Giants could be buying short
Buster Olney
ESPN Insider
The Giants probably would not have won the World Series last season without Juan Uribe, who plugged lineup holes and positional holes throughout the 2010 season and wound up with more RBIs (85) than any teammate other than Aubrey Huff (86).
San Francisco wanted Uribe back, and the Giants were stunned when he signed with the Dodgers. In a scramble to get a veteran for the middle of their infield, the Giants signed Miguel Tejada to a one-year deal for about one-third of what they offered Uribe. Tejada wasn't their first choice at shortstop, and he may not be their last choice for a shortstop by the end of this season.
He turns 37 in May, and as he nears the end of a career that will probably net him about 2,500 career hits and at least 300 homers and a hard-earned reputation for being a strong leader, his production is in decline. His OPS since 2003:
2004: .894
2005: .864
2006: .877
2007: .799
2008: .729
2009: .795
2010: .693
Tejada is a temp, a fact that was underscored by Bruce Bochy's lineup the other day -- he slotted Tejada in the No. 8 spot, partly because the right-handed hitter is generally a free-swinger, and partly because the Giants cannot expect Tejada to generate the same kind of production he's had in the past.
If he has a resurgence this summer, if he can still play an effective shortstop, this could all be very seamless. But it's also possible that the Giants will need to be on the lookout for some kind of upgrade during the season, because San Francisco will again contend -- they are regarded by some rival evaluators as the best team in Arizona this spring -- and because Tejada has reached the stage of his career when his performance could tip for good.
Maybe the Giants would turn to Mike Fontenot, who hit .283 in 103 games last season. Or maybe, if Tejada struggles, they could go outside the organization. And there figure to be some players who become available during the season, such as:
<OFFER>
1. Jose Reyes: He is eligible for free agency in the fall and it seems unlikely that the Mets will re-sign him, and executives with other teams expect New York to market him before the July 31 trade deadline, for pitching.
2. Marco Scutaro: The Red Sox were willing to deal him during the offseason, given the ascendance of Jed Lowrie. "I think the Red Sox want Lowrie to win that job, eventually," said one rival evaluator. With a salary of $5 million this year and a player option that would pay him at least $3 million for next season, he's a little pricey for a utility infielder; for the Giants, he could be more than that in 2012, for a club option of $6 million, if he remains productive.
3. Jack Wilson: It appears he'll play second base at the outset of the year -- probably until Dustin Ackley is ready to take over -- in what is the last season of a multiyear deal Wilson signed with the Mariners. Wilson doesn't contribute much offensively -- he posted a .282 on-base percentage last year in 193 at-bats, with no homers and one steal -- but if the Giants ever decided they want a defensive upgrade over Tejada, they could make a move for Wilson, 33. Brendan Ryan will be the Mariners' shortstop.
Notables
• Kendrys Morales has had a setback because of a new injury, writes Mike DiGiovanna. From Mike's story:
• Wally The Beer Man: Not guilty.
• Either Joe Saunders has been put on notice by Arizona manager Kirk Gibson, or else Gibson is trying to light a fire under Saunders, writes Nick Piecoro.
• Luis Castillo arrived at the Phillies' camp, writes Jim Salisbury. He is not happy with the way his time with the Mets ended, writes Dan Martin.
Observations from evaluators
1. Juan Cruz, who signed with the Rays just before the start of spring training, looks excellent. Cruz had surgery early last season and seems to have recovered; during his workout before scouts, he was throwing in the low 90s, giving Tampa Bay some hope that he could be its next version of Joaquin Benoit.
2. Rickie Weeks appears to be on a mission, in the eyes of one evaluator. "He's been getting better, but I think this is the year he blossoms -- if he stays healthy," the evaluator said.
Dings and dents
1. Curtis Granderson could start the year on the disabled list.
2. Derrek Lee says he's getting better all the time.
3. Craig Breslow's hamstring was tested, as Susan Slusser writes.
4. Michael Cuddyer was back in the lineup, and productive.
5. Jake Peavy is encouraged after playing catch.
6. There is good and bad news about Frank Francisco within this Richard Griffin notebook.
Moves, deals and decisions
1. Fans are being asked to choose Troy Tulowitzki's walk-up song.
2. The Braves, working with a surplus of pitching, have been fishing around for a possible trade of Rodrigo Lopez, according to sources. Lopez is signed to a minor league deal and presumably, Atlanta's asking price won't be high, given Lopez's age and recent track record. Atlanta has been looking to move Kenshin Kawakami for months.
