Albert Pujols coming to the SF Giants!

Okay, so tell me.  Make it simple.  How do you fit Albert Pujols onto a MLB payroll that stays under $150M each year?  Yup, it’s simple.  We’ll assume these things below can all happen, sure there are lots of unknown variables; it might not work quite this way, I get that.

First off, I hope y’all read my previous post about how much I want Erick Aybar as our SF Giants lead-off hitter.  If you haven’t?  Please do so before you read this post, otherwise, these contents won’t make much sense to you.  I swear.

I don’t mean to sound arrogant here, but I feel as though I just invented electricity.  Yeah, seriously.  Or maybe, on a more realistic comparison, sliced bread.  Or Tang.  Yeah, Tang- that’s it.  It’s orange.  It’s delicious.  It’s nutritious.  That’s how I feel right now...  Like I just invented Tang.  Why?

I think I figured out a way to not only get Albert Pujols signed here in San Francisco, but to maintain a budget under $150M annually for at least 5 years.  And a way that I believe he would accept the offer- no matter how many bidders we are competing against.  Did I mention that I believe WE can actually set the terms?  Not Pujols.  Nor his agent, Dan Lozano.  Sure, call me presumptuous, but first please hear me out.

But how do you sign Pujols as a Giant?  Talk truths:

• We are in the weakest division, he'd no longer face 5 other teams to get to the playoffs.
• LA is bankrupt and likely will be rebuilding.
• San Diego can’t carry payroll and is rebuilding.
• Arizona is hot this year, but will likely not be able to afford a sustained run.
• Colorado is struggling beyond any expectations.
• We have elite pitching.
• We can honestly make the playoffs each year.
• How would you like our chances with this team?  Against anybody.  Everybody.
• You will set a new record for a one-year player salary at $40-million on a front-loaded contract.
• You will receive $76-million total in the first two years.  $104-million total in the first three years.  This will  also help the Giants remain agile, as other players’ salaries rise.
• Large payroll obligations will come off the books each year through 2015, to ensure a consistently top-notch team each and every year- without fear of budget constraints.
• Yes, I am serious, and no, I will not share the "Tang" I’m drinking with you.

Here’s how it works.  We make sure to get Erick Aybar and Vernon Wells from Anaheim for Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, and a b-prospect or two or three.  Anaheim adds $20-million to offset the $17M payroll difference, and to compensate for J. Sanchez (as a quality lefty starter being of higher value in the trade).

This $20M helps to immediately offset Rowand’s 2012 salary and Pujols’ $40M first year of his $185M, 7-year contract ($40M, $36M, $28M, $24M, $21M, $19M, $17M).  We still have many young players well below market values:  Aybar, Bumgarner, Romo, Posey, Sandoval, Belt, Pill, Crawford, and H. Sanchez most specifically.

So, we want to alleviate future payroll as it will undoubtedly rise, as player salaries reach towards their market values.  One major objective is to constantly remain well below the Luxury Tax line (about $175M, I think).  Actually, it will be simple to maintain a $145M payroll each year.  Sure, we have new players (like Gary Brown, Joe Panik, Otero, Hembree, and others) getting called up.  But, even six new league minimum contracts can’t offset even ONE jump in salary from $2M to $8M.  Not to mention four or five salaries that stagger up in the same time period.

So, front-loading?  We pay Pujols a significant portion of his contract the first year ($40M).  We can ensure we remain at $145-million for a long time-horizon.  Remember, Zito's salary ($46M) is exchanged for Wells’ salary ($61M).  Freddy Sanchez, Rowand and Huff are off book after 2012 ($29.6M).  Vogelsong and Wilson (who likely will fetch $12.5-15M per year in 2014) can be off book after 2013 (about $14M).  Vernon Wells is off book after 2014 ($21M).

Clearing this salary each year helps replenish the salaries of other players without adding payroll.  And Pujols’ salary will decline significantly each year to help further.  Essentially, you pay against future money coming off and allow consistent payroll balance.

2012 SF Giants Lineup:

SS  Erick Aybar

2B  Freddy Sanchez

1B  Albert Pujols

3B  Pablo Sandoval

C   Buster Posey

LF  Vernon Wells

RF  Brandon Belt

CF  Coco Crisp

Bench:

Huff

Schierholtz

Pill

Crawford

H. Sanchez

You can check out the numbers yourself.  Just my humble projections.  I ain't saying I'm a soothsayer.  Some estimates will surely be off a bit.  Your opinions of which prospect players make the roster may vary.

