They call it the offseason, but in reality there isn’t an offseason in baseball, especially if you’re World Champions. The Giants brought euphoria to the Bay Area on November 1st, 2010 in winning the World Series. But their extended postseason run put them behind the majority of Major League Baseball by about a month in constructing their offseason plans. But no complaints right? A World Series title is worth more than anything else.
The Giants were in a great position this offseason because as World Champions, and with most of the starting roles already occupied, they really didn’t have much to do. They took care of their major business early, and now only have to address their arbitration-eligible players and sign a backup shortstop. Winning the World Series is great on all levels!
Let’s take a look at what the Giants have done so far this offseason:
Re-Signed 1B/OF Aubrey Huff for 2 years, $22 Million
Aubrey Huff was in my mind the Giants’ MVP last season. He was the one constant presence in the lineup from opening day, and his production went far above and beyond anyone’s expectations and the 1-year/$3 million deal the Giants gave him last year. Huff was the best free-agent signing last year considering the value of his contract. By hitting 26 HR, he became the first Giant left-handed hitter to belt more than 25 HR ever since some guy named Barry Bonds hit 28 HR in 2007. His .506 SLG and .891 OPS ranked 12th and 10th respectively in the National League, and were better than those posted by players such as Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and David Wright. His 5.7 WAR (wins above replacement) ranked 10th in the NL, ahead of Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Utley, and Hanley Ramirez. Huff came to the Giants with a terrible defensive reputation, as a player who was best suited as a DH in the American League. But not only was he willing to play first base as well as both left and right field, he was solid at all three positions, and wasn’t a defensive liability whatsoever. I remember reading an article during the summer where a longtime MLB scout was quoted as saying that Huff had turned himself into a much better all-around player.
Therefore, Huff had to come back, and kudos to the Giants’ front office for recognizing that. The $11 million annual salary is a bit high, but the two-year length is right. The Giants would have sorely missed his bat and defensive versatility if they had lost him. Also, Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle reported that Ned Colletti Dodgers were going hard after Huff, and it would have been unbelievably sad to see him donning ugly Dodger blue. Huff was clearly motivated playing on a winning team for the first time in his career, and his elevated production across the board reflected that. He should continue to be a valuable middle-of-the-order presence for the Giants over the next couple of years and his ability to play multiple positions will allow the Giants to ease top prospect Brandon Belt into the majors.
Signed SS Miguel Tejada for 1 year/$6.5 Million
The Giants wanted to bring back fan-favorite Juan Uribe, but the Dodgers snatched him with a 3-year/$20 million deal. It’s going to be tough seeing Uribe in Dodger blue, but I’m glad that the Giants didn’t break the bank to keep him. Uribe is a fine player, and the Giants would not have won the World Series without him. His 20+ HR power is a luxury for a middle-infielder and he has an unbelievable knack for coming through in the clutch (11 of his 24 HR during the regular season either tied the score or put the Giants ahead). Of course, his walk-off sacrifice fly and pennant-clinching HR against the Phillies will live forever in Giants lore. But $7 million a season is a lot of dough for a player who won’t hit above .250, doesn’t have great range in the field, and is best suited as a utility player. Last season, his batting average and OPS declined every month except for a minor uptick in September. The Dodgers will probably regret this contract.
To replace Uribe and Edgar Renteria (although he might come back for a year to be the backup SS), the Giants signed 36-year old veteran SS and former AL MVP Miguel Tejada to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million. Now, even though the contract is only for one year, I was not a fan of this move, but before I explain why, let’s look at how Tejada will help the Giants next year.
Like Aubrey Huff and Edgar Renteria, Tejada elevates his game when the stakes are higher. After starting last season in Baltimore, he was clearly reinvigorated by the midseason trade that sent him to San Diego. With the Padres, he posted a serviceable .268/.317/.413 batting line with 8 HR in 59 games. Over the past three seasons, Tejada has a .275 AVG with runners in scoring position. Tejada probably won’t supply the same power that Uribe did, but he should be good for a solid batting line of .270/.330/.420 with 12-15 HR out of the sixth slot in the lineup. Tejada, who is by all accounts a great person and leader, will also fill the void in the clubhouse among the other Hispanic players left by Uribe’s and possibly Renteria’s departure.