3. Heard this: The Mets intend to keep Rule 5 draft picks Brad Emaus and Pedro Beato.
4. Heard this yesterday morning: The Yankees have no interest in Oliver Perez.
5. The Pirates released a pitcher.
6. The Red Sox and the agent for Adrian Gonzalez had more contract talks, which are expected to result in a contract.
The Battle for Jobs
1. Looks like Will Rhymes will be the Detroit second baseman. Jim Leyland praised the players he cut.
2. Chris Getz figures to be the Royals' second baseman, and No. 2 hitter.
3. Scott Baker will be the Twins' No. 5 starter; Kevin Slowey remains on the trade block, rival officials say.
4. Two weeks into training camp, it appeared that Jesus Montero was going to be the backup to Russell Martin. Now it appears that Montero needs to go back to Triple-A to work on his defense.
5. Josh Thole is going to put his catching education to the test, writes David Waldstein.
6. Zach Britton is making his case with the Orioles.
7. Looks like Vinnie Pestano could win a job in the Cleveland bullpen, writes Paul Hoynes; Jensen Lewis was outrighted to Triple-A.
8. The Brewers need help with their rotation, and Marco Estrada looked good in his start Tuesday.
Tuesday's games
1. Joba Chamberlain was clocked at 96 mph, and said it was the best he's felt all spring.
2. John Lannan had a strong outing.
3. Cliff Lee says he's ready to get the season started, writes Paul Hagen.
4. Jemile Weeks had a really good day.
5. Mike Leake had a rough outing, and in general has had a tough spring.
6. Ricky Romero threw great.
Other stuff
• Don Zimmer's career has stretched to a 63rd year, writes Tom Zucco.
• The trustee in any bankruptcy case holds a lot of power, as the Mets' owners have learned first-hand, writes Richard Sandomir.
<INLINE1>
• This should be a year in which the Nationals take a big step forward in their clubhouse. A lot of that will depend on Jayson Werth, the highest-paid player on the team; if he buys in and works to change the culture, there will be a shift. If he's on an island and effectively declines the chance to lead, Washington has much less of a chance to evolve.
• Pat Neshek felt he owed his fans a tweet after he was claimed on waivers by the Padres, writes Dan Hayes.
• The St. Louis pitchers have work to do this spring, says Tony La Russa.
• The Rangers' relief has become a confusing problem, writes Gil LeBreton.
• Jeff Allison, the former No. 1 pick who has battled addiction, got a day in the sun.
• Todd Helton doesn't mind seeing others in the spotlight, writes Jim Armstrong.
• The Cubs' search for a center fielder has them looking at a former Villanova football player, writes Phil Rogers.
• Clayton Kershaw's maturity level continues to rise.
• Craig Hansen is almost two years since last pitching in a major league game, as Colin Dunlap writes.
• The Dodgers are not hitting this spring, but coach Jeff Pentland is not worried, writes Dylan Hernandez.
• Sean Rodriguez yearns for an every-day job, writes Marc Topkin.
• David Hernandez is aiming to be quietly effective.
• The learning curve continues for an Astros prospect.
• Greg Anderson walks the walk, again. Prosecutors revealed their case against Barry Bonds.
Two personal trainers have made different choices for their star clients, as Bill Rhoden writes. It's a trial absurd from all angles, writes Gwen Knapp. The pursuit of this case moved beyond common sense at some point, writes Tim Kawakami.
• A new film shows Babe Ruth in 1927, it is believed.
And today will be better than yesterday.
Buster Olney
ESPN Insider
The Giants probably would not have won the World Series last season without Juan Uribe, who plugged lineup holes and positional holes throughout the 2010 season and wound up with more RBIs (85) than any teammate other than Aubrey Huff (86).
