spot this offseason:

Perhaps the Giants are trying to reallocate money for another big time player such as Jimmy Rollins or Jose Reyes by not pursuing Beltran, who will be looking for a hefty contract from whomever wants to give it to him. Although if he's only to sign a two year deal in Boston, I would have to imagine the Giants could come up with something similar on their end and at least try to entice him to stay.

To say Melky Cabrera fixes the Giants' outfield is a gross understatement, but if they really are out of the running for Beltran's services they must be trying to make some other significant moves this winter, or use that money to keep arbitration eligible players like Tim Lincecum paid and happy with the Giants. 

Oh, and let's not forget that this is a rumor. Just saying. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Melky Cabrera Trade: Thanks for the Memories, Jonathan Sanchez

Jonathan Sanchez is no longer a San Francisco Giant, but his memory lives on.

Melky Cabrera Trade: How It Affects Carlos Beltran

The San Francisco Giants have already gone out and gotten themselves a new bat for their roster next year, but the elephant in the room remains whether or not slugger Carlos Beltran will be wearing Black and Orange in 2012.

The Giants have a litany of contracts to tie-up or tie-off, which I have listed below, though there is no bigger target for the Giants right now than Beltran. The addition of another outfielder could signal that the Giants are already trying to replace him in the lineup, or they could be trying to load the outfield with sluggers and make another World Series run next season. Either way this move is correlated to Beltran in some regard.

Beltran is undoubtedly looking for that last big contract, which he feels his new agent Dan Lozano will bring him. He also wants to play for a contender, which the Giants most certainly are, the question will be if the numbers will line up.

Hopefully they can bring him back, and still have enough to pay guys like Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain down the line as well. It’s going to be a squeeze though, let’s see what Brian Sabean has up his sleeve.

Free agents: Carlos Beltran, Cody Ross, Pat Burrell, Orlando Cabrera, Guillermo Mota, Mark De Rosa

Eligible for arbitration: Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong, Ramon Ramirez, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla, Nate Schierholtz, Andres Torres, Jeff Keppinger, Emmanuel Burriss, Mike Fontenot, Pablo Sandoval, Eli Whiteside.

Non-tender possibilities: Torres, Burriss, Fontenot, Whiteside.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles.

Melky Cabrera Trade: Giants Manager Bruce Bochy Reacts

The San Francisco Giants pulled the trigger on their first significant move of the offseason as they dealt starting pitching Jonathan Sanchez and minor leaguer Ryan Verdugo to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera. The Giants were dealing from a position of strength as their starting pitching has been excellent lately.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy discussed the trade and would not quite commit to a 2012 plan for Cabrera at this point. Cabrera has played solely the outfield throughout his career, but Bochy's decision not to specifically declare a position could open the door for another outfield acquisition.

Whether that is Coco Crisp or anybody else, the team has some time to consider additional moves to improve their offense. The Giants finished second to last in runs scored and second overall in runs allowed. It is safe to say, the time had come to deal some of that filthy pitching to improve their perpetually struggling offense. Cabrera had a career year in 2011, but it remains to be seen whether it was a one-hit wonder year, or a breakout campaign for a player who already has six seasons under his belt but is still only 27 years old.

For now, it looks like he will hit somewhere in the first or second position. If he can build on his 2011 season, he could be a significant acquisition for the Giants. Naturally the folks at McCovey Chronicles have plenty of initial knee-jerk reaction on the trade. Head over to join in the fun.

San Francisco Giants Acquire Melky Cabrera, Trade Jonathan Sanchez to Royals

Rumors were just beginning to swirl that the San Francisco Giants were willing to put starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez on the trade market. Apparently, general manager Brian Sabean had his finger on the trigger already.

According to the Kansas City Royals twitter feed amongst other sources, the San Francisco Giants have officially traded Jonathan Sanchez and minor leaguer Ryan Verdugo to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Melky Cabrera.