Image credit:  Pujols image from mikespickz.com

Get Erick Aybar to SF!

Erick Aybar: ALDS Game 2

It's been a long time...

I've been interested in Erick Aybar for a long while now.  And I still want Aybar in the Orange & Black. I was the first to bring him up on Andrew Baggarly’s blog, Extra Baggs and on KNBR with Marty Lurie.  I believe he should be our #1 target acquisition this off-season.  I see more and more ways of doing this, how does this look to you?

SF Giants trade:

LHP Barry Zito ($39M + $7M buyout = $46M over 2-years)

LHP Jonathan Sanchez

3B  Conor Gillaspie

Since the Angels cut Scott Kazmir, they have no starting LHP in their rotation.  They also have virtually all RHP starter prospects in their farm system.  Zito could be a LOOGY (Lefty-One-Out-Guy) or long relief.  I imagine a rotation of: Weaver, Haren, Santana, Sanchez, Pinero/Chatwood should easily outperform  the rest of the AL West.  J. Sanchez even has a better 2011 ERA (4.26) than 3 of their starters used this year (Pinero 5.33, Chatwood 4.59, and Richards 8.22).  I won’t even be cruel and include Kazmir’s 1.2 inning 2011 season ERA of 27.00

The Angels had to make a splash after missing out on: Cliff Lee, Adrian Beltre and Carl Crawford, and they’ll be feeling this error for three more years (and $63M) if they can’t move him.  Why?  They will have premier rookie Mike Trout in LF, Peter Bourjos in CF, and Torii Hunter in RF.  That is an incredible outfield, I’d say a top-5 in all of baseball for 2012.  They’re effectively eating $21M/year unless an OF is injured.

Anaheim Angels trade:

SS Erick Aybar

LF Vernon Wells ($63M over 3-years)

+ $24M cash consideration to offset payroll

Aybar, I see tons of upside: speed, power, avg, OBP, OPS.  He’s also young, healthy, well below market value, solid or plus defense, a plus arm, and I absolutely believe he will grow into a premier shortstop in another year or two.  Maybe he can't have the Coors Field-inflated power numbers of Tulowitski, but he certainly could be in the same discussions as Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes for years to come.  I believe he could hit 35-40 2B, 10 3B, and 15 HR as a Giant and steal 30+ bases per season.  A lead-off and SS are two of the three major holes we’ll need to fill this off-season (other being CF).

Aybar isn’t even close to their only SS option in Anaheim.  Some thought Brandon Wood would win the job beginning 2011, he was (curiously) released and picked up by PIT.  They have Maicer Izturis ready right now to play SS (who plays a bit at 3B), their #2 prospect is SS Jean Segura who Scioscia wants to remain at  SS (not convert to 2B).  They even have another excellent SS prospect in switch-hitter Andrew Romine.

Left field we can have Wells and Belt platoon.  Huff and Pill platoon 1B.  After Huff is gone (in 2013) Belt and Pill could platoon if Belt doesn’t earn the job outright.  Schierholtz in RF.  Justin Christian or another (Tyler Graham or Francisco Peguero) take CF until Brown is ready, maybe mid or late 2012?

Aybar can also remain in our lineup long-term.  I don't see any other position player we might acquire have staying power into the future plans of our Gigantes.  Maybe by 2013 Joe Panik is 2B, Gary Brown in CF.  By 2013, if Brown leads-off, Aybar easily fits into the 2-hole vacated by Freddy Sanchez… Perfect!  Maybe by 2014, Posey is at 1B and Tommy Joseph (or Susac) is catching with Hector Sanchez the 2^nd catcher.  Shortstop is the only position we could acquire a lead-off/#2 hitter and keep them in our long-term road map.  Not LF, not CF, nor anywhere else- unless Nate Schierholtz is basically released from RF.

I realize Wells isn’t Carlos Beltran or Michael Cuddyer or even Nick Swisher.  But if Belt, Huff, Pill, and Schierholtz have any sort of offensive numbers our lineup would look very strong.  Especially if right-handed Wells can add some much needed pop to our lineup.

