Free Agency Picks Up

Over the last 48 hours, a few of the top remaining free agents have found homes. It looks like Adam Dunn will be playing in D.C. for the next 2 seasons as he signed a two-year $20 million deal with the Nationals. Bobby Abreu also found a home, signing a bargain basement one-year, $5 million deal with the Angels. With those two back-up options off of the market, it would seem that the Dodgers need Manny Ramirez now more than ever. If they loose out on ManRam, they won't have a shot at legitimately replacing him. Whatever small percentage chance the Giants had at signing Manny Ramirez has likely gone out the window now under the current circumstances. The Dodgers are going to go all out for Manny and the Giants aren't going to be ready to compete with what they'll eventually offer. My guess is that Manny returns to LA for 3 years and $65 million within the next week or so. The Giants aren't likely to guarantee Manny anymore than one year, two years tops, but would probably be open to giving 2nd and 3rd year options on a deal. Although they realistically could make a play for him, it would be smarter for the Giants to forget the Manny situation, focus on what they have, and save some of the dough for next winter. If Manny and the Dodgers have another fallout, who knows, maybe he falls onto the Giants lap for 2 years and $40 million, but they shouldn't be focusing on that. They should also be keeping in mind that Matt Holliday is going to be a free agent after the season and he's in his prime (29), is much more of an all-around player, and won't bring the circus that Manny does to ballpark every night. Save the dough and push for Holliday next winter. Holliday is getting familiar with the Bay Area playing in Oakland this season and the Giants will have about 30+ million dollars in salary coming off the books after '09. It could be a perfect match.

The Giants have had their own free agent frenzy going on over the last couple of days as well. However, theirs has been of the minor league variety. After inking Juan Uribe and Rich Aurilia to minor league deals (though Aurilia's will likely become a major league deal) over the previous 2 weeks, the Giants picked up former Angels starter, Ramon Ortiz. Ortiz didn't pitch in the bigs in 2008 and hasn't really been succesful at this level since 2002 (as all Giants fans can painfully remember). The 35-year old right hander did throw in Japan last season but didn't do too well their either. He recently shined in the Caribbean Series for the Dominican team as he threw 6 2/3 innings allowing no runs on 3 hits while striking out 5 batters in his only start in the tournement. That outing likely got him signed. I don't think Ortiz is on board to do much other than be insurance down in Fresno in case the Giants need an emergency starter or somone to make a few fill in appearances. He will have an outside shot at making the opening day roster out of the bullpen but there are about 6 others vying for the 2 open spots and it isn't likely he'll be in one of them.

The Ortiz signing could also be insurance in case the Giants deal away Noah Lowry during or after spring training. Lowry is said to be healthy and ready to go, but Brian Sabean recently made comments suggesting that the fifth starters spot is Jonathan Sanchez's to lose. Sanchez has gotten bigger and stronger this winter and the feeling arund the organization is that he's ready for big things in '09. It got thinking that maybe it will be Noah Lowry who is packing his bags and wearing different colors in 2009. Everyone assumed it would be Jonathon Sanchez who'd be dealt away when everyone got healthy, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Now, even though Lowry has proven himself as one of the better left-handed starters in the National League, his trade value is decimated and he will have to prove himself over a period of time before it's replenished. A few names that came to mind when thinking of trade targets for Lowry are Texas' Travis Metcalf and St. Louis' Chris Duncan. Both are young corner infielders (Duncan can also play the outfield), have no guaranteed role with their respective teams and have power that the Giants could sorely use. Metcalf seems to be the odd man out in Texas as they have shifted Michael Young over to third base while Chris Davis claims first and Hank Blalock DH's. The 26 year-old has been on the doorstep for a few years now, but the Rangers haven't had a spot for him. Texas always needs pitching and may consider a Metcalf for Lowry deal. Duncan could be an option at first for the Giants and give them some solid power from the left-side. He really also has no place with the Cardinals as they already has a stacked outfield and they have some guy by the name of Pujols at first. However, if Lowry shows healthy and starts throwing like he was in 2006 then he's worth more than Duncan or Metcalf, so being patient with Noah may not be a bad idea either.