Giants 2010 Top-20 Prospects: GBB Editon

The Giants have been so busy this offseason with player movement and rumors, so our prospect ranking for 2010 has been delayed a bit, but with spring training quickly approaching, I wanted to get it out there. Especially since a few of the guys off the list will be appearing in Scottsdale with the big club, and I want to make sure everyone knows a little something about players like Thomas Neal, Nick Noonan and Clayton Tanner. These are the top 20 prospects in the Giants system based on our ratings, we're not taking any other publications into consideration when making this post, this is %100 our opinion.

#1 Buster Posey, C: The 22 year-old backstop is baseball's #4 overall prospect, according to BA, and figures to play heavily into the Giants' plans in 2010. He was the minor league player of the year last year when he hit a combined .325 with 18 homers and 80 RBI and a .955 OPS split between high-A San Jose and AAA Fresno. He had 17 un-impressive at-bats with the Giants at the tail end of the year and will start the year off in Fresno to get some final refining before arriving in the big leagues for good. Best Giants positional prospect since Will Clark, and I'm expecting him to have that kind of impact on the team when he eventually arrives. Should fit right in with Joe Mauer and Matt Wieters as the top young catchers in baseball.

#2 Madison Bumgarner, SP: BA's #10 overall prospect got his feet wet in the bigs last season as well, and fared much better than Posey during his September showing. In fact, his 4 game stint that yielded a 1.80 era and 10 K's in just 10 innings of work has given the Giants the confidence to consider the 20 year-old the favorite for the open fifth starters spot. The 6'4" lefty went 12-2 with a 1.66 era, a 0.95 WHIP and 92 K's in 131 innings of work split between A and AA ball in '09. The drop off in K's were mostly due to his diminished velocity (down from 95-97 mph to 91-92 mph). However, the Giants are confident that the drop off in velocity was because of mechanical issues like throwing across the body rather than anything health wise or permanent. I'm expecting Bumgarner to win the Giants 5th starters spot out of spring and make a strong push for NL Rookie of the Year as he follows in the footsteps of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum.

#3 Thomas Neal, OF: Neal has given the Giants system a huge shot in the arm, as they've been hard-pressed to find any kind of outfield prospects with legit power, but Thomas Neal appears to be just that. He made BA's prospect of the week a few different times in '09, in route to hitting .337 with 22 bombs and 90 RBI and a 1.010 OPS. The 22 year-old brings tremendous patience in his approach, and that should really help him at higher levels, another area of development in which the Giants have lacked over the years. He'll be in Spring Training with the big club, but I'm expecting him to start off in AA Richmond, while possibly appearing in AAA Fresno before the end of the year. Depending on how he's doing, and what's going on in the Giants outfield, we could see him with the big club at some point in August or September and could definitely have a future in with the Giants and possibly as a middle-of-the-order type bat.

#4 Zack Wheeler, SP: It's tough to rank Wheeler this high based on the simple fact that he's yet to throw a pitch in his professional career, but he looks like he's going to be the Giants right-handed version of Madison Bumgarner. Throws 93 with consistency, and can touch 95-96 and was doing that as an 18 year old, so he's still go plenty of room for growth. He's got sound mechanics and really reminds me of a young John Smoltz with the way he delivers the ball to the plate. Likely slated to start the season in low-A Salem, but I expect most of the 19 year-old's work in 2010 to come in San Jose.

#5 Tommy Joseph, C/1B: Unfortunately for the Giants, they've lost their top 1st base prospect in Angel Villalona for the foreseeable future, but luckily for them, they've got Tommy Joseph to help ease that loss. The former high-school catcher will likely find himself at first base when he starts his pro career in April, and I'm expecting big time power from him. He hit 15 homers in 77 at-bats as a high-school senior, good for a rate of 1 homer per 5 at-bats. That's some raw power right there. He also showed uncanny patience for a high school hitter by walking 21 times in 98 plate appearances. I'm expecting Joseph to take off offensively once he gets comfortable at first and quickly become the Giants first-basemen of the future.

#6 Roger Kieschnick, OF: Big time power prospect hit 23 homers and drove in 110 runs for the San Jose Giants in 2010. Does strike out a bit too much, but improvement in that area should come with time. He's not quite as polished as Thomas Neal as a hitter, but the Giants envision both of them in their future outfield plans. Roger's also got baseball in his bloodline as his big brother Brooks played with the Cubs and Brewers in the 90's and early 2000's. He'll start the season in AA Richmond and could elevate as quickly as his play will allow him too!

#7 Dan Runzler, RP: Kept his era below 1.04 at all five stops he made last season including in San Francisco with the Giants (1.04 era, 11 K's in 8.2 innings). Still can be a tad wild at times, and really reminds me of Brian Wilson when he was breaking in with the Giants. He's left-handed and can get the ball upwards up 97 mph and those guys don't come around too often. I think Runzler is going to become one of the Giants premiere relief arms and should give Bruce Bochy a solid late inning option along with Jeremy Affeldt and Sergio Romo.

#8 Brandon Crawford, SS: Had kind of a Jekyll and Hyde showing in 2009, as he started the year red-hot in San Jose (.374, 6 HR, 17 RBI in 105 at-bats) then hit a wall in AA (.258 avg, .298 OPS in 392 at-bats) before finally figuring it out and leveling off. Very sound defensive player with upside in his bat, but he's got to find his stroke at the upper levels. That start in San Jose and a few spurts in AA have given me hope that he's going to figure it out. Plate discipline needs to improve though, but certainly has the chance to be a solid all-around shortstop in the future.

#9 Francisco Peguero, OF: Speedy, high-average prospect really burst onto the scene in 2009 and put himself on the Giants map by hitting a solid .340 at low-A Augusta after hitting .394 to begin the year with in Salem. He walked just 5 times in over 240 plate appearance, but the Giants are sure patience will come with experience.

#10 Nick Noonan, IF: Still hasn't had that breakout season, but at age 20, he's already got 2.5 solid pro seasons under his belt. Kind of disappointed by hitting just .259 with San Jose in 2009, but still has a ton of un-reached potential. Some compared him to a lesser powerful version of Chase Utely, but his bat isn't quite where the Giants are expecting it to be yet. I think 2010 will be a big year in terms of telling us what kind of player Noonan will become.

#11 Henry Sosa, SP: This spot is mostly based on potential, and what Sosa's shown when healthy, but he's yet to put together a full, healthy season since coming to the organization in 2006. Still showed glimpses last season, going 6-0 with a 2.36 era in 14 starts in AA. His strikeout numbers were a tad low (5.5 K/9) but his 1.19 WHIP was a positive. He could make a full-time switch to the bullpen, which could keep him healthy, but I'd love to see the 24 year-old figure things out as a starter cause he's got the potential to be right up there with Bumgarner and Wheeler if he can figure it out.