We get production from Zito’s contract money (in Wells at LF), we likely can move Eric Surkamp or Justin Fitzgerald into the #5 starter role for 2012.  We trim the $6M-ish of J. Sanchez for 2012.  We get our starting SS of the future and lead-off hitter!  And we get a serious bat to deepen our lineup.  Sure, I get that Vernon Wells is slumping in 2011.  I'll take my chances with a right-handed bat that just might run into 30 home runs a year versus Zito sitting on a paycheck for two more years. That's my take on it, and I'm sticking to it.

Some of  the naysayers will naysay: "Nobody would want Zito, he's untradeable."  I beg to differ.  Consider that Vernon Wells had one of the most "untradeable" contracts in MLB and yet, the stealthy Blue Jays head honcho Alex Anthopoulos got it done.  How did he also get Napoli in that deal and keep him away from the Rays?  Seriously, how did he get Jose Bautista to sign for around $16.5M per?   He was also around when the Jays unloaded Alex Rios.  Is  A.A. up in the T-Dot a hypnotist or something?  Scary.

We have an incredibly high standard for pitchers here in San Francisco, as well we should.  Perrenially, we have just about the best pitching in baseball.  Not just starters, but bullpen, and closer too.  We might easily forget that most teams in baseball consider a 3.50 ERA "fantastic" and a #4 or #5 starter's ERA of 4.50 ERA to be "great".  Here with Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner, and this year with Vogelsong, we say "phooey" to all that.

Here I give you, Seattle fans are asking for Zito in exchange for Chone Figgins.  They aren't contenders, you naysay?  Here, I give you exhibit 1B: maybe the Angels might actually WANT Zito.  If you can convince me they aren't contenders, come back and we'll talk further.

But wouldn't the Angels want to keep Aybar?  Don't the fans like his fantastic play and his team value?  It appears that even at the start of this season, there was little to no confidence in Aybar from Angels insiders.  They need a fifth starter, a lefty would serve them perfectly.  IMHO, J. Sanchez would be a perfect fit for Scioscia's leadership.  They are dumping money like it's going into an Orange County landfill with Vernon Wells.  They got depth like a scuba diver at shortstop.  It just works.

Why can we add Gillaspie to the trade?  He’ll have no place for us on the Giants.  Recognized as a below-average defenseman, if Sandoval ever moves to first, I’d bet Posey shifts to 3B.  If that doesn’t happen, Chris Dominguez is making a strong case he’d be in the wings waiting next in line.  The Angels appear thinner at 3B than other positions, with their prospects too.  They could look at Conor and maybe he’ll have a better chance at playing time.  It just works.

Heck, there MIGHT even be another factor in this trade.  If the large salary of Vernon Wells is shifted into something “productive” for the Halos (like a LHP starting pitcher), maybe, just maybe, the Angels become a top contender for Carlos Beltran as their DH and try to move the slipping Bobby Abreu (.254 avg, .720 OPS, 30 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 55 RBI in 562 PA this 2011 season) who has already vested his 2012 option.  Maybe they can ‘afford’ to pay him off, or trade him with a chunk of ‘cash consideration’ to offset his $9M 2012 salary.  Not sure they’d be willing to jump up in payroll enough, but they are looking like serious AL contenders from 2012 moving forward, so it could be possible.

Does anybody lose in this trade?  Methinks not.  I'm just sayin'...

_______________________

Look, please don't get me started on another topic...  If we don't sign solid offense this off-season, we're going to lose our elite pitching staff rather quickly-like.  Yes, I know Lincecum's contract status, and I know that if he were to leave in a year or two (long story; but traded or walked...); I believe Anaheim would be his destination.  You read me right, not the NY Yankees, not the Boston Red Sox, and not  the Seattle Mariners.

You want to see an AL powerhouse to contend year after year with the 'Evil Empire' that is the Yankees?  Enter: Lincecum, Weaver, Haren, J. Sanchez, Chatwood/Santana.  Add Trout, Bourjos, Hunter, Kendrick, Trumbo, Kendry Morales, and Conger as serious bats. With a wicked DH like Beltran?  Oh dear, oh jebesus me.  Yeah, the Angels would pay-at-all-costs if Lincecum hit the market.  And, I think they'd get him.

