Free agency period

[Rog]

I read that free agency begins five days after the World Series.  Anyone know if that means five days from yesterday (which would be Friday, wouldn't it?) or five days from the potential latest ending of the World Series (November 4th, which would presumably mean free agency would begin a week from today)?

So what would make the off season  successful?  Which pitchers?  If the pitchers are slightly disappointing, could the Giants save their winter by improving in center field (where Angel Pagan will be a free agent at the end of next season)?

Would we prefer Nori Aoki's or Marlon Byrd's returning?  Someone else entirely?  Just go with Gregor Blanco or Jarrett Parker?  Maybe a platoon of Parker and Mac Williamson?   A platoon of Blanco and Perez?  How about a long shot sin Kelby Tomlinson?

Which players would we target in trade?  Which prospects or potential major league trade candidates would we be unwilling to trade?  Which would we be willing to give up if say a trade for a very good pitcher could be made?  For a center fielder?  Any players we think should be traded now before their trade value declines?

Any other positions we'd like to improve?  Where would it be most important to add depth for potential injuries?

Any international players we would be interested in?

If the Giants sign two good free agent pitchers for the rotation to go with Bumgarner and Peavy, which pitchers would we consider for the fifth starter?

[Islandboagie]

So what would make the off season successful? Which pitchers? If the pitchers are slightly disappointing, could the Giants save their winter by improving in center field (where Angel Pagan will be a free agent at the end of next season)?

Would we prefer Nori Aoki's or Marlon Byrd's returning? Someone else entirely? Just go with Gregor Blanco or Jarrett Parker? Maybe a platoon of Parker and Mac Williamson? A platoon of Blanco and Perez? How about a long shot sin Kelby Tomlinson?

Boagie- What I would prefer, and what the Giants will do are probably very different outcomes.

What I would like is for the Giants to sign Price, Greinke and Justin Upton. But that's not very likely.

What I would be content with is if they bolster their starting rotation with a top free agent pitcher (Greinke) bring back Aoki and let Bochy figure out where the other pieces fall.

What I like about this off-season opposed to the off-seasons following the other odd years is we have a farm system that has a heart beat. The young players we saw towards the end of the season leave us with a strong sense of optimism moving forward. Or at least it should.

[Rog]

What I would be content with is if they bolster their starting rotation with a top free agent pitcher (Greinke) bring back Aoki and let Bochy figure out where the other pieces fall.


Rog -- I'm pretty sure some here will be a little incredulous when I say this, but I wouldn't be happy with that. I'd certainly be fine with Greinke (although I prefer Price), but I want a 2nd-tier starter as well. I like Leake quite a bit, but there are others I would be happy with as well.

What I really want is a pitcher who will be at least comparable to Madison Bumgarner and one who will be at least comparable to Jake Peavy. That would give the Giants four pretty good starters, and I'd be happy to figure that between Cain, Heston and say Clayton Blackburn. I'd be even happier if they could find an inexpensive gamble, but I'm fine to see who among that trio wins the #5 starter job. They're all decent candidates. Cain is a good candidate, assuming he's healthy again.

I'm thrilled with catching and the infield (although I do think that some of the infielders had career years), and I'm halfway satisfied with the outfield if it can just stay healthy. The bullpen can always use fortification, but it's made up of a pretty strong mix of veterans and youngsters. It doesn't have one of the top 10 relievers in the game, but it has some very nice depth.

Getting Greinke only wouldn't be the end of the world. But I believe the Giants can afford to sign both one of the top two and also a second-tier guy. I was certainly less dissatisfied with last winter than almost anyone here, based on the realities of what I believed the money and the available starters to be. But I believe they can do better this winter, so my expectations are higher.

I believe the reality of the situation is much better this winter -- in terms of both both available money and supply.



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[Islandboagie]

Rog- I'd be happy to figure that between Cain, Heston and say Clayton Blackburn. I'd be even happier if they could find an inexpensive gamble, but I'm fine to see who among that trio wins the #5 starter job. They're all decent candidates. Cain is a good candidate, assuming he's healthy again.

Boagie- You really believe Cain will have to fight for a spot if he's healthy? It's unlike you to be unrealistic about roster moves, but you need to rethink that stance.

Bumgarner, Cain and Peavy are the 3 guaranteed starters we have for next season. Which means the Giants have two spots in the rotation to fill, one will be a free agent, and one will probably be Heston, Blackburn or Lincecum. In my opinion, if they land Greinke or Price as that free agent, I'm OK with Bochy tinkering with the rest.

[Rog]

Boagie- You really believe Cain will have to fight for a spot if he's healthy?


Rog -- No.




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[Rog]

In my opinion, if they land Greinke or Price as that free agent, I'm OK with Bochy tinkering with the rest.


Rog -- I think if the Giants sign Greinke or Price, they'll have around $15 million in annual salary still to spend. A year ago I felt they did pretty well with what they had to spend, but this year I believe they have nearly twice as much available. I think Mark is right that the Giants would have expanded last year's budget a bit if they could have landed a top target.

I'm seeing projections of lesser pitchers, but I truly think they can afford one of the top two guys plus a Leake-type.

If they choose to look ahead at the outfield, a guy like Gerardo Parra might be available at a decent price. A year from now, Angel Pagan, Gregor Blanco and Nori Aoki are each eligible for free agency. That might also be an area to shore up via trade. I'm not sure though that it's a good idea to enter an off season with three-fourths of one's top four outfielders as potential free agents.




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