#12 Clayton Tanner, SP: I seem to like Tanner a lot more than most scouts do. He's put together two solid seasons in a row in San Jose at ages 20 and 21, and now should finally be moved up in the system after just turning 22. He's not flashy, but he's quietly gone 22-14 with a 3.33 era and 205 K's in 256 innings of work over the last 2 years. I'm very intrigued to see how he fairs in his first test above level A, but I think he's going to continue to deal and could find himself in the top-10 of the 2011 prospect list with another good year. Kind of reminds me of Noah Lowry in a way as he's really been solid in the minors, but isn't too flashy and is really flying under the radar so to speak.

#13 Rafael Rodriguez, OF: Still extremely young (won't be 18 until July) and raw, but showed some great poise in rookie ball in 2009. His power isn't quite there yet, but hit the ball wall and showed good plate discipline in his 35 games in Arizona. He's another guy who I'm excited to see in 2010 and will keep very close tabs on throughout the year as he's likely destined for low-A Salem to begin with.

#14 Ehire Adrianza, IF: Kind of the infield version of Francisco Peguero, didn't do too much offensively after being hyped up coming into the year. Still just 20 years old though, so he's got some time to put it all together still, but I'm just not sure he's ever going to have the bat to match his all-world glove.

#15 Jason Stoffel, RP: Had a solid career closing out games for the Stanford Cardinal, and very well could end up being a steal as a fourth rounder. Throws hard, and has a nice secondary pitch to compliment his fastball. I'm expecting him to climb the ladder very quickly and eventually be a contributor to the Giants bullpen.

#16 Waldis Joaquin, RP: He's one of the better relief prospects in the system and had a nice brief showing with the big club late last year. Joaquin is another guy who is getting a spring training invite and could very well find himself on the teams' opening day roster if he throws well. He's not an easy guy to hit, as he only allowed 41 hits in 64 innings of work in the minors last season and at age 23 is just now realizing his potential.

#17 Chris Dominguez, 3B: Ranked by BA as the Giants' systems top power hitter. Another guy who could end up being a steal for where he was taken, he was definitely one of my favorite picks of the draft. Not too sure about his defensive abilities, haven't heard anything positive or negative yet as I've only seen him swing the bat. If all things went well with him, I could see him turning into a Troy Glaus/Mark Reynolds type, but that's absolute best-case scenario. I'm expecting a lot out of Dominguez though, and look for him to play most of the 2010 season in A San Jose with the other hitters from the '09 draft.

#18 Darren Ford, OF: Speedy center fielder had a breakout season in 2009. Granted it was his third go-round in A ball, he still has a lot of tools that the Giants like. He's a great baserunner, who gets good jumps and can steal bases at a high percentage. He's also a very good defensive center fielder. Kind of reminds me of Rajai Davis/Michael Bourne type and showed some surprising pop last year (9 homers in 380 ab's). Should start 2010 in AA and could be in Fresno before the years done.

#19 Craig Clark, SP: The lefty did a tremendous job in '09, though he was a little advanced for his placement. He threw well at age 24-25 at a level (high-A) consisting of mostly 20-22 year old players. Still, a 16-2, 2.86 era with a 8.2 K/9 ratio cannot be ignored. Those are some gaudy numbers no matter what level your throwing at. In fact, in his 3 year minor league career, Clark is 29-9 with a 3.12 era and an 8.5 K/9 mark. I'd like to see him make the jump to AAA to start the year with in '10.

#20 Brett Pill, 1B: Entering the final phase of prospect-eligibility at 25, the year he had in 2009 can't be ignored. He hit .298 with 19 hr and 109 RBI in a league notoriously known for big ballparks and good pitching (AA's Eastern League). Reminds me a lot of Travis Ishikawa, just right-handed, and could find himself in the mix with the Giants if Aubrey Huff gets hurt or doesn't rebound from 2009. LHP Aaron King, RHP Matt Graham

Just missed: LHP Aaron King (had nice showing in 2009 in San Jose, another solid lefty, very Scott Barnes-like), RHP Matt Graham (huge potential in his right-arm, dropped a few rounds in draft because of commitment to UNC) , IF Connor Gillaspie (major dissapointment last year, but not ready to give up on him yet)

Best of the rest: RHP Jose Casilla, RHP Edwin Concepcion, 1B Brandon Belt, RHP Steve Edelfsen, LHP Eric Surkamp, OF Wendell Fairley, C Jackson Williams, RHP Kevin Pucetas, C Hector Sanchez, RHP Jorge Bucardo

"Cool Oldie of the Week"

My question for you the reader is: what is Dave staring at?

McBrayer's St.Louis Cardinals All Star Team for the Decade

I have to admit that it was kinda hard to come up with a list of the Decade's Best Cardinal Players at each position. I struggled through this but was able to iron out I think is the best of the best from 2000-2010.

Mike Matheny

I really had a hard time between Mike Matheny and Yadier Molina. For me Matheny had a slight edge due to having four Gold Gloves compared to Yadi's two. They both have superb arms in throwing out base runners. I think my final push was the fact how Matheny handled the pitchers. He indeed may have the potential to become a Manager someday.

Albert Pujols

 

Pujols is hands down the best All Decade 1B. Tino Martinez couldn't hold a candle to "The Mang"

Fernando Vina

 

Here's a player that wanted to be a Cardinal when he was playing with the Brewers. It took guts for Vina to speak out like that during his final year with Brewers. This feisty little player spent time with the Cards from 2000 to 2004. My Brazillian Father-in-Law was a loss for english words to describe his style of play. When taking him to a Cardinal game one summer, I recall him yelling "Viva Vina!" after every exciting play he made. I am not basing my decision from my father-in-law's fondness for him, its based on his skills and love of the game. Vina had racked up two gold gloves while playing for the Cardinals. He would also do anything to get on base, even getting hit by pitch to get on base. He led hit by pitch twenty eight times in 2000, that year he led in that category.

Edgar Renteria

 

Edgar Renteria had a nice six year career with the Cardinals. In 2003 and 2004 he appeared in the All Star Game. He also received two Gold Gloves in 2002 and 2003 with the Cardinals. Edgar was very consistent at his position at shortstop.

Scott Rolen

 

Scott Rolen was the Cardinals anchor at thirdbase for five years. He collected three Gold Gloves with the Cardinals from 2003-2004-2006. A very popular player among the Fans made his stay here worth while before he injury and problems with LaRussa. He also got voted in as a All-Star four times in a row. 2003-2006. My decision for Rolen was in regards to his gritty play and integrity he had while being a Cardinal.