Maybe the Angels would need a closer to really be a powerhouse; if young, hard-throwing (he's hit 102 mph) Jordan Walden doesn't continue to improve?  Oh, again, think of the Giants as Angels Farm North.  I think Brian Wilson will become available when his salary skies over $12.5M/year in a couple years, and Sergio Romo or Heath Hembree could take over.

Sincere thanks for your visit here.  Cheers.

Image credit: Erick Aybar from ALDS Game 2, 2010 from Boston.com.

SF Giants... I'm Worried.

I've never been a believer that a "big bat" would fix the Giants woes.  There isn't enough depth to require pitchers to respect one bat.  Look at Matt Holliday's offense when he played for the A's.  Since Huff has so little slugging, and when Pablo was out, pitchers aren't worried about the line-up.  Another example, Burrell's first five (?) HR's this season, how many total RBI's did he earn from them?  Five.  Doh!  Anybody wanna tell me the G-Men don't get base runners in nearly every game? Even since 2009, this hasn't been a problem.  They can't get them in.  They need higher averages and more speed.

In 2010, I used the nickname "ASAP" for the top four of the line-up (Andres Torres, Freddy Sanchez,  Aubrey Huff, Buster Posey).  As in "we need some runs ASAP."

For 2011, I am calling the Giants line-up the "noffense."  'Nuff said.  No explanation necessary.

Okay, everyone is talking about possible trades.  If you've followed the Giants for a few years, you'll recognize that Sabean & the Giants' front office tends to go for value in their trade deadline moves.  Looking at under-performers compared to career (Burrell, Garko, Ross, Huff), recently injured and rehabbed (Sanchez & DeRosa), and bringing up prospects to fill needs (Velez, Fransen, Bowker, Burriss, Downs, Crawford, Ford, etc).

Next year, 2012, will be a very different year, and a fairly different team IMHO.  So, who knows?  Well, I know they are right in the middle of a potential playoff run this year.  I just said "playoff run", so why does my title say "I'm Worried"?  I'm worried we'll end up with Rick Ankiel as an outfield bat.  And Jason Varitek as a veteran catcher.  Or Mike Cameron as yet another platoon outfielder.

Here's the deal to make:
SF Giants trade to Baltimore Orioles:
Jonathan Sanchez
Guillermo Mota
Emmanuel Burriss


SF Giants acquire from Baltimore Orioles:
J.J. Hardy
Adam Jones

Why is this deal a good two-way trade?
Orioles are #12 in MLB in team batting avg (.259) and OPS (.718) and 20th in runs (322).
Giants are #25 in MLB in team batting avg (.240) and 26th in both OPS (.664) and runs (291).

Orioles are #27 in pitching ERA (4.40), #2 in most HR's given (97), and 27th in WHIP (1.40)
Giants are #4 in pitching ERA (3.21), #30 (best) in most HR's given (45)  and 5th in WHIP (1.23)

There is no way the Baltimore market is going to outspend NYY or Boston.  So, I would expect they might need to cut some payroll before 2012 to stay around $90M (Cot's: 2011=$86.9M, 2010=$73.8M, 2009=$67.1M).  J.J. Hardy will be a free agent next year ($5.85M in 2011) and Adam Jones is Arb 2 ($3.25M in 2011).

I might, humbly, expect Hardy to fetch about $10-12.5M next year (excellent 2-way shortstops are valuable!), depending on the structure of his contract (2011=..305 avg, 13 2B/11 HR, 30 RBI, .365 OBP, .538 SLG, .903 OPS.
And Jones to make about $8.5-10M (2011= .285 avg, 15 2B/13 HR, 46 RBI, .329 OBP, .473 SLG, .802 OPS).

Jonathan Sanchez isn't "mentally unstable" or "a headcase" or any such nonsense.  He simply hasn't yet "tuned" his mechanics enough to be consistent.  I swear, I believe he will win a Cy Young in 3 or 4 years.  Hardly any pitcher (especially LHP) in MLB has better deception right now (when he's 'on' of course).  How difficult must it be for a batter to 'stand-in' when Sanchez can throw a fastball behind your back over over your head at 94 mph, and then strike you out with a filthy slider at 91 mph?  Personally, I'd be thinking like a boxer "protect yourself at all times".

