Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

1. Jason Giambi to the Giants I know, I know, he can't play defense. The obvious down side of this deal is that the Giants would be stuck playing the Giambino at first base 120-130 times a season, which is ugly at best...

Baseball: Five Free Agent Signings That Make Sense (At Least in My Head)

by Josh Levitt (Columnist)

15

1437 reads

Sports

December 04, 2008


1. Jason Giambi to the Giants

I know, I know, he can't play defense. The obvious down side of this deal is that the Giants would be stuck playing the Giambino at first base 120-130 times a season, which is ugly at best.

But think about it this way: The Giants just went out and spent roughly $30 million on three players: shortstop Edgar Renteria, reliever Bobby Howry, and reliever Jeremy Affeldt. The Giants obviously think they can compete in 2009, especially given their starting pitching and revamped bullpen.

But the one thing the Giants are sorely lacking is a power hitter. Giambi fits the mold: He walks a lot, gets on base, has lots of power, and is left-handed. Last season, the Giants' anemic offense ranked last in home runs, 14th in on-base percentage, and 15th in runs scored in the National League. Yikes...those are terrible numbers.

Furthermore, Giambi would probably only command a one-year contract in this market, which makes him all the more appealing to Giants GM Brian Sabean.

2. Adam Dunn to the Athletics

Dunn is exactly the kind of player GM Billy Beane craves: He walks a lot, hits tons of home runs, and has a high OBP. In most years, Dunn would have been one of the most coveted free agents out there, but because of the economy teams are shying away from handing Dunn the long-term contract he seeks.

This would be a great time for the Athletics to dive in and sign Dunn. First of all, after trading for Matt Holliday, the Athletics are clearly going for it in 2009 and a lineup with both Dunn and Holliday would be potent and powerful.

Second, it is likely the Athletics would not have to give Dunn a long-term contract. He would actually be better off signing with a team like Oakland for a season and then testing the free agent market again in 2009. Once again, this is the perfect scenario for the normally frugal Athletics to make a big splash.

And selfishly I want to see this deal happen because having Adam Dunn and Jack Cust on the same team would be amazing. Think about it, they are both slow, power hitting, walk machines who strikeout a lot and cannot hit for average. There is no doubt that the Athletics would lead the league in walks, strikeouts, and maybe even OBP and home runs. How cool would that be?

3. Jon Garland to the Cardinals

The Cardinals struck gold last season when they signed starter Kyle Lohse during spring training to a modest one-year, $4 million deal. The move shored up the Cardinals rotation and allowed St. Louis to compete for a playoff spot into September.

I think signing Garland would be a shrewd move for the Cardinals, a lot like signing Lohse was a year ago. You get what you're going to get with Garland: very few strikeouts, lots of innings, lots of hits, very few walks, and lots of ground balls.

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

15 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Jim Neveau 7 months ago

    To me, I think that the Cardinal Nation would be better off adding a guy like Derek Lowe. A gritty guy with playoff experience, he would pretty much force the Cubs' hand in dealing for Jake Peavy, thus gutting the North Sider's farm system and ensuring that the Cards will once again take the reins as the class of the division.

    Of course, I don't think that the Cardinals brass will go in this direction and will go after Garland, who will be about the equivalent effect on the Cubs as the Brewers getting Sabbathia (get a solidifying force in your rotation, but nothing crazy).

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  2. Josh Levitt 7 months ago

    Lowe would be a perfect fit for so many teams, but I think his price will be too high for the Cardinals at this point.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  3. Eric DeBer 7 months ago

    Will Beane give the money to Dunn?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  4. TAB BAMFORD 7 months ago

    Dunn's OBP is right up Beane's alley, and he'd look really nice hitting next to Holliday. I'm not sure his contract being as big as his shadow is something Beane likes the idea of, though

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Josh Levitt 7 months ago

    If the A's are going to go for it, now would be the time. Signing Dunn would be a shrewd move, no doubt.

    I really hope the A's can pull this off.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  6. Alex Geshwind 7 months ago

    I think Beane would love to get Giambi back but maybe that's just me....

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  7. Ben Brown 7 months ago

    great article. I think Pat Burrell or Raul Ibanez would be a better choice than Adam Dunn. But the others look great. I can't see Giambi as a Giant although they were in the absence of a steroid user this season.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  8. Josh Levitt 7 months ago

    Alex: good point. Giambi would be a great fit for the A's as well.

    Ben: I agree, but I dont think that either guy will settle for a one year deal like Dunn might. Dunn is still in his prime and could probably get a long term deal in the future when the economy is better.

    thanks for the comments.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  9. Ben Livingston 7 months ago

    I'll never forgive the Phillies for balking on Lohse. They might have won the World Series but he was a huge bargain by the time the Cardinals signed him.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  10. Nino Colla 7 months ago

    I'm right there with you on Hoffman. I wasn't open to it at first, but he would fit. Veteran presence would do wonders for Jensen in the long term and bring some stability.

    It makes sense, all the way around.. I just hope it happens.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  11. Josh Levitt 7 months ago

    Ben: I don't think Lohse was ever a good fit for the Phillies. I think he excelled in St. Louis because of Dave Duncan and most importantly because he allowed fewer homers this season.

    Nino: There are so many places where Hoffman would fit nicely. The Brewers and Dodgers come to mind. Great pitcher, I just hope he can win a title some day

    thanks for the comments guys

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  12. matt elias 7 months ago

    I see Giambi going to the A's as a more likely fit then the Giants. I don't know if the Cards will want to match the over priced tag on Jon Garland who is no better then Paul Byrd right now. (But Dave Duncan does turn bad pitchers into good ones- Jeff Weaver.)

    This will be interesting as there clearly isnt going to be money for all these guys. They are going to have to swallow their egos and take less. Maybe one year deals and test market next year.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  13. Josh Levitt 7 months ago

    Matt: I don't think Garland will be overpriced this off season. I see him as a guy who will want a bigger contract than will probably be offered, therefore, he is more likely to take a shorter deal in the hopes of maximizing his value later on.

    thanks for the comment.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  14. Jeff Hampton 7 months ago

    Hmmm/ lets look at all this gossip and give some feedback.John Garland without a doubt would be a decent starter in St. Louis. Jason Giambi no he wont play in San Francisco. Oakland should sign him to a minor leauge deal and Adam Dunn to a minor leauge deal as well and hope they will be able to split time at DH. and First Base.Neither one is that good in the field/.Baseball has become a overpaid and underworked boys game and thats why I cant take it anymore// jay

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  15. Josh Levitt 6 months ago

    I dont think Giambi and Dunn will have to sign minor league deals. Sure neither one is good in the field anymore, but both are still great hitters who will get signed somewhere. They might have to sign a one year contract, but there is no chance that either guy will be stuck with a minor league deal.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.