To round off the rest I chose Ray Lankford for Left-Field. Jimmy "Baseball" Edmonds for Centerfield, thats a no brainer, and Ryan Ludwick at Right-Field.

My starting pitcher for the Decade is Chris Carpenter. This 2005 Cy Young Winner is in a class all by himself.

For Closer Jason Isringhausen wins by default. Spent seven years as the Cardinals Closer and racked up 217 Saves when playing with the Cardinals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

State of the System: Tampa Bay Rays

Quick Look

As many expected, the Rays took a slight step back in 2009. They are still in excellent position for the future, though. Tampa Bay has a strong rotation comprised solely of 20-somethings and young positional talent as well. They are in the toughest division in baseball, but the Rays will be in the thick of things for the foreseeable future. Their top 3 prospects make up one of the best triumvirates in baseball, and their system overall remains stocked. To be fair, I do think there is a significant drop after #5.

Top Prospects

Desmond Jennings, of

Age: 23 Level: Triple-A-MLB

Jennings is an elite prospect, arguably one of the top three in baseball. A premium athlete with tools similar to those of Andrew McCutchen, Jennings offers both upside and aptitude. At the plate, he is patient (11.6 BB% in 2009) and makes consistent contact. The 6-2, 180-pounder also has bat speed and more power than a typical tablesetter, but he hits a lot of ground balls and his primary offensive value will come from getting on base. He is a well above-average runner who stole 52 bases in 59 attempts last season. Jennings, a former football player at Itawamba CC, is also a standout defensive center fielder. His jumps need fine-tuning and his arm is mediocre, but his athleticism and range promise excellent potential long-term. Jennings's track record matches his tools as well. He has compiled a .305/.391/.457 career line and thrived at the upper levels of the minors. One of the only questions observers have with Jennings is his durability. He has missed time with knee, back, and shoulder injuries. Jennings may need some more reps, but he will likely develop into a star in the MLB.

Wade Davis, rhp

Age: 24 Level: MLB

Davis has been on the prospect radar seemingly forever; he's finally primed to make good on his potential. Davis, a 2004 draftee from a Florida high school, is a classic power pitcher. His lively fastball sits at 92-94 mph and his hard curveball has sharp, late bite. Davis aggressively challenges batters. He could stand to induce more ground balls, but he compensates with ample strikeouts. His strong 6-5, 220-pound frame is useful for logging a lot of innings. Detractors point out Davis's struggles to master a consistent third pitch. He tinkers with a changeup and cutter. His command wavers and he issues too many free passes. Add it all up and you have a big league-ready mid-rotation workhorse with the potential to be much more.

Jeremy Hellickson, rhp

Age: 22 Level: Triple-A-MLB

There are a wide range of opinions on Hellickson. Frankie Piliere of MLB Fanhouse thinks he is the game's 10th-best prospect, while Project Prospect Senior Scout/pitching guru Lincoln Hamilton believes his mechanics have him headed for an injury-plagued career. (For what it's worth, Hellickson's motion looks silky smooth to me.) Hellickson's track record of success is not up for debate; the Iowa native has posted a sub-3.00 FIP and a 27.7 K% in pro ball. He has simply been a batter's nightmare since Tampa Bay drafted him in 2005. Hellickson's 2009 season was his finest to date, as he decimated the upper minors to the tune of a 2.77 FIP and a 29.6 K%.

Hellickson is notable for his command and feel for pitching, but his stuff isn't shabby. He paints the corners with his 90-93 mph fastball, his high-70s curveball is an effective pitch, and his deceptive changeup improved last season to the point where it's a plus offering. He missed two months with a shoulder sprain this year, and his slight 6-0 build adds credence to the notion that durability will be an issue. Hellickson, who doubled as a shortstop in high school, does have good athletic ability and repeats his delivery. An optimistic projection would peg him as a future #2 starter, but he will have to bide his time in Triple-A while he waits for an opening in the Rays' MLB rotation. It may require a trade for him to receive an opportunity.

Reid Brignac, ss

Age: 24 Level: MLB

Brignac was an offensive-oriented player early in his career, but the Louisiana native has worked hard and is now a very steady shortstop. He was deemed the top gloveman among International League shortstops in Baseball America's 2009 Best Tools Survey. Brignac, a 6-3, 180-pound lefthanded hitter, also has above-average power for a middle infielder. His production diminished during his two seasons in Triple-A, but the Rays still envision him being an solid offensive force. Brignac is too aggressive at the dish, however, with 2.6 career whiffs for every walk. He has a lot of pre-swing hand movement as well. The 2004 draftee's career line is .281/.337/.449. An average runner, Brignac avoids ground balls while hitting a bevy of line drives and fly balls. (Examine his batted ball tendencies here). With 100 MLB PAs to his credit, Brignac is ready to occupy a backup role for Tampa Bay this year. His minimal patience will likely preclude him from becoming a star, but Brignac will be a useful player.

Matt Moore, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Low A-High A

A prolific strikeout artist, Moore is a popular pick to have a breakout 2010 campaign. Moore, a 6-2, 205-pounder drafted in 2007, flashed big-time upside in Low A in 2009, and another step forward could place him among the game's elite prospects. Moore's fastball peaks in the mid-90s and sits at 89-92 mph. His late-breaking curveball buckles knees and misses bats. Moore also incorporates a changeup, perhaps a future plus pitch. The New Mexico native paced the MiLB in Ks last season, and his career rate is an eye-popping 33.7%. Moore has a significant way to go nonetheless. He has bouts with his command and amasses enormous walk totals. Moore improved as the 2009 season progressed, but he still posted a 13.4 BB%. A potentially dominating MLB starter, Moore needs polish. He is ready to advance to the High A Florida State League.

Nick Barnese, rhp

Age: 21 Level: Low A-High A

Barnese's fastball checks in at 89-92 mph and touches 93-94. The California native is confident and goes after batters. Barnese limited his opponents to just 3 homers and recorded a 3.43 FIP last year, though his strikeout (19.7%) and walk (8.0%) rates weren't spectacular. The athletic 6-2, 170-pounder needs to hone his offspeed stuff, but both his breaking ball and changeup show plus potential. He could stand to command and mix his pitches more effectively. In short, a few more refinements will enable Barnese to make good on his mid-rotation potential. He's scheduled to move up to High A this season.

Alexander Torres, lhp

Age: 22 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

A piece in last season's Scott Kazmir trade, Torres combined for a 3.55 FIP between his two organizations. On the down side, his wildness showed with a 12.9 BB%. Torres is a confident, aggressive pitcher, but that many walks will catch up to him. His slight 5-10 frame also makes the Venezuela native a bullpen candidate. Despite those warts, I hold out hope. Torres has a low-90s fastball and a pair of sharp breaking balls, and he parlayed those offerings into a terrific 23.7 K% and 2.5 GO/AO last season. His pure arsenal and those stats alone make him an enticing prospect. Torres is closer to the majors than Barnese, but his control and chances of remaining in the rotation are poorer.