Sanchez simply needs to fix his delivery.  I don't think it is 'arm slot'.  I think it is his landing foot.  His right foot gets too 'closed' IMHO, his toes pointed too much towards the first base line, not home plate.  This is simple sports kinesiology.  (Basketball, finish shots with follow through towards the basket; volleyball spike, finish arm swing towards target; golf swing, finish swing with belt buckle facing target; etc.).  His hip gets "locked", it is similar to how a professional soccer player uses hip rotation to kick a soccer ball properly, not just one's legs.  But I think this will be simple, and repeatable.  Just land with right foot pointed more towards home plate each time.  He'll figure it out.  Faster would be better than slower though.

If Sanchez is a #1 or #2 starter on a team that has even reasonable offense, I think he would be much, much more comfortable.  Heck, you don't think that Cain and Lincecum have never thought "I should get out of this city, there's no offense here.  I could be winning 20+ games each year, every year."  Not that they are selfish in their motives- not at all, they are class players.  But "We lose games we shouldn't lose" or "I could really help a team more if there is more offense."  Seriously, I've thought these things for them many times myself.

So, Sanchez maybe can get $4.5-8M in 2012 if he is lucky (he's Arb 3, and making $4.8M in 2011- Scott Boras).  He goes to a team that will value him and not question if he is a #2, #4, #5, or #6 pitcher.  He'll shine.  Heck, I was disappointed when Matt Downs was traded away last year, he's gonna have a very solid pro career IMHO.  You think we miss his 6 HR's, 21 RBI's, and .276 avg, .379 OBP, .586 SLG, .965 OPS?  Oh, that's in only 87 AB's this 2011 season!  Trust me, Sanchez will thrive in a better-suited environment.

It reminds me of NYC locals screaming to trade Andy Pettitte around 2000.  He was a farm system/draft pick, had always pitched very good to great.  Lucky for NYY, they didn't trade him.  He went like 21-8 in 2003, didn't he?  Oh wait, they did trade him.  To Houston.  Oh yeah.  LOL.  And then got him back.  And he went 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 21 starts in 2010, at 38 years old.  LOL.

Fans don't realize how rare Jonathan Sanchez's stuff is.  He's a rare pitcher.  His effective wildness has gotta get inside a hitter's head.  But there's no denying his potential.  I just think he will still reach it, instead of those willing to give up on him.  Lefties like him simply don't come around often.


So, I doubt Sanchy, Mota, and Burriss is enough to land Hardy and Jones in SF.  I think it will likely take another piece, maybe Ford or Peguero.  Crawford doesn't leave if I have my say, and Ford wouldn't either.  Yes, even with these overlapping position players arriving.  Orioles trade about $20M out and pick up about $9M in.  They cut a net of maybe $10-12M and get a starting pitcher, reliever, and solid prospect(s) that are MLB ready now or soon.

Giants payroll is more complicated.  From this years $118M, I think it will certainly climb higher next year.  how far will the front office go?  I don't know.  I think $135M or $140M will be the max.  You'll need to ink contracts for Lincecum, Bumgarner, Vogelsong, Ramirez, Romo, Lopez, Runzler, Posey, Sandoval, Torres, and Schierholtz for 2012.  And I'm not sure if Posey will be eligible for Super-2.  Let's add this list and estimate $35-39M total.  With Hardy and Jones, we'll be right at $135-140M payroll for 2012.  Perfect.

The sooner this deal could be done, the better.  Having JJ Hardy lead-off (move Burriss, he isn't a #2 hitter) would be excellent  Then Torres, Sandoval, Jones, Huff, Crawford, Stewart, Schierholtz in that order.  But really, 2012 could be another incredible opportunity too.  Here would be my projected line-up:

1)   JJ Hardy (SS)
2)   Freddy Sanchez (2B)
3)   Buster Posey (C)
4)   Adam Jones (CF)
5)   Pablo Sandoval (3B)
6)   Aubrey Huff (1B)
7)   Andres Torres (LF)
8)   Nate Schierholtz (RF)

Bench options:
Aaron Rowand
Brandon Belt
Brandon Crawford
Darren Ford
Chris Stewart

Why Torres in Left Field?  Jones has a better arm, which may help from triples alley.  You can have the top 6 batters truly be responsible for most of the offensive production.  And your young, top defensive/speed players will keep the 'runs against' down (middle infield & RF, mostly).  You win both ways IMHO.  I don't care if Nate bats .210 all season, his arm in right field is that valuable to me.  Same with Crawford (if he doesn't 'come through' in an offensive opportunity late in a game) as a double-switch with a pitcher.  In National League play, with this roster, I'll take my chances against anybody.