Coming off a injury plagued season, Sanchez went just 4-7 with 4.26 ERA along with a 66/102 BB to K ratio, and undoubtedly was seen as expendable with the emergence of Ryan Vogelsong to the starting lineup. It's always tough to let a guy go that has a no-hitter and a world series ring with the Franchise, but sometimes a fresh start is best for all.

As for Cabrera, the 27 year old Dominican Republic native,  he will likely be the Giants starting center fielder next year after batting .305/.339/.470 with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 155 games last season for the Royals. He will undoubtedly add a spark to the Giants offense, though his lack of defensive range in the expanses of the AT&T Park outfield may become an issue. But, they needed some more bats, and this was a great start. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Could Tim Lincecum Become a New York Yankee?

Buster Posey Running Corners, Will Be Ready For Spring Training

As San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey continues to improve on his road to recovery, he took another big step this week when he starting running not just straight lines, but corner routes as well, simulating the running of bases at the Giants' Arizona facilities. 

"I've been running straight, but this was the first time I tested it running corners, "I was out there turning a lot. I thought it went well. No problems."

Buster has been down in Arizona for almost two full months rehabilitating his surgically repaired lower leg, who has all but taken up the mantle as Giants starting catcher for the 2012 season. He's been catching bullpen sessions, doing strength and conditioning training, taking batting practice, and of course, the running tests to ensure he is healing properly. 

"I am anxious for that first Spring Training game, and the chance to test it out," Posey said. "All the simulated games aren't the same. You don't really know how it'll be when the adrenaline starts pumping, what kind of stress there will be on the joint. But I feel confident. I'm starting to feel pretty good, and we all have a lot to look forward to."

Buster will now head home to Georgia to have himself some kind of 'offseason' before pitchers and catchers report in early February to Scottsdale. 

For more on the Giants offseason, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

2011 MLB Free Agents: Coco Crisp's Agent Believes San Francisco Giants Are Viable Option

Major League Baseball free agency is under way and teams are officially allowed to make contact with free agents on other teams. The Oakland A's did not make any initial offers to their current free agents due to their stadium situation, which means they will begin checking out the open market. This leaves players like Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp and Hideki Matsui all likely looking for new homes in 2012.

Coco Crisp's agent, Steve Comte, believes the San Francisco Giants are a viable option for him. The folks at McCovey Chronicles fully expect this to happen and the folks at Athletics Nation are resigned to the fact that the A's are in a horrible situation when it comes to getting any deals done.

The Giants are in a position where Coco Crisp would be an excellent fit for the team at the top of their order. He still has a ton of speed and would be an excellent table-setter for a team that will regain some pop in the form of Buster Posey. The Giants have a couple other more significant holes, so it will be interesting to see if they stick with Andres Torres or try and bring in Crisp.

San Francisco Giants Legend Matty Alou Dies at 72

San Francisco Giants Free Agents: Carlos Beltran Has A New Agent

The San Francisco Giants really need some bats next season if they want to make sure they don't waste their starting pitching this season. So it's imperative they try and bring back a power bat like Carlos Beltran back. However, the big question with the Giants is whether they'll have the money to spend to bring him back.

Luckily, a change in Beltran's agent might be a positive sign for his future sticking right back in the Bay Area.

Boras is known as a guy who likes to negotiate top dollar contracts for his players, and would probably have demanded big bucks from Brian Sabean. This would've probably meant Beltran would've been gone if he was the one negotiating with the Giants.

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle believes San Francisco fans should be optimistic here.

Beltran will be 35 in April, and the Giants might need to overpay at the end of his contract for offensive help in 2012, knowing their elite pitching won't be around forever. With Beltran, Posey, Sanchez and perhaps an in-shape Aubrey Huff, the Giants could afford to play Brandon Crawford at shortstop - over a pricey Rollins, who has some interest in the Giants. And a two-year deal for center fielder Coco Crisp seems doable unless Sabean sees a comeback story in Grady Sizemore.