Luke Bailey, c

Age: 18 Level: none-Low A

Bailey received a $750,00 signing bonus as a 4th-rounder in the most recent draft. The Georgia high school product was slated to go even higher (he's arguably a 1st-round talent), but he blew out his elbow and had Tommy John surgery a few months before the draft. Provided he recovers fine, Bailey could be a steal. Offensively, Bailey has both hitting ability and power potential. He had a down senior year, but still projects as a strong contributor, particularly for a catcher. The 6-0, 200-pounder is a stout defender behind the plate, with a strong arm and solid hands and footwork. Bailey will need several years to develop, but he has the tools and skills to be an above-average starting catcher.

Tim Beckham, ss

Age: 19 Level: Low A-High A

I truly wonder what people's perceptions of Beckham would be if the Georgia native hadn't been the #1 overall pick in the '08 draft. Beckham had a respectable season for a teenager in the South Atlantic League (he hit .275/.328/.389), but I think he is currently overrated. Beckham was touted around draft time as an athletic shortstop who would stay at the position, play strong defense, and develop into an above-average hitter. He came out in 2009 with a thicker lower half, however, and he seems to have lost some athleticism. Beckham's range diminished, and scouts think he might have to change positions. (And, for what it's worth, he committed 43 errors last season.)

I'm not convinced Beckham will hit enough to be of use at his possible landing spots (2B, 3B, OF). Aside from the pedestrian line in his first full season, he struck out too often (21.6 K%) and didn't draw enough walks (6.3 BB%). Beckham has plus bat speed and uses the opposite field well, but I didn't see enough offensive potential to get excited when I saw him play in July. Delving into his 2009 splits, there are at least a few positive signs. Though southpaws befuddled him, Beckham seemed to suppressed by his home stadium. He hit .328/.376/.494 on the road (albeit aided by a high BABIP) compared to .226/.282/.292 at home. Perhaps some of his low numbers resulted from a lackadaisical attitude also: Beckham hit .243/.299/.399 when his team had a lead, and notched it up to .301/.344/.416 when the Hot Rods were losing. Beckham won't come close to providing the most MLB value out of the pool of players from his draft class, but he's a solid prospect.

Alexander Colome, rhp

Age: 21 Level: Short-Season-Low A

Colome's fastball ranges from 92-97 mph. The nephew of big league hurler Jesus, Alexander also owns a hard curveball and is working on a changeup to combat lefties. Colome ripped through the New York-Penn League in 2009, posting a 2.19 FIP and 31.0 K%. He made control gains as well, but it is still his biggest weakness (10.6 BB%). The lightning-armed Dominican has ace upside, but also a lot of flameout potential.

Kyle Lobstein, lhp

Age: 20 Level: Short-Season-Low A

Armed with a high-80s fastball and excellent pitchability, Lobstein is not a typical high school product. Scouts aren't enamored with his velocity or nonchalant attitude on the mound (which may just be poise), but I'm fairly optimistic about the Arizona native. Lobstein posted a 2.95 FIP and 74-23 K-BB ratio over 73 IP (300 BF) last season in the New York-Penn League. He showed a solid curveball and changeup, along with his trademark control and pitching smarts. I'm not making a comparison here, but I will posit that Mark Buehrle and others prove not everyone needs premium heat. Lobstein's 6-3, 200-pound frame might mean he'll be able to add a few ticks to his fastball, but he'll never be a hard thrower. The '08 supplemental-rounder lacks knockout stuff (and a "killer instinct", some think), but has a shot to be a quality mid-rotation starter.

Others: RHPs Jason McEachern and Alex Cobb; LHP Jake McGee; OFs Todd Glaesmann and Fernando Perez; SS Hector Guevara; 3B Matt Sweeney

Impact Talent: A

Farm System Depth: B+

2010 Breakout Prospect

Wilking Rodriguez, rhp

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Short-Season

The Rays are extremely conservative with their pitching prospects, so Rodriguez may not even reach full-season ball until 2011. His power repertoire (low- to mid-90s fastball and sharp curveball), however, makes him a candidate to breeze by low-level competition--and shoot up prospect lists. Interestingly, Rodriguez handled lefthanders much better than righthanders last season. Particularly odd is that GO/AO ratio, which was 3.40 versus lefties and 0.69 against righthanders. Rodriguez isn't imposing on the mound (6-1, 160), but the native of Venezuela is praised for his mechanics and poise. He had a successful season last year, putting up a 3.25 FIP and 4.3 K-BB ratio in his first year in the U.S. Rodriguez will work on his changeup in 2010.

Texas Rangers SOLD!

The sale price of the Texas Rangers was about $570 million, several sources tell SI.com.
The buying group led by Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan outbid former superagent Dennis Gilbert's group, which is thought to have been at about $525 million. Most previous estimates put the winning sale price around $500 million, or just slightly above that figure.
The $570 million represents a major score for Tom Hicks, who had to sell the team due to financial difficulties and leverage issues. Hicks bought the Rangers for $250 million in 1998, so he has a steep tax bill coming.
The biggest shareholders of the new team will be Dallas oil man Ray Davis plus Bob and Janice Simpson of Ft. Worth. But Greenberg and Ryan will run the team. Greenberg, a sports attorney from Pittsburgh, will run the business side of things while Ryan will remain president on the baseball operations side once they are approved as the new owners.
Hicks remains the owner until the sale is approved by MLB

Source: Jon Heyman

Rich Hill Gets an Invite

The St. Louis Cardinals have invited left-handed pitcher Rich Hill, formerly of the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, to spring training.

The 30-year-old Hill agreed to terms on a minor league contract after going 3-3 with Baltimore last season. Hill spent parts of four seasons with the Cubs from 2005-08, going 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts in 2007, and has a career mark of 21-20 with a 4.87 ERA.

He is among 17 players given non-roster invitations by the Cardinals on Tuesday. Lance Lynn, the franchise's minor league pitcher of the year, also is on the list along with catcher Robert Stock, a second-round pick in 2009.

Pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, Fla., on Feb. 17 with the first workout on Feb. 18.

Source: AP

Giants' Roster Shaping up for Spring

After the Giants inked Bengie Molina to a 1-year, $4.5 million dollar deal last week to shore up their starting catching spot, the Giants appear to have their roster set as Spring Training begins in just a few short weeks.