You put your best offensive players out there, give them as many opportunities as possible to score runs.  If Belt or Crawford or Ford can't do it late, it isn't really their fault or responsibility.  But hey, once in a while, they too will come through in the clutch.  And that's just gravy.

Obviously, I think Ross, Tejada, Hall, Fontenot, and DeRosa are let loose.  Probably Whiteside too.  Maybe Thomas Neal or Hector Sanchez or Conor Gillaspie make the roster instead of Crawford or Ford.  I dunno.  But I'd go for the line-up I've suggested.
So, Orioles need pitching, maybe can trade some offense, and most certainly always need to trim payroll.  They could trim  approx. $10-12M in this trade and get pitching and a young replacement for Hardy and/or Jones.  The Giants need offense, in the worst of worst ways.  They cut Sanchez's projected payroll for 2012 and get bats now.

If Vogelsong isn't strong this second half or next year, you have so many arms in the farm system, I'd bet one can come up.  You really don't 'lose' by going to 11 pitchers (losing Mota now).  Bochy isn't thinking enough about bats-off-the-bench for National League play IMHO.  Sure, many think he's a genius right now, the Giants are World Series Champs.  I get that.  I don't get why Randy Winn was batting clean-up in September 2009 when we played Colorado and were like 3 games behind them.  I don't get why Molina batted 8th for a significant stint in 2010 (one of the slowest 'runners' in baseball, he could get doubled up even on a sac bunt, right?).  This is National League play...  So many examples...  *sigh*.

I wouldn't be opposed to Ivan Rodriguez spot-starting for the Gigantes this season.  But I wouldn't be willing to give up much to get him.  There simply isn't enough up-side IMHO.  His defense and throwing arm aren't quite up to what they once were.  His bat isn't either.  He's a veteran caller and backstop.  I'd go for Stewart for his defense.  Make a play for others that create offense instead of trying to wish for a flashback time machine of Pudge 12 years ago.

What about Michael Cuddyer?  Yeah, I'd like him here too.  But I don't see any way the Twins part with him.  They have been building a highly competitive team for a few years now.  They moved into their beautiful new Target Field in 2010, right?  I don't care if they are 11 games under .500 right now.  They likely will ADD and build, not subtract IMHO.

Prince Fielder will be a free-agent, what about him?  N-o-t a c-h-a-n-c-e.  Just ask any Giant when they are in their clubhouse, if they'd want him here.  I'd bet that to a man they each say 'no'.  His antics are too self-serving.  Didn't he wait outside the clubhouse for Sanchez(?) after he hit him once?  Didn't security have to remove him from the park after he tried to get into the Giants clubhouse (after a game), when he tried to find Guillermo Mota(?) who *supposedly* threw at him?  His 'bowling pin' routine didn't go over too well here either.  Ain't gonna happen.  Ever.

He's the same kind of trouble, like I didn't want Manny Ramirez here when he left the Red Sox.  I didn't want to see Jose Guillen here last year.  Zito may be highly overpaid.  But when you see him in the dugout during the World Series, standing on the top step, rooting for our team...  Well, it must've really, really torn him up.  But he hung in there, I've really appreciated Zito's attitude.  Fielder, I wouldn't count on it, is all.

Carlos Beltran?  Well, I'm not all that excited about this idea.  I think somebody will likely overpay for his bat.  It is like a lottery draw, they might get lucky, they might not.  He'll help, but would he be the best fit here in SF, I don't think so.

Jose Reyes?  Oh, here we go.  The Sought-After One.  He's having one of those 'better than a birthday wish' type of seasons.  Good timing for him and his agent Peter Greenberg.  He is in the prime of his career at 28.  Is anyone forward thinking enough to see this could be the next Zito or Rowand type contract?  He'll get a stunning, mind-numbing contract with lots of zeros and a few numbers to the left of 'em.  How can he ever live up to it?  I dunno.  What if he gets injured?  I had thought the Giants might make a go for him.  Now, I think the chances are less than 5% to none.  He won't negotiate until the off-season.  He's a rental and you will have to pay dearly for that.  No thanks.

