San Francisco Giants: 10 Available Players Who Could Guarantee Playoff Return
Spring training is nearly two months away and the Giants have been relatively inactive on the hot stove during the offseason.
With the exception of the Miguel Tejada signing, their other signings have involved bringing back components from the 2010 World Series championship season, such as Pat Burrell and Aubrey Huff.
Although the free agent market has thinned now that Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth have joined other clubs, the Giants still have some viable options on available players, both in the free agent and trade markets.
Here are 10 potentially available players who could guarantee October baseball on the shores of McCovey Cove again in 2011.
This article was featured on the blog Talking Giants Baseball.
How many games will the Giants win in 2011? Vote here.
Follow me on Twitter @vintalkingiants.
Option No. 1: Edgar Renteria
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Although the Giants' $1 million offer to Edgar Renteria made him feel disrespected, the latest news is that the two sides are once again talking, according to Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com.
However, the Giants are not optimistic about re-signing the veteran shortstop since he has drawn interest from other clubs, such as the Reds.
A team is only as strong as its weakest link, so the Giants would be wise to solidify their bench. With backup left-handed first baseman Travis Ishikawa emerging as a quality pinch hitter, Renteria is a professional right-handed bat off the bench who still has a flare for the dramatic.
In the 2010 postseason, Renteria batted .286 with two home runs and six RBI, although three of them came on his game-winning home run in Game 5 of the World Series. Renteria is not an impact player anymore, but he can grind out an at-bat or fill in a hole if an injury were to occur to, say, Miguel Tejada.
Option No. 2: Gregg Zaun
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It is no secret that Giants backup catcher Eli Whiteside struggles against major league pitching. In 2010, he batted just .238 with a .299 on-base percentage. A low average, little power and a low OBP is a recipe for disaster at the plate.
Buster Posey, the Giants' regular catcher, cannot play every game, so a decent backup will be key in getting the Giants through 162 games.
Gregg Zaun might just be that decent backup catcher. For the Brewers in 2010, Zaun hit .265, with two home runs and 11 RBI, in 28 games. He also gets on base more than Whiteside, owning a career .344 OBP.
While Zaun is not a significant upgrade over Whiteside, there was a reason Posey played every game in both September and the playoffs.
Option No. 3: Eric Chavez
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In recent years, Eric Chavez has been plagued with injuries for the Oakland Athletics. Once a potential superstar third baseman for the A's, Chavez is now looking for a change of scenery.
With the Giants' third base position in limbo, if Pablo Sandoval doesn't come into camp more fit, Chavez might be a cheap, reasonable option who could provide some left-handed pop off the bench, assuming he is healthy. He owns a career OBP of .343, a stat the Giants surely would like to improve upon.
If the Giants can sign Chavez to a major league or minor league contract at or near the minimum, this would be a low-risk solution to improve the offense, especially the bench. At 33, he might have something left in the gas tank, so why not take the chance on this ragtag misfit if the philosophy worked in 2010?
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Option No. 4: Jamey Wright
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The one dimension that the Giants' bullpen is missing is that mop-up role long reliever. The Giants' starting pitching is excellent, but if one of their starters has an early exit once in a while, who do the Giants have in their bullpen who could eat up three or four innings?
While Wright is not the flashiest name out there, he is serviceable and could even spot start. For the Mariners in 2010, he posted a 1-3 record with a 4.17 ERA.
The Giants would be best to offer Wright a minor-league contract for 2011. If he does well in the spring, put him on the roster. If he gets lit up, then explore other options.
Option No. 5: Manny Ramirez
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The Dodgers tried to punch the Giants by taking Juan Uribe, so why not punch the Dodgers right back by taking one of their former players?
Manny Ramirez may be best suited for the DH role, but he still has a quick bat that the Giants can use off the bench. In 2010, Ramirez hit .298, with just nine home runs and 42 RBI in 90 games, but had a .409 OBP. On-base percentage is something the Giants need to improve on, as they only had a team OBP of .297 in the 2010 postseason.
If Burrell were to struggle, Ramirez would just be another option in left field, assuming the Giants don't sign another outfielder. With a gazelle in the outfield, Andres Torres, along with Cody Ross, one water buffalo in the outfield will not hurt that much.
Option No. 6: Jermaine Dye
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In 2009, Bay Area-native Jermaine Dye proved that he still had something left in the gas tank. Now, at age 36, he could return home and help the Giants in a similar fashion to what Manny Ramirez can do.
Dye hit .250/27 home runs/81 RBI/.340 OBP in 2009. Like Ramirez, Dye could be a force off the bench or help if Burrell struggles in left field.
Dye probably will not post his 2009 numbers, but he is another professional bat with playoff experience who can get on base.
With the wide-open spaces of right field at AT&T Park, Dye's primary position, he is probably best suited for the bench or left field, but with Torres and Ross in the outfield, he does not need too much range out in the field.
Option No. 7: Jon Rauch
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With Sergio Romo giving up big home runs late in games (especially in the NLDS), the Giants might want to seek another right-handed setup option. Jon Rauch might be it if Romo struggles in 2011.
A change of scenery from the Arizona Diamondbacks seemed to help Rauch. In 2010, with the Minnesota Twins, Rauch went 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 59 games. He struck out 46 while only walking 14, posting an impressive strikeout to walk ratio that is almost 3:1.
The Giants already have a strong, deep bullpen and could make it even stronger with Rauch in 2011.
Option No. 8: Orlando Cabrera
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With the Giants backup shortstop position still not a foregone conclusion with Edgar Renteria not happy with the Giants contract offer, they will need someone to fill the position since it is unrealistic to ask Miguel Tejada to play 162 games at shortstop. Orlando Cabrera might just be a solid option.
In 2010, Cabrera hit .263, with four home runs and 42 RBI for the Cincinnati Reds. He may lack the World Series dramatics of Edgar Renteria, but he is a little guy who swings hard and has a little bit more power.
Not to mention he would fit in well with all the Latin players in the Giants' clubhouse. Team chemistry was high in their 2010 championship season, so why not keep it that way?
Option No. 9: Prince Fielder
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For a couple years now, Prince Fielder's name was tossed around as a potential trade target. If the Brewers fall out of the race, which is less likely now that they signed Zack Greinke, Fielder could be an option in 2011 for the Giants, especially now that their payroll is expected to reach $120 million and since 2011 is a contract year for him.
Fielder can flat-out hit. In 2010, he mashed 32 home runs with 83 RBI. He also gets on base, owning a career .385 OBP. He would dramatically change the look of the Giants' lineup.
Fielder has a heavy frame and could be a defensive liability. In 2010, he had a not-so-impressive -7.4 UZR. To accommodate Fielder, the Giants could move Huff to left field.
Option No. 10: Jose Bautista
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Depending on Jose Bautista's arbitration case, he could become available, especially if he wins his case. If that happens, the Blue Jays would have to pay lots of money, so they might want to unload him.
If the Giants trade for Bautista, their lineup would look worlds better, granted 2010 was not a fluke. In 2010, Bautista hit 54 home runs and had 120 RBI, and he could be the big bat the Giants are looking for.
If Pat Burrell struggles like he did in the World Series, Bautista could be given consideration. Not to mention he had a high OBP in 2010 at .378. However, the Jays will want good talent in return for him.
This article was featured on the blog Talking Giants Baseball.
How many games will the Giants win in 2011? Vote here.
Follow me on Twitter @vintalkingiants.
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