The one piece of news that surfaced last week, and something that could very well impact the potential opening day lineup, was that Freddy Sanchez recently went under the knife in order to clean out his shoulder. The surgery will apparently keep the 2-time all-star and former batting champion out for all of spring training and could cause him to start the regular season on the DL. The Giants are counting on Sanchez to be a huge part of their offense and anchor the top part of their order, especially since they don't have a true leadoff man, so they're going to be very cautious with his rehab. This is where that re-signing of Juan Uribe pays off so big. Instead of having to re-work their whole lineup plan and move Mark DeRosa from left field to second base, they can simply insert Uribe and keep the rest of the lineup as planned. DeRosa could get also get some looks at second, but I think the Giants are going to want to keep him in the outfield as much as possible, as they don't have a ton of outfield depth at the moment. They could have had Xavier Nady, who in my mind would have fit in perfectly with the Giants, at around $4 million for 2010 if they wanted, as he just signed a 1-year, $3.3 million deal with the Cubs. Don't be surprised to see him go to Wrigley and put up a big year, like .300, 25 homers and 90+ RBI, .850+ OPS big.

Since it appears that Sabean is no longer considering positional talent on the free agent market, it appears the only potential add for Giants from here on out would be a reliever or 2, or possibly a fifth starter. I believe Sabean as at a point in where he's not really pursuing anyone, but is probably monitoring a few guys (Chan Ho Park, Kiko Calero?) just in case they fail to find an employer in the next few weeks. I was kind of hoping the Giants would add a high-profile type starter to allow them to ease Madison Bumgarner into the mix like they're doing with Posey, but after seeing the contract the A's just singed Ben Sheets to, (1 year, $10 million guaranteed) I don't think they'd get anyone to fit their budget. Erik Bedard is still out there, but since Sheets got $10 million without pitching in 2009, Bedard is going to want a nice sum of money too, and he actually threw in 2009 and threw very well (for the parts when he was healthy). If the Giants surprise though like they did with Molina, and pull a rabbit out of their hat, imagine the potential of a Lincecum-Bedard-Cain-Sanchez-Zito fivesome? I think they'd be your NL West favorites, and with that staff, they could be the class of a wide open National League.

GBB Note: I was originally planning to do our top-prospect evaluation post today, but I've recently injured my thumb and currently have it in a splint. Unfortunately I can't type for as long as that post will take me at the moment, but I fully intend to have that up in our next post on Thursday, so be on the lookout for that.

Enough Already "State of the Union Address"

Fore score and thirty days ago the last post was made on here. It was done with the warmest of intentions and done with the thought of others in mind wishing them to have a safe and happy holiday. Since that time life for me had changed a little bit. I did not have the freedom of "free time" because my work was bogging me down with long hours and was stealing any free minutes I may have had to "blog". Then my hours changed again upon the completion of my multiple tasks thus leaving me feel very unenergetic and annoyed. So the ol' hitching post here on "E.A." was left go for a while as I began the recovery process to a better mental health awareness (like that's gonna happen). While I did manage to check out some blogs, I also wanted to take a minute and comment on some articles that seem to be a never ending battle in our hobby world.

After sitting back and seeing what has unfolded in digressing hobby news and with what TOPPS and UPPER DECK have begun to unfold from their plates have left me feeling rather...numb. UPPER DECK is in court again and admitting to more wrong doing. The Upper Deck Company imported 611,000 unauthentic Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards and is being sued by Konami. Discovery in the lawsuit revealed that employees of the Upper Deck Company, including its Chairman, Richard McWilliam, participated in a 2008 meeting in Mr. McWilliam's office, where they discussed that the cards made without authorization by Upper Deck did not look authentic enough, and where Upper Deck's chairman then shredded samples of the counterfeit cards. Jan 26th is the court date to determine what damages should be awarded and how much it will cost. Another potential problem is UPPER DECK is not releasing photos of their 2010 cards probably because... (using Richards voice- psst hey Topps: WE HAVE GUYS IN MLB UNIFORMS-HA!).

TOPPS is now again issuing patch cards that are NOT GAME USED and have failed to listen to the hobby plebs who ask them to stop making them for the sake of humanity. What is it with TOPPS and their COA on the back of their cards? Is TOPPS telling you that the 09 Tribute Babe Ruth bat card is not really a bat card but instead a seat card that was used by some baseball fan who had some pretty lethal beer farts unleashed into the wood from his sphincter? Then TOPPS gets this bright idea to release a National Chicle Baseball set and the designs looks like someone turned it into a version of "Garbage Pail Kids play baseball". Does Topps even try to make good card designs anymore? Look at this item: Ebay Item #350302731147 . Three patches and one wood? Why not all patches?

Here are some other notable complaints:

1. Sell Sheets- false advertising
2. Redemptions- all companies are guilty!
3. Coalition
4. Customer Service
5. Quality/Quantity
6. Redemptions that are out of stock and replaced with a bat boy's jersey card when your redemption was for three autographs limited to 10. This is done simply because the redemption has been referred to as "BECKETT's BOOK VALUE" according to the fine folks at customer service.
7. Brett Favre: Will he or won't he?
8. Peterson fumbling
9. Tim Tebow....Sorry but NO ONE is that innocent.
10. Lane Kiffin

More and more fakes are showing up on EBAY like it was nickel night in the Texas whore house. For example we have morons like this (http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com/2010/01/kevin-burge-threatens-legal-action.html) who know are getting squeezed for their wrongdoings and want us to back off. Excuse me but if you're doing something wrong and we have proof that your doing something wrong don't you think your gonna get busted sooner or later? KEVIN BURGE you have been identified and you know damn well what you're doing is wrong. It is our American/Canadian right to support our brothers and sisters in the hobby to watch out for people like you who seem to mislead the public in "what you're selling". It's people like you whom I've had the pleasure of busting personally for fraudulent items on more than a few occasions in the hobby business. Since EBAY has had scammers popping up quicker than a prom dress flying off on the night of the prom, do yourself a favor and educate yourself on what is legit and what isn't legit. If you don't know then ask a fellow hobby member from such forums/blogs as:

http://sportscardinfo.wordpress.com/ ask Andrew
http://www.sportscardsuncensored.com/ ask Gellman
http://waxaholic.blogspot.com/ ask Brian
http://www.freedomcardboard.com/ ask Chris
Heck ask me as I am a bit of an expert!

Please pray that the COLTS win the Super Bowl so we don't have to here, "who's dat" for the next year. It was bad enough that Cincinnati had "Who Day" so why can't the Saints be a little more original.

Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills NFL Biography

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Bruce Smith Biography, and Interesting Facts and Stories about one of NFL's greatest defensive linemen ever!

