SF Giants Free-Agency Options: Ranking GM's 10 Most Likely Acquisitions

With free agency just beyond the horizon, the San Francisco Giants are looking for answers. What steps can they take to ensure that they field a competitive, run-producing team next season? What changes should be made to ensure that ticket sales remain at or near all-time highs?

Of specific interest to both fan base and front office, what free agents should they acquire to fulfill both the competitive and financial needs of the team?

The following 10 free agents are not necessarily all *likely* free-agent acquisitions. Rather, they are in my opinion the most logical choices by each position in the event that General Manager Brian Sabean chooses to go that route. 

Ramon Hernandez : Catcher

Let’s be real here. Buster Posey is going to be the catcher for the San Francisco Giants in 2012. There is no other position at which he is as valuable (don’t get me started). Also, I would presume that Chris Stewart will be named the backup catcher for his defensive prowess.

In the event that the Giants were to pursue a catcher, however, Ramon Hernandez would seem to be the most logical option. He is old (will turn 36 next season), which Brian Sabean likes. He is cheap ($3 million contract last season), which Brian Sabean really likes. And he is surprisingly productive.

2011: .282/.341/.446 12 HR 36 RBI

These numbers, pro-rated over the course of the entire season, would make him an offensive leader on the Giants.

Of course, Hernandez will probably not be signed. Not with the plentiful other gaps to fill. 

Albert Pujols: First Base

I’m not going to provide a viable third-base free agent option as there is no question that there shall be no third baseman other than Pablo Sandoval. Therefore, I might as well cover the great first base debate: Pujols or Fielder…or neither.

As you will see in the next slide, I think it is far more likely that the Giants would sign Fielder over Pujols, although I frankly expect them to pursue neither player. There are simply too many first basemen on the team. If you’re curious, though, here are the numbers Pujols put up this year:

2011: .299/.366/.541 37 HR 99 RBI

Whew. But if you think that’s good, wait until you see the next guy. 

Prince Fielder: First Base

Albert Pujols is a wonderful athlete and a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer, so long as no performance enhancing drug use allegations leveled against him have any merit. He will also probably stay in St. Louis, given the Cardinals’ influx of money due to their lengthy postseason run. The truth is that he was probably going to stay there anyway.

So, if the Giants are not content with Aubrey Huff, Brandon Belt and Brett Pill having a revolving door policy at first base, they may want to take a chance and reign in a slugger. Prince Fielder is the quintessential first baseman. He’s big. He’s fat. He’s strong. He’s also an incredible hitter:

2011: .299/.415/.566 38HR 120 RBI

Those are MVP type numbers from a position that should warrant such numbers. While Fielder’s price tag/size might weigh heavily on the Giants and their pocketbook, it is difficult to think of a more productive corner team than Panda and the Prince. 

Jamey Carroll: Second Base

Yes, readers, I am aware that Carroll is predominately a shortstop. I am also aware that with Freddy Sanchez coming back from injury and Jeff Keppinger facing arbitration, there is little chance that the Giants move to secure a second baseman. But if they were to do so, they should consider swiping Jamey Carroll from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Technically it wouldn’t be swiping as Carroll is a free agent. His numbers last year suggest that the soon-to-be 38-year-old will command an adequate salary. Of course, if the Giants miss out on Jimmy Rollins, they will probably have to sign Jamey Carroll and play him at shortstop. 

2011: .290/.359/.347 0 HR 17 RBI

Zero home runs? That sounds like Giants baseball. A slugging percentage lower than on base percentage? That definitely sounds like Giants baseball. It’s worth noting that not only does Carroll fit the mold of recently signed free-agent shortstops (dinosauric in age), but he also does not seem to be on the precipice of ineffectiveness. Carroll’s 2011 numbers were very similar to his 2010 numbers.

On a side note, he was not caught stealing once in 10 tries last year. Not bad. 

Jimmy Rollins: Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins is a Bay Area native. He also is Philadelphia’s former golden child, having won the MVP in 2007. He brings speed, defense and productivity to a position that generally lacks in at least two of those three categories. If the Giants signed him, he would bring all three of those traits to a team that has a history of shortstops with either one or none of those traits.

The consummate leadoff hitter’s numbers were slightly lower than they had been, and while a monotonic decrease in statistics can be expected, they would still be an enormous improvement. Sorry, Brandon Crawford fans. Not sorry.

2011: .268/.338/.399 16 HR, 63 RBI, 30 SB.

Do those numbers warrant a long-term contract? Given Brian Sabean’s history, probably. Will he at the very least be a competent defensive shortstop? Definitely. And he will probably contribute substantially to the offense as well. 

