Ideal Contract Offers for San Francisco Giants Key Free Agents

The San Jose Mercury News reported yesterday that the San Francisco Giants had signed reliever Jeremy Affeldt to a three-year, $18 million contract. That leaves but a handful of players from the 2012 World Championship team left for Brian Sabean to sign. There are holes in the outfield, the infield and perhaps even the bullpen. While both fans and management will like to see those spots filled with familiar names, it will come down to those numbers: dollars and years.

Let's look at the ideal contracts the Giants should offer their remaining key free agents.

4. Angel Pagan: 3 Years/$30 Million

The player who initially came to San Francisco in a trade for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez (via SF Gate) will cost his new team a lot more if they want him back in 2013. Earlier this month, MLB.com's Chris Haft speculated that Pagan will likely seek a multi-year contract with payment somewhere in the range of $10 million annually.

With a thin crop of center fielders hitting the market this offseason, Haft's prediction is likely to reflect the type of deal Pagan's management is seeking. Unless the Giants want to go above Pagan by signing Josh Hamilton or Michael Bourne, they'll have to be willing to offer three years.  

Keeping in mind outfielder prospect Gary Brown, the Giants will be keen to keep Pagan long enough to ensure a transition to their homegrown player without forcing themselves into another Aubrey Huff versus Brandon Belt situation. Financially, the money to sign Pagan at $30 million over three years is there, pending any extension the Giants may offer Hunter Pence.

3. Hunter Pence: Arbitration (1 Year/$13 Million)

Before Brian Sabean explicitly stated that Hunter Pence would be a Giant in 2013 (via ESPN), there was rampant talk about whether a rather unclutch postseason (inspiring speeches not included) and hefty arbitration price tag would compel management to split with their newly acquired right fielder. 

Now that we know Pence and the Giants are arbitration-bound, the only question left is: should they offer him an extension instead? While some decent money is coming off the books in the form of contracts for Aaron Rowand, Freddy Sanchez and Aubrey Huff, the timing isn't perfect for a big figure deal on a player that has yet to prove he's worth it.

Better Sabean and the Giants spend a little heavy upfront to retain Pence this season, and consider 2013 his audition for a long-term contract with San Francisco.

2. Marco Scutaro: 2 Years* /$12 Million

Coming off a three-year, $17 million contract (via Baseball Reference), Marco Scutaro found himself at the heart of an improbable World Series championship team. He played well enough to receive NLCS MVP honors, hitting a clean .500 (14-28) over seven games (via MLB). Scutaro also brought his glove to San Francisco, serving as an invaluable defensive commodity.

In short, the San Francisco Giants and Marco Scutaro seemed destined for one another in 2013. Standing in the way of that destiny? The fact that Scutaro is by far and away the best free agent second baseman on the market. His nearest competition is probably Jeff Keppinger.

So despite the mutual affection, San Francisco may be obliged to offer more than it would like to retain its second baseman. 

Factoring in age (Scutaro is 37) and his previous contract, the Giants should pursue something that offers a second year, perhaps as an option, and enough financial security to ensure Scutaro doesn't test the waters of free agency for too long. 

1. Brian Wilson: No Contract

It's sad, I know. But as Tom Hanks so bluntly phrased it, "there's no crying in baseball." The time of scooter rides and obscene beards and whatever this was has passed. The San Francisco Giants just won a World Series with Brian Wilson relegated to the role of cheerleader, so why pony up the dough to bring him back?

Bear in mind, we aren't talking about resigning a healthy Wilson either—this is a guy who only started to throw again two weeks ago (via SF Gate). There are no guarantees for a player coming off two Tommy John surgeries, and Wilson's option is a big gamble for a man like Brian Sabean to take. 

With potential closers Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla already on the roster, the Giants need to decide if they want to offer a contract of faith to one of the faces of their franchise or decline arbitration and let Wilson get himself in pitching form and perhaps sign elsewhere. Emotionally, I hope they sign him. Logically, I know they shouldn't.