However, there is a lot not to like about this deal. First of all, Tejada’s age and lack of range in the field are sources of major concern. He’s simply not a serviceable shortstop anymore. Unless Pablo Sandoval morphs into a Gold-Glove caliber third baseman, the Giants are going to have one of the most porous left-sides of the infield in the National League. Brian Sabean responded to this notion by saying that the Giants have mostly fly-ball pitchers on their staff. That’s true, but for the foreseeable future, the Giants are going to be built around pitching, and the best way to support that strength is with strong defense. I have a feeling that seeing-eye groundballs that sneak their way into the outfield through the five-hole are going to be a problem for the Giants next season. Also, while Tejada doesn’t strike out much, he does hit into an awful lot of double plays, and we all got quite sick of seeing so many rallies thwarted because of the double-play ball.
I would have much rather seen the Giants trade for someone like Jason Bartlett, Marco Scutaro, or J.J. Hardy. Granted, none of them are top shortstops, but they’re younger and better all-around players. Also, acquiring one of those players would have given the Giants more security to address a long-term solution at shortstop. Many people are assuming that prospect and Bay-Area product Brandon Crawford will be ready to be the Giants’ everyday shortstop in 2012, but I’m not so sure. According to scouts, Crawford’s glove is ready for the big leagues, but his bat is not even close. His .241/.337/.375 batting line last season with 77 strikeouts in 79 games doesn’t scream “Major League Ready.” If Crawford makes the necessary adjustments at the plate and increases his offensive production, like what Brandon Belt did last season, then the Giants will be set long-term at shortstop. But that’s certainly no guarantee, and by trading for someone like Jason Bartlett, the Giants would have at least had the option of locking him up for a couple of years until Crawford or another prospect like Ehire Adrianza was ready. I have a feeling that the Giants are going to be back at square one at shortstop next offseason.
Re-Signed Mike Fontenot for 1 year/$1.5 million
Mike Fontenot turned out to be a solid acquisition for the Giants last season, and he’ll be valuable as a backup infielder that can play 2B, SS, and 3B. He also had some key hits for the Giants last September as they made their push to win the NL West.
Re-Signed Pat Burrell for 1 year/$1 million
In my mind, there were three players tied for 2nd place in the Giants’ team MVP race: Buster Posey, Brian Wilson, and Pat Burrell. The Tampa Bay Rays cut Burrell loose and the Giants picked him up for nothing. He was reborn coming back to the National League, as he posted a .266/.364/.509 batting line with 18 HR, many of them in clutch situations (particularly that 2-run HR off Jonathan Broxton in late July). He took over the everyday LF spot that was a revolving door of Mark DeRosa, John Bowker, Aubrey Huff, and even Eugenio Velez. He also brought over a swagger and a winning presence from his days on the Phillies.
It’s silly to expect Burrell to repeat his production from last year, but bringing him back on a one-year deal for peanuts was a no-brainer. If he’s not the starting left fielder, which he probably shouldn’t be, he’ll at least provide some valuable right-handed power off the bench. He obviously demonstrated that he could still hit. He’ll also be reunited with his partner-in-crime Aubrey Huff. As evidenced by this very team-friendly contract, it’s clear that Burrell wanted to be a Giant, play for the team he grew up rooting for as a kid, and be in a place where he was comfortable. It’s refreshing to see an athlete turn down better financial offers for winning and happiness.
Over the next few weeks, the Giants will announce new contracts for their arbitration-eligible players (Jonathan Sanchez, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Cody Ross, and Javier Lopez) and sign another backup infielder. But barring a major trade, or the signing of Adrian Beltre, the Giants have finished their major business for the offseason. With it’s pitching intact, a full season of Buster Posey, and hopefully a slimmer and reenergized Pablo Sandoval, the Giants will be equipped to defend their title.