Jose Bautista?  Some seem to think he could be available.  I say absolutely not.  Toronto has a pretty savvy leadership group (in some ways at least, props goes to owner Alex Anthopoulos).  He hit 54 HR's last year and then signed a 5-yr $65M contract in T-Dot (Toronto) after that.  Are you eff'ing kidding me?  He's pulling $8M this year and $14M in 2012.  Maybe the bargain of the decade.  He's filling at least a few of the seats, and if they ever get something together, he is their centerpiece.  And at less than half of his market value IMHO.  However, if we want to give up Cain, Wilson, and Posey, I'm fairly sure we could get him.  LOL.  Maybe he loves Toronto?  Maybe he's a real family guy and wants the stability?  I dunno.  I just think he ain't movin'.

So, we really need an offensive left-fielder or a solid 2-way shortstop or both.

Melky Cabrera?  Pretty intriguing to me.  Fits the bill I think the Giants would like to trade for.  Good avg, power, even 10of 12 stolen bases. low (14%) strike-out rate.  I could honestly see this happening.  I don't know what we trade away though.  No idea.

Hunter Pence?  Doubtful.  Probably too costly.  But would be fantastic IMHO.  But he's kinda a cornerstone of their team.  Oh wait, wasn't Lance Berkman too?  Oh well.  Maybe.  Hits for great average, doubles, HR's, and some speed.  Strikesout a bit much, but it's easy to forgive this in a productive payer, eh?

Yuniel Escobar?  Good average, low K rate.  Very good power for a shortstop.  I think he took the job from Marco Scutaro, right.  Solid.  I'd be happy to see him here.  But I don't think he's worth trading Jonathan Sanchez for.  No way.

Jeff Francoeur?  I don't know what the 'ask' from KC would be.  But it gets complicated, you don't really have a need for Schierholtz if you pick up Francoeur.  Both have great arms, Francoeur is still young enough to be your everyday player.  More offense too.  You could move one of them to left field.  I really like the idea of him in SF.  But I'm worried about the cost. I'd rather Melky Cabrera, personally.  If you get both, Schierholtz almost certainly has to be in the trade package, or Torres.  And a pitcher.  Like I said, I'm worried about the ask.  If they want both gone to cut payroll, then maybe there's a possibility.

Josh Willingham?  Not really enough of anything to make me think he's a big trade possibility for SF.  Look at his K rate.  Too many strikeouts.  Low average.  Tough season for him.  No thanks IMHO.  Same went for Mark Ellis, who just left Oakland.

Jason Kubel?  Probably more available than Cuddyer IMHO.  But I'm not sure he's the right guy to fit into the Giants line-up.  I'd worry about his performance at AT&T (not having great slugging at home games).  He's very similar to Cody Ross was last year.  Would the results be the same, doubtful IMHO.  I'd pass on this deal.

Alcides Escobar?  Decent base stealer, low K rate.  I don't see that much of an upgrade over Crawford, really.  Let Brandon get more familiar with MLB pitching, he'll outperform Alcides in offense the second half of 2011 IMHO.

Ian Desmond?  Base stealers would be great for the Giants.  We've seen how Ford or Torres can affect the outcome of games.  I could see Desmond moving west if there is a package including Pudge coming to SF.  I'm just saying.  If we get Rodriguez, get Desmond too.  I don't see Desmond coming to SF otherwise.  Or just shop around the beltway, get Pudge, Hardy, and Jones please.

Ryan Ludwick?  I've really liked Ludwick when he was in St. Louis.  Couldn't figure why the Cards gave him up.  He's a well above average LF, and would fit nicely in SF methinks.  But you need to be careful with trades within the division.  I wouldn't want to see us facing Sanchy in the NL West.

The two clear 'power' positions are clearly 1B and LF at AT&T Park.  I was sad about the Huff contract deal.  He got a second chance with the Giants.  We picked him up, got him on a World Series Championship team from the Orioles.  Then he wanted full $10M market-rate money from this same team.  He really should've taken a pay cut, since the Giants gave him the chance to be worth more.  You get to $10M for Huff, I thought we should've released him and spent $12-16M to get a real power first baseman.  Now we're 'stuck' with the biggest power position producing numbers like a very good shortstop or second baseman.  Doh.