Bruce Smith was like a natural disaster waiting to happen. A tidal wave of muscle and nerve, he obliterated blockers, ball carriers and quarterbacks in his path. He was like a tornado who uprooted linemen like saplings. Fast and unforcgiving, he hit with the speed and power of a lightining bolt. Unstoppable? Ask any of his many sack victims.


As the Buffalo Bills' All Pro defensive end, Bruce Smith was one of those rare players whose very presence could change the perplextion of the game. Opposing teams designed special strategies to restrain him. Two, and sometimes three, men blocked him on every down. But like the high tide, he just kept on coming.

Bruce Smith Biography Highlights

• College All American, 1985
• Pro Bowl MVP, 1987
• NFL Defewnsive Lineman of the Year, 1987
• NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1990
• 7 Time Pro Bowl Selection
• 4 Time AFC Campion

Bruce Smith remembers seeing the quarterback's eyes, big as plums, and hearing him gasp "Oh!" a split second before smashing into him. The startled passer was the Indianapolis Colts' Jeff George in a 1990 game versus the Bills. Smith had been running roughshod over the Colts' offensive line all day. He had already crashed through to drill George for three quick sacks, but Bruce Smith was still going strong.

After George took the snap, he barely took a step before Bruce Smith was barreling in on him. Jeff George looked as if he had seen a ghost., But it was no apparition, it was a real live Bruce Smith, who buried the rookie for the fourth time in 14 minutes.

While Bruce Smith was no ghost, there was a certain supernatural quality about him. Former teamate Darryl Talley says he's witnessed the hulking defensive end perform feats that are beyond explanation, like hurling the league's best offensive tackles five yards across the field. Teams threw so many blockers at Bruce Smith that, Talley says, "it's like they're bees and Bruce has sugar on him, like he's dipped in honey."

A Bruce Smith Quote - "I just love being out there and running wild."

Bruce Smith was also, always supports his teamates. In the closing seconds of Suiper Bowl XXV against the New York Giants, kicker Scott Norwood had a chance to win the game for the Buffalo Bills, who trailed 20-19. Scott Norwood's 47 yard field goal attempt sailed wide right, and Buffalo lost. Smith was the first person to give the kicker a hug and reassure him that the Buffalo Bills had lost the game as a team.

Interesting Facts About Bruce Smith

• Bruce Smith weighed more in the 10th grade (270 lbs) than he did throughout much of his playing weight in the NFL.
• Bruce Smith was so health conscious that during a 13 hour taping of a potato chip commercial, he didn't swallow a single chip, even though the script called for him to cram a whole handful into his mouth.
• He's cried so many times while watching the movie Born Free that his teamates hummed the theme song in his ear just to get on his nerves.

State of the System: Seattle Mariners

Quick Look

Even after surrendering three prospects to acquire Cliff Lee, I like Seattle's system. The Mariners lack blue-chip prospects after their top two, but they have a nice mix of players after that who look like future contributors. GM Jack Zduriencik has done an excellent job in his year at the helm, reshaping the organization and arguably positioning the M's to be the team to beat in the AL West in 2010.

Top Prospects

Dustin Ackley, of

Age: 21 Level: none-Triple-A

Ackley rolls out of bed hitting line drives. The 2009 2nd overall pick hit over .400 every year in college, set a College World Series record for hits, and held his own against advanced pitching in the Arizona Fall League straight out of college. Ackley has strong pitch-recognition skills and a sweet lefthanded stroke designed for contact. He goes berserk when he gets in a groove. The 6-1, 185-pounder launched 22 home runs in his last season at North Carolina (and may have the pop to hit 10-15 a year at the major league level), but power is not Ackley's game. He played 1st base in college because of an arm injury, but will play the outfield as a pro. Ackley has plus speed and solid athleticism that should translate well there. He played the left side of the infield in high school, and some would like to try him at 2nd base, but he believes he'll wind up an outfielder. Ackley's value would be highest if he sticks in center, but his polished bat will be good enough to make him an above-average big leaguer anywhere. He could rise as quickly as White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham did.

Michael Saunders, of

Age: 23 Level: MLB

Saunders struggled in his first taste of the majors in 2009 (.221/.258/.279), but the Canada native still offers an intriguing blend of upside and polish. Saunders throws and runs well enough to play all three outfield positions. He flashed excellent defensive skills in his time in left field in Seattle. At 6-4, 210, the lefty batter has some raw power at the plate. He focuses getting on base, though, and his career high in home runs is 15. His career MiLB line is a maintainable .279/.364/.452. He is sound fundamentally, and can bunt and steal some bases. Saunders does fan often (24.2 K% in the minors), a byproduct of him working deep counts. Having already reached the big leagues, Saunders is now primed to develop into an above-average starting outfielder.

Nick Franklin, ss

Age: 18 Level: Short-Season-Low A

Franklin was taken in the 1st round of the '09 draft. He looked good in his pro debut and is ready to start 2010 in a full-season league. Franklin has a compact swing that allows him to hit for contact. The switch-hitter probably won't be a power threat, particularly with wood. The Florida native does project to stay up the middle, thanks to his range, hands, and instincts. He won over scouts with his performance during showcases last year, and he has speed and athleticism to go along with his gamer mentality. Some think his tools aren't overwhelming enough, but I buy into Franklin as a legitimate shortstop prospect with exciting potential.

Adam Moore, c

Age: 25 Level: MLB

An offensive-minded 6th-rounder coming out of Texas-Arlington in 2006, Moore has worked hard to make himself a more complete backstop. He steadily climbed the ladder and reached Seattle for a 24 PA cameo last year. Moore has some pop from the right side and is an above-average hitter for a catcher. He doesn't walk or strike out excessively. The 6-3, 220-pounder has an above-average arm and is a steady receiver and blocker. He lacks agility and speed, but is fine for a catcher. Moore is essentially maxed out, but he has the tools to be a solid all-around MLB catcher starting this season.

Michael Pineda, rhp

Age: 21 Level: High A-Double-A

A Dominican righty who steamrolled the Midwest League in 2008, Pineda was limited to 47 IP in 2009 because of lingering elbow issues. Pineda has fine command of a low-90s fastball and an advanced changeup. He has bulked up and his 6-5, 250 frame bodes well for durability. The problem is that his arm action is awkward and is believed to be the root of his elbow problems. Pineda is still young, but he has yet to develop a consistent breaking ball. Seattle may send him back to High A or challenge him in Double-A (I'd choose the latter). Before he reaches his high ceiling, Pineda needs to iron out his delivery, but he is one good season away from becoming one of the better pitching prospects in the game.

