San Francisco Giants: A Scenario That Would Bring Albert Pujols to the Bay Area

In late 1992 when an investor group led by Peter McGowan was in the process of purchasing the San Francisco Giants, McGowan made a big splash by signing the best player in the game, Barry Bonds, to a personal services contract that would transfer into a contract with the Giants once the purchase of the team was finalized.

In late 2011 McGowan's right-hand man from way back in 1992 will take over control of the team, and once again the best player in the game is available as a free agent.  Will Larry Baer try to make a splash by signing Albert Pujols as soon as he takes over the team?  The Giants' current payroll and roster situations would suggest not, but back in 1992 they didn't even own the team and they landed the biggest star available, so don't discount it too quickly.

Things have obviously changed a lot in the 19 years since Bonds' homecoming—salaries have skyrocketed, the lengths of major contracts have gone through the roof and Barry Zito has happened.  If we have learned anything about Baer over nearly 20 years, he has a deep love for the Giants, he knows how to get things done and he loves the spotlight.  Is he a big risk taker?  He hasn't had the opportunity to show us yet, but if he is, a perfect opportunity is about to present itself.

The Giants have claimed their 2012 payroll will remain around the same as it was when the 2011 season ended based on salary increases for arbitration eligible players, contractual raises and locking up one of the youngest and most talented pitching staffs in all of Major League Baseball.  If they indeed intend to remain pretty much status quo, it doesn't leave much room for signing middle-of-the-pack free agents, much less the top free agent to come along in years.

The Giants seemingly have a log jam at first base with Aubrey Huff coming back for the final year of his two-year contract, Brandon Belt groomed as the heir apparent and Brett Pill having forced his way into their plans.  Realistically, though, are any of those guys reason enough to not bring in the best hitter in the game?

Pill played very well last year at Fresno and showed he can hit at the big league level upon his promotion at the end of 2011.  Realistically, the Giants view him as a right-handed bench threat and occasional starter at best, and if he forces his hand in spring training, that is what he will be.

Huff will be a Giant in 2012 and then will be gone.  If he performs the way he did in 2011, he'll be gone by June.  As great as he was for the 2010 World Series team, he was a lead anchor in 2011 and it will not be tolerated in 2012.  You do not hesitate to upgrade simply because Huff is on the roster.

Belt had a rough 2011, but in my mind he proved he is a bat the Giants need in their everyday lineup once he got consistent at-bats late in the year.  Belt is a sweet fielding first baseman, but he isn't so great he would block a deal for the best hitter in the game.  Belt played a lot of left field in 2011 and got better and better as the season progressed.  He could be the left fielder of the future for the Giants if Albert Pujols was playing first base.

One argument against Pujols in San Francisco would be the Giants need a shortstop and a center fielder and would not be able to upgrade at either of those positions if they spent significant money on Pujols.  With a hitter like Pujols in the lineup, the Giants can afford to have a light-hitting, all-defense shortstop playing every day—exactly what they have in Brandon Crawford.

Center field can be solved from now until Gary Brown is ready by bringing in a player with a need to prove himself who is willing to sign an incentive-laden contract like Grady Sizemore or by simply hoping Andres Torres can bridge the gap between 2010 and 2011 a little bit.

The Giants are young and relatively inexpensive at key positions like third base (Pablo Sandoval), catcher (Buster Posey), right field (Nate Shierholtz), left field (Brandon Belt) and shortstop (Brandon Crawford).  Freddy Sanchez is on the final year of his contract.

The Giants have a few years before Posey, Sandoval, Shierholtz and Belt become too expensive, and while the pitching staff will become increasingly spendy, the team may decide to make a move for now and the future by anchoring the offense with a future Hall of Famer in Pujols.

Albert Pujols is a long shot for the Giants, but don't completely discount it yet—stranger things have happened.