San Francisco wanted Uribe back, and the Giants were stunned when he signed with the Dodgers. In a scramble to get a veteran for the middle of their infield, the Giants signed Miguel Tejada to a one-year deal for about one-third of what they offered Uribe. Tejada wasn't their first choice at shortstop, and he may not be their last choice for a shortstop by the end of this season.
He turns 37 in May, and as he nears the end of a career that will probably net him about 2,500 career hits and at least 300 homers and a hard-earned reputation for being a strong leader, his production is in decline. His OPS since 2003:
2004: .894
2005: .864
2006: .877
2007: .799
2008: .729
2009: .795
2010: .693
Tejada is a temp, a fact that was underscored by Bruce Bochy's lineup the other day -- he slotted Tejada in the No. 8 spot, partly because the right-handed hitter is generally a free-swinger, and partly because the Giants cannot expect Tejada to generate the same kind of production he's had in the past.
If he has a resurgence this summer, if he can still play an effective shortstop, this could all be very seamless. But it's also possible that the Giants will need to be on the lookout for some kind of upgrade during the season, because San Francisco will again contend -- they are regarded by some rival evaluators as the best team in Arizona this spring -- and because Tejada has reached the stage of his career when his performance could tip for good.
Maybe the Giants would turn to Mike Fontenot, who hit .283 in 103 games last season. Or maybe, if Tejada struggles, they could go outside the organization. And there figure to be some players who become available during the season, such as:
<OFFER>
1. Jose Reyes: He is eligible for free agency in the fall and it seems unlikely that the Mets will re-sign him, and executives with other teams expect New York to market him before the July 31 trade deadline, for pitching.
2. Marco Scutaro: The Red Sox were willing to deal him during the offseason, given the ascendance of Jed Lowrie. "I think the Red Sox want Lowrie to win that job, eventually," said one rival evaluator. With a salary of $5 million this year and a player option that would pay him at least $3 million for next season, he's a little pricey for a utility infielder; for the Giants, he could be more than that in 2012, for a club option of $6 million, if he remains productive.
3. Jack Wilson: It appears he'll play second base at the outset of the year -- probably until Dustin Ackley is ready to take over -- in what is the last season of a multiyear deal Wilson signed with the Mariners. Wilson doesn't contribute much offensively -- he posted a .282 on-base percentage last year in 193 at-bats, with no homers and one steal -- but if the Giants ever decided they want a defensive upgrade over Tejada, they could make a move for Wilson, 33. Brendan Ryan will be the Mariners' shortstop.
Notables
• Kendrys Morales has had a setback because of a new injury, writes Mike DiGiovanna. From Mike's story:
- Morales has soreness in the ball of his left foot, an injury that is not directly related to his surgery to repair the broken leg but has slowed his rehabilitation from it.
Morales returned to Los Angeles on Monday to be examined by Dr. Phil Kwong, a foot and ankle specialist. An MRI test revealed no structural damage in the foot, but there is too much inflammation for Morales to resume his running program.
"He's still working through some flexibility issues with his ankle and foot, and until those are resolved he can't move forward," General Manager Tony Reagins said. "He's day to day right now."
• Wally The Beer Man: Not guilty.
• Either Joe Saunders has been put on notice by Arizona manager Kirk Gibson, or else Gibson is trying to light a fire under Saunders, writes Nick Piecoro.
• Luis Castillo arrived at the Phillies' camp, writes Jim Salisbury. He is not happy with the way his time with the Mets ended, writes Dan Martin.
Observations from evaluators
1. Juan Cruz, who signed with the Rays just before the start of spring training, looks excellent. Cruz had surgery early last season and seems to have recovered; during his workout before scouts, he was throwing in the low 90s, giving Tampa Bay some hope that he could be its next version of Joaquin Benoit.
2. Rickie Weeks appears to be on a mission, in the eyes of one evaluator. "He's been getting better, but I think this is the year he blossoms -- if he stays healthy," the evaluator said.