Alex Liddi, 3B

Age: 21 Level: High A-Double-A

Liddi, a rare Italian prospect, stumbled to a .315 wOBA as a teenager in Low A for two years. Freed from the MWL doldrums and released into the Cal League in 2009, Liddi went .345/.411/.594 with 23 homers. I remain skeptical how much of his breakout year can be attributed to pure improvement rather than the hitter's havens in which he played, but Liddi is certainly a prospect. The 6-4, 176-pounder is starting to tap into his power and some believe he will produce enough to profile at third. He likes to take pitches the other way. Liddi does, however, have an unorthodox hitting style, and he whiffs often (23.8 career K%). Despite a big frame, he is regarded as a strong defender at the hot corner. Double-A will be a strong barometer of Liddi's ultimate potential.

Carlos Triunfel, inf

Age: 19 Level: Double-A-Triple-A

Triunfel signed for $1.3 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2006. The 5-11, 205-pounder proceeded to progress rapidly, reaching High A at age 17. He lost time in 2009, however, as a fractured fibula truncated his season to 44 PAs. Triunfel's feel for hitting is still well ahead of the curve. He has strong hand-eye coordination and the bat speed to be an excellent contact hitter. Triunfel is an impatient hitter, though, with a 5.2% career walk rate. He has decent hands and a cannon arm, but his stocky frame and substandard range will push him to second or third base. Triunfel has very little present power, and does not profile well at the latter. He'll return to Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2010 in need of a broader offensive toolset.

Gabriel Noriega, ss

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

Gifted with plus range, hands, and infield actions, Noriega makes all the plays at short and gives observers reason to believe he will play shortstop in the big leagues. The native of Venezuela has some contact ability (and hit .311/.360/.456 in the Appalachian League at age 18), but he has work to do offensively. Noriega, a righthander, strikes out too often (26.2 K%) and needs to focus on getting on base. The 6-2, 170-pounder is an average runner. Likely ticketed for Low A, Noriega will be a MLBer if he hits.

Shawn Kelley, rhp

Age: 25 Level: MLB

Back in 2007, when Vanderbilt hosted the Nashville Regioanl, the #1 Commodores faced 4-seed Austin Peay in the opener. Conventional wisdom pegged the Governors as a pushover, but Vandy coach Tim Corbin opted to start his ace David Price to be safe. The move payed off, as Kelley kept his team neck-and-neck with a brilliant, 10-inning performance. Vanderbilt prevailed in a 2-1 epic, but Kelley put his name on the map.

Kelley was drafted in the 13th round that summer, and made it to Seattle as a reliever in 2009. The 6-2, 215-pounder pounds the zone with a 93 mph fastball and a plus slider. He doesn't keep the ball on the ground enough, but he posts strong strikeout rates and has good enough stuff to be a 7th- or 8th-inning reliever in the short-term and the long-term.

Steven Baron, c

Age: 19 Level: Rookie-Low A

Baron stood out as a defense-oriented high school catcher last spring. The Miami native was Seattle's supplemental 1st-round pick. Baron has a plus arm in addition to good footwork and soft hands. He may lack the strength to survive against pro pitchers, though. The 6-0, 195-pounder has holes in his swing and will never be confused with an offensive powerhouse. The Mariners are optimistic that he'll run into some homers and line drives, but Baron likely will not hit for a high average or post strong OBPs. The track record with defense-first prep catchers isn't great, but Baron shut down the running game in his pro debut and has the tools be at least a backup.

Others: RHP Daniel Cortes; LHP Mauricio Robles; OFs Greg Halman, Guillermo Pimentel, James Jones, and Ezequiel Carrera; 3Bs Mario Martinez and Matt Tuiasosopo; 1Bs Rich Poythress and Mike Carp

Impact Talent: C+

Farm System Depth: B

2010 Breakout Prospect

Julio Morban, of

Age: 17 Level: Rookie-Short-Season

A highly-touted Dominican amateur, Morban signed for $1.1 million in 2008 and got his first pro action in the Arizona League last summer. A shoulder sprain limited him to DH duty for much of the season. Morban held his own (with an encouraging .247 IsoP) and displayed a sweet lefthanded swing, but his control of the zone was nonexistent (7-49 BB-K in 165 PAs). Morban has decent athleticism and instincts (and a strong arm), so he might be able to stick in center, but his bat is his meal ticket in any case. Once he gets his feet under him and makes more adjustments, he could rocket up the Mariners' depth chart.

Michael Saunders foul ball from 2006

GBB On HotStove TV!

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be making an appearance on HotStove TV over at http://www.hotstove.com/.

On the Agenda will be the Giants off-season moves thus far, the situation regarding Tim Lincecum and arbitration, and I'm sure we'll also get into the latest news, Freddy Sanchez having surgery and likely missing all of the Spring and the early part of the season. Be sure to tune in and support yours truly and The Giants Baseball Blog! Live at 1PM Pacific Time, be there!

If you missed it, here is the video attached below:

Oakland's Desme Quits Baseball

Grant Desme, a 23-year-old outfielder coming off a strong season in the A's system, has apparently retired to go become a priest. That's the most shocking prospect news I've heard in a while. Desme swatted 31 homers and stole 40 bases between Low A and High A in 2009. The 2007 draftee from Cal Poly had major contact issues to address (26.8 K%), but he was still a decent prospect (I ranked him 7th in the organization).

The best takes on the situation: "Well, somebody's church softball team is gonna get WAY WAY better soon" --Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus. "I know he was hoping to get the call, but I don't think this is what the A's had in mind" --Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com.

Top 30 Prospects

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and MiLB.com recently invited readers to submit their personal prospect rankings as a precursor to the release of Mayo's own list (which comes out next week). I was already in the process of compiling my list, so I jumped at the chance. The list is available here. I will release my final, extended version later in the spring, but this gives some insight into how I stack up the elite prospects. Let me know what you think!

Ankiel Signs With Royals

Longtime St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel does not appear to be a candidate for the fourth outfield spot.

General manager John Mozeliak said during the recent Winter Warm-Up that Ankiel is seeking a full-time job and the Cardinals are set with Matt Holliday in left, Colby Rasmus in center and Ryan Ludwick in right.

Ankiel was converted to an everyday player in 2007 and hit .231 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 372 at-bats last year.

Mozeliak said the 30-year-old Ankiel still has holes in his swing. He added it would be tough to get Ankiel enough at-bats to satisfy the player under the current scenario.

Jim Edmonds, who didn't play last year, is among those under consideration for extra outfield spots.

Source: AP

Bengie Returns, Arbitration Begins

In a move that really came out of nowhere, Brian Sabean and the Giants have re-signed Bengie Molina to a one-year, $4.5 million to return to San Francisco for the 2010 season. Molina rejected a better offer from the Mets to return to the Giants, apparently showing who he thinks has the better chance to win in 2010.