With that, the Giants would be back in business, and perhaps the Lozano-for-Boras transaction- knowing Boras likes to take his time in negotiations - could accelerate the process.

Beltran seemed to be interested in coming back. This could definitely be a step toward returning.

For more on the Giants, head to McCovey Chronicles.

San Francisco Giants Offseason News: Giants Re-sign Javier Lopez, Pick Up Jeremy Affeldt's Option

Only days after the World Series and the San Francisco Giants are getting busy on the offseason market. 

The team announced on Sunday that relievers Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt will be wearing Black and Orange next season, two key pieces to the dominant Giants bullpen that won it all just one year ago. 

Lopez, the left-handed, side-armed specialist signed a new two year deal worth $8.5 million, earning half ($4.25 million) in both 2012 and '13. 'The Night Train' had a tidy 2.72 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 2011, along with 40 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. His left-on-left specialty tag would lead some to believe that his price tag may have been a little high, but his quality .163 average against left handers is one of the best in the biz, and fits in well with the personel group that includes Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla. 

Let's not forget about Affeldt, who got his $5 million dollar option picked up by the Giants today as well, is another important relever that is a welcome sight returning to most Giants fans. The big lefty went 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA in  67 appearnces in 2011, along with three saves along the way. He was one of the most efficient down the stretch, giving up only three earned runs over his last 22 and 1/3 innings before an unfortunate hamburger incident cut his season a few weeks short. His 1.21 ERA after the All-Star break was seventh best amongst National League relievers with a minimum of 20 innings.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles to see what's going down during the offseason. 

Buster Posey Doing Very Well On The Road To Recovery

San Francisco Giants Offseason News, Notes: 5 Questions Before Spring Training

It was a lackluster finish to the San Francisco Giants 2011 campaign, though there is a lot to be positive about for the upcoming 2012 season. Just what can you expect from the Black and Orange next year? Well, first we must take a look at some glaring questions about their future....

1) Will the Giants sign Carlos Beltran?

I really, really hope they do, but I would not be shocked if he was somewhere else next season. The Yankees and Red Sox will undoubtedly be interest, as will any other team with a decent sized pocket book and a hope for a switch-hitting machine like Beltran. We'll have to wait and see on that one. 

2) Will Buster Posey be Healthy by Spring Training? 

He's already getting there. He's been working in Arizona since the end of the season with side bullpen sessions and getting back into the routine of being a catcher. He lost some muscle while he was out, though I doubt that will be a problem. My biggest questions is what he can bring to the plate next year, as almost six months of no baseball activities has to kill your timing. 

3) What about Freddy Sanchez? Is he coming back?

Yes, Freddy will be back and ready to go by Spring Training, but I'd still have to think they'd be trying to pick up another middle infielder this offseason. Jeff Keppinger and Mike Fontenot did well filling in, but Brandon Crawford simply isn't ready yet hitting wise for the big leagues, so look for a new face on the team next year in that department. 

4) Will the Giants Keep the Pitching Staff Intact?

Most of the starters and bullpen will likely be back next year, though two names jump out at me as possible candidates for trade. Jonathan Sanchez would be some great trade bait this offseason has is value is still high, though maybe not as much with the Giants. His injury plagued season kept him from really getting into a groove, and his high amount of walks was just unacceptable. He could be part of a deal that landed a middle infielder, or better yet, another slugger. 

5) Can the Giants Make the Playoffs Next Year?

Of course they can! They managed to stay afloat and in the race for a majority of the season despite being absolutely depleted with injuries, and if they can get power hitters like Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, and Carlos Beltran into a lineup together, with a guy like Tim Lincecum on the mound, that is a formidable team right there. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

San Francisco Giants Announce 2012 Spring Training Schedule

The San Francisco Giants have released their 2012 Spring Training schedule, with a number of intriguing games on the docket.