Dings and dents
1. Curtis Granderson could start the year on the disabled list.
2. Derrek Lee says he's getting better all the time.
3. Craig Breslow's hamstring was tested, as Susan Slusser writes.
4. Michael Cuddyer was back in the lineup, and productive.
5. Jake Peavy is encouraged after playing catch.
6. There is good and bad news about Frank Francisco within this Richard Griffin notebook.
Moves, deals and decisions
1. Fans are being asked to choose Troy Tulowitzki's walk-up song.
2. The Braves, working with a surplus of pitching, have been fishing around for a possible trade of Rodrigo Lopez, according to sources. Lopez is signed to a minor league deal and presumably, Atlanta's asking price won't be high, given Lopez's age and recent track record. Atlanta has been looking to move Kenshin Kawakami for months.
3. Heard this: The Mets intend to keep Rule 5 draft picks Brad Emaus and Pedro Beato.
4. Heard this yesterday morning: The Yankees have no interest in Oliver Perez.
5. The Pirates released a pitcher.
6. The Red Sox and the agent for Adrian Gonzalez had more contract talks, which are expected to result in a contract.
The Battle for Jobs
1. Looks like Will Rhymes will be the Detroit second baseman. Jim Leyland praised the players he cut.
2. Chris Getz figures to be the Royals' second baseman, and No. 2 hitter.
3. Scott Baker will be the Twins' No. 5 starter; Kevin Slowey remains on the trade block, rival officials say.
4. Two weeks into training camp, it appeared that Jesus Montero was going to be the backup to Russell Martin. Now it appears that Montero needs to go back to Triple-A to work on his defense.
5. Josh Thole is going to put his catching education to the test, writes David Waldstein.
6. Zach Britton is making his case with the Orioles.
7. Looks like Vinnie Pestano could win a job in the Cleveland bullpen, writes Paul Hoynes; Jensen Lewis was outrighted to Triple-A.
8. The Brewers need help with their rotation, and Marco Estrada looked good in his start Tuesday.
Tuesday's games
1. Joba Chamberlain was clocked at 96 mph, and said it was the best he's felt all spring.
2. John Lannan had a strong outing.
3. Cliff Lee says he's ready to get the season started, writes Paul Hagen.
4. Jemile Weeks had a really good day.
5. Mike Leake had a rough outing, and in general has had a tough spring.
6. Ricky Romero threw great.
Other stuff
• Don Zimmer's career has stretched to a 63rd year, writes Tom Zucco.
• The trustee in any bankruptcy case holds a lot of power, as the Mets' owners have learned first-hand, writes Richard Sandomir.
<INLINE1>
• This should be a year in which the Nationals take a big step forward in their clubhouse. A lot of that will depend on Jayson Werth, the highest-paid player on the team; if he buys in and works to change the culture, there will be a shift. If he's on an island and effectively declines the chance to lead, Washington has much less of a chance to evolve.
• Pat Neshek felt he owed his fans a tweet after he was claimed on waivers by the Padres, writes Dan Hayes.
• The St. Louis pitchers have work to do this spring, says Tony La Russa.
• The Rangers' relief has become a confusing problem, writes Gil LeBreton.
• Jeff Allison, the former No. 1 pick who has battled addiction, got a day in the sun.
• Todd Helton doesn't mind seeing others in the spotlight, writes Jim Armstrong.
• The Cubs' search for a center fielder has them looking at a former Villanova football player, writes Phil Rogers.
• Clayton Kershaw's maturity level continues to rise.
• Craig Hansen is almost two years since last pitching in a major league game, as Colin Dunlap writes.
• The Dodgers are not hitting this spring, but coach Jeff Pentland is not worried, writes Dylan Hernandez.
• Sean Rodriguez yearns for an every-day job, writes Marc Topkin.
• David Hernandez is aiming to be quietly effective.
• The learning curve continues for an Astros prospect.
• Greg Anderson walks the walk, again. Prosecutors revealed their case against Barry Bonds.
Two personal trainers have made different choices for their star clients, as Bill Rhoden writes. It's a trial absurd from all angles, writes Gwen Knapp. The pursuit of this case moved beyond common sense at some point, writes Tim Kawakami.
• A new film shows Babe Ruth in 1927, it is believed.
And today will be better than yesterday.