Earlier in the offseason, Brian Sabean made it clear that the Giants wouldn't be entertaining the idea of bringing Molina back, which made me really scratch my head when I heard the news. I thought KNBR must had made a mistake, but it wasn't the case. With the way the market has shaped up, and the wacky contracts that have been given out to mediocre catchers (2 year deals to guys like Pudge Rodriguez and Jason Kendal), plans obviously changed. The catching market wasn't very lucrative to begin with, and the only other starting catcher options outside of Molina were Rod Barajas and Yorvit Torrealba. Molina is knows the Giants pitching staff inside and out, and will provide more offensively than both Torrealba and Barajas, and I think those were the two factors that ultimately pushed Sabean's hand. Molina was the best option left on the market as far as catchers go, and will enable the Giants to ease Buster Posey into mix rather than throwing him into the fire. Although I was really excited to see Buster Posey get significant playing time early in the 2010 season, I certainly see the logic in bringing Molina back. They obviously feel Posey isn't ready to handle the full load, and judging by what he showed at the end of '09, he really isn't. I don't love this signing by any stretch, but like the others this offseason, I can't really complain about the terms of it. All things considered, the Giants are a stronger team than they were at the beginning of the day, and that's the most important thing.

The Giants also have begun arbitration cases with their eligible players. Sabean did avoid arbitration with Jonathan Sanchez by signing him to a $2.1 million deal for 2010, which I think is a very fair deal for both parties. Now Sabean can turn his focus to Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson. Lincecum's party submitted a figure in the neighborhood of $13 million while the Giants countered with $8 million. I'm actually a little surprised the Giants didn't offer at least $10 million, but I think Lincecum will still end up getting closer to the $13 million he requested than what the Giants offered. It looks like he's going to indeed break the arbitration record of $10 million set by Ryan Howard. I think the Giants should just give him the $13 million and keep "The Franchise" happy cause he's worth about double that to the Giants anyway. The Giants and Brian Wilson were much closer in their case. Wilson submitted a $4.85 million request and the Giants submitted an even $4 million. I'd guess the Giants will go ahead and give him $4.5 or so for next season. And with these moves, it looks like the Giants' offseason work could be winding up. They've finally got the catching question answered, and unless they have a right-fielder or a number five starter fall into their lap in the next couple weeks, I think they're pretty much done, outside of possibly adding another reliever to the mix.

Coming Soon: Be on the lookout for GBB's 2010 Giants Top-20 prospect list!

Ludwick Signs For One Year

Outfielder Ryan Ludwick and the St. Louis Cardinals have avoided arbitration for a second straight season, agreeing to a US$5.45 million, one-year contract.The 31-year-old Ludwick hit .265 with 22 homers and 97 RBIs last season for the Cardinals. He agreed to a $3.7 million one-year deal last February after becoming an All-Star for the first time in 2008.
Second baseman Skip Schumaker, who is arbitration eligible for the first time, said Sunday that he and the Cardinals were close on a contract.
Ludwick batted .323 with runners in scoring position with 27 two-out RBIs, one behind team leader Albert Pujols, and had nine outfield assists with only one error.

Source: AP

Eric Byrnes Wants to Play in SF

Spring Training reporting dates are exactly one month away, and most teams are putting their final touches on their rosters, while the remaining free agents start to accept lower offers than what they were seeking when the offseason began (see Adam LaRoche) to ensure they'll be employed in 2010.

One player who just became a free-agent after being released by the Diamondbacks is Northern California native Eric Byrnes. I think Sabean would be open to adding another outfielder on his terms, and I could definitely see Byrnes fitting into Sabeans plan. Not too mention Byrnes has made it crystal clear that he would love to be a Giant, he lives in the area during he offseason and has an outstanding relationship with the Giants flagship radio station, KNBR 680. Baseball wise,Byrnes is coming off of a couple injury plagued seasons for the D-Backs, as he's hit just .214 with 14 home runs, 54 RBI and a measly .655 OPS in '08-'09 combined. A broken hand cost him 2 1/2 months in '09, and when he returned, the D-Backs were out of contention and playing younger players like Gerardo Parra. I don't think all of Byrnes struggles over the last 2 seasons can be attributed solely to injury, because when he was healthy, he didn't look very good either. That said, he's just 2 seasons removed from a 26 homer, 50 stolen base season, and at age 33, he's still probably got a rebound and few good years left in him. The good thing about his situation, is that any team that might want to add him, only has to pay him the league minimum, as he'll collect 11 million from the D-Backs in 2010. Because of that, he's no somewhat intriguing for a lot of teams.

As far as the Giants are concerned, they still could be in the market for another outfielder, even after adding Aubrey Huff and penciling in Mark DeRosa for left field. As they sit now, they have Aaron Rowand, Mark DeRosa and Nate Schieholtz starting across the outfield. Schierholtz is the one guy who they could potentialy replace if someone like Xavier Nady or Jermaine Dye (just because I know Sabean would be interested in him at the right price) fall onto their lap in the waning moments of the offseason, but Byrnes wouldn't fit that bill. Where Bynres does fit is in the 4th outfield role. The Giants will have Eugenio Velez, Andres Torres and Jon Bowker all battling it out for the 4th and possibly 5th outfield spots and Byrnes could joining the battle. I like Velez as a utility guy, and think Torres and Bowker are more than serviceable AAA outfielders who can come up and fill in at times in the big leagues, but none of these guys have, the term Brian Sabean uses so often, "much of a track record". Eric Byrnes has a track record and a pretty good one to boot. I would see the logic in offering Byrnes on a minor league invite, and having him battle it out with the guys I mentioned for a bench spot. Byrnes has the flexibility to play all 3 outfield positions well and outside of Torres in center field, I think he's better defensively than those 3 guys. Since he's so interested in playing here, and would probably gladly except a minor league invite, I don't see why Sabean wouldn't want him in camp with the Giants next month. It would be a scenario in which the Giants would add some insurance for Nate Schierholtz in right, while still allowing Nate to be the everyday right fielder. Byrnes could also spell Rowand in center, and when he's on he'd probably be the Giants best leadoff option when he plays.

So, all in all, bringing in Eric Byrnes on a spring training invite, allowing him a chance to make the team, really could end up a steal much like the Juan Uribe signing was last spring. If he continues to struggle like he's done the last 2 years, then you let him go and it costs you absolutely nothing. Even in that case he'd still give you a nice clubhouse presence and a positive influence on the younger players during spring training. If he makes the team, and regains some of that '06-'07 form, then the Giants get themselves a heckuva 4th outfielder for the league minimum, who could spell Nate Schierholtz vs. left-handed pitching. Heck, if he regained his 2007 form, he'd probably be the teams best outfielder. Not a bad gamble if you ask me.