just a thought.

[sfgdood]

Not my first option by any means but just interested in what you all think. It's being reported that Hanley Ramirez will be moved to LF in Boston. That means they will be shopping Yoenis Cespedes. Any interest here?

[Rog]

I've thought about Cespedes. He hasn't been a great player, but he's indeed been a good one. There are two issues I see:

. The Giants probably don't have enough to trade for him.

. He himself will be eligible for free agency a year from now.

[rxmeister]

Cespedes seems to be wearing out his welcome very quickly wherever he goes. Boston tired of him very quickly and were even looking to move him before they signed Hanley for LF. I'd stay away unless the cost is cheap, because of the free agency. He'd certainly be cheaper than Tomas though.

[sfgdood]

Good points about the contract status but he's definitely an RBI machine and has a canon for an arm. I don't think he wore out his welcome in Oakland so much as they were desperate to get Lester for the playoffs. I don't know exactly what Boston expected of Yoenis but his numbers weren't all that much worse there. I mean they couldn't expect him to rescue that mess all by himself in just two months could they?

[rxmeister]

It wasn't that, they didn't like his attitude. He supposedly didn't listen to anyone. The quote I read was "he marches to his own drum and all the coaches hate him." That's the main reason Boston is looking to move him. There's a risk you run acquiring a bad locker room presence.

[sfgdood]

Sounds kinda like Hanley Ramirez to me

[klaiggeb]

Agree, Randy, that's exactly who he sounds like.

And one of the MANY things I like, love and admire about Sabean is that he goes and ONLY gets guys who will fit in.

Cespedes, Rameriz and others of the same ilk would not.

boly

[Rog]

I took a look at CBS Sports' list of the top 50 free agents and their salaries as projected by an agent, a GM, and by Jon Heyman. When one looks at even the 2nd-tier free agents, their salaries add up VERY quickly.

The Giants seem to have about $30 million to spend to fill three primary needs (starting pitcher, third baseman and left fielder) as well as two lesser needs (relief pitcher and right-handed hitting backup outfielder). I haven't yet been able to find a way to address all those needs and spend "only" $30 million.

The $30 million probably is a decent estimate too (although I'm hoping the Giants will increase it to acquire one or two of the Cuban players). Somewhere I came across a list that showed the money committed to Giants' players along with estimated payroll for arbitration eligible players and players who hadn't yet reached that point as $143.5 million. We had slight differences player by player, but as I look back at the list I prepared early this month, it also came out at $143.5 million.

If the Giants raise their payroll by about $20 million (around 13%), they will indeed have about $30 million to spend.

I keep trying to come up with the highly-paid player or players the Giants might trade to free up more money, and I'm having a hard time doing so without creating other needs.

This won't happen, but the Giants could sign someone like Chris Denorfia and a top free agent pitcher or two 2nd-tier hurlers. All they would have to do would be platoon Denorfia with Blanco and move Buster Posey to third base.

I think most of us would vote to do that, but the Giants say they have vetoed the idea. They should have asked us!

[Islandboagie]

I believe a good replacement in the lineup now with the loss of Sandoval would be Melky Cabrera. He's a versatile hitter, he can bat towards the top, middle or bottom of the order. It would be good insurance for when Pagan goes on the DL. The Giants should make a push for him.

[Rog]

Boagie -- I believe a good replacement in the lineup now with the loss of Sandoval would be Melky Cabrera. He's a versatile hitter, he can bat towards the top, middle or bottom of the order. It would be good insurance for when Pagan goes on the DL. The Giants should make a push for him.

Rog -- I thought Toronto's signing of Melky two years ago was one of the best signings of that off-season. I would have loved to see the Giants re-sign him, but there may have been chemistry problems.

One question about Melky is whether those chemistry problems have gone away (if they existed at all). Another is can the Giants afford to both fill their other needs and pay Melky the $56-$70 million he is projected to make over four or five years?

These free agents aren't CHEAP!

Read more: sfgiantsmessageboard.proboards.com/thread/2596/#ixzz3KC69eTvU

[sfgdood]

sorry Boagie, but Melky will NEVER be welcome in that Giants clubhouse again after what he pulled...not no way not no how. NEVER!