Carlos Beltran: Outfield

I think Carlos Beltran will return to the San Francisco Giants and play right field. I realize that this will disappoint Nate Schierholtz’ very vocal disciples, but I’m sure that even they realize it will be for the best.

Beltran has one of the sweetest swings in the majors. His numbers, while not MVP caliber, are worthy of middle-of-the-order of a division champion team. Those who point to his seemingly off-putting “me first” demeanor are either misguided at worst or not seeing the big picture at best. Want to see the big picture? Check out his statistics.

2011: .300/.385/.525 22 HR 84 RBI

But it doesn’t stop there. In 44 games with the Giants, his numbers are even more impressive:

2011SFG: .323/.369/.551 7HR 18 RBI

The RBI total would obviously be much higher and more strongly reflect his batting average had more hitters been on base during his plate appearances. Generally, Andres Torres struck out looking and Jeff Keppinger hit weak ground balls that, while occasionally ending up in the outfield, more often than not resulted in a 6-3 putout.

Carlos wants more talent around him. The Giants would be wise to acquiesce. 

Michael Cuddyer: Outfield

While I believe Carlos Beltran is by far the better of these two signings, Michael Cuddyer brings a consistent bat and a very good eye that would help San Francisco. My primary grievance with Cuddyer is that he does not bring the power to the position that one might normally expect of a corner outfielder.

He’s still a better choice than any of the current Giants options (save Beltran), although I would expect San Francisco to seek only one of those two free agents as they would likely want to give Brandon Belt playing time in left field.

2011: .284/.346/.459 20 HR 70 RBI

Those are pretty good numbers. They are a notch or two below Beltran’s numbers, but they are still competent. It’s hard to see Cuddyer not getting $10 million a year, though, and for that money, the Giants should bite the bullet, up the ante and sign Beltran. 

Coco Crisp: Outfield

If I ever have grandchildren, I will tell them that I lived in the time of Coco Crisp. What a terrific name. If a Giants fan were to sit next to a 49ers fan, one might see “Crisp Rice” from the rear.

Coco Crisp would be a logical choice for center field. Obviously, bringing up underdeveloped rookies doesn’t always pan out. Sometimes you get a Buster Posey. Sometimes you get a Brandon Belt. More often than not, though, you get Damon Minor. Who? Exactly.

Coco Crisp isn’t the best hitter. But he’s lightning fast, and that’s exactly what the Giants need in their batting order.

2011: .264/.314/.379 8 HR 54 RBI 49 SB

Those 49 stolen bases led the American League. There are a lot of incentives for Crisp to sign with the Giants. Having played the last two seasons across the bay for the Oakland Athletics, he likely wouldn’t even need to change his address. He’d get to stay in his home state of California. And, if no other improvements are made, would win the job of leadoff hitter by virtue of breathing. 

Javier Lopez: Relief Pitcher

I want to see Lopez come back. I’ve waffled between Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez for a month now, and I’m still not convinced who the better long-term acquisition is. Regardless, let’s say that Lopez should return.

With slider specialist Sergio Romo in the bullpen as well, Bruce Bochy effectively has seventh, eighth and ninth inning options (assuming Brian Wilson is healthy), or at the very least a pair of twin cannons to bring out depending on the matchups.

2011: 5-2, 2.72ERA, 53 IP, 40 K, 26 BB

The walk totals are actually very high for a pitcher with only 53 innings. His 1.283 WHIP isn’t exactly stellar either. His 2.72 ERA ballooned a bit in the second half of the season. Lopez should return, and if he chooses to return at $4-5 million or less, the front office needs to make it happen. 

C.J. Wilson: Starting Pitcher

I’m having some fun with this one, as this is one department where the Giants obviously don’t need any improvement.  I could have just as easily picked C.C. Sabathia. But I didn’t. The 2012 rotation will look something like this:

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong, Madison Bumgarner, Insert Name Here.

That name might be Barry Zito. It might be Jonathan Sanchez. It might even be Eric Surkamp (but don’t count on it). The Giants have three “No. 5 starters. A No. 5 starter, almost by definition, is the worst starter on the squad. No team needs Ryan Vogelsong or Madison Bumgarner to be the “worst” starter on the squad. Not even Philadelphia has that kind of depth. Why? It’s not that important.

The two teams playing for the World Series Championship this year — Texas and St. Louis — have virtually no depth. The New York Yankees made it to the playoffs with virtually no depth. The Detroit Tigers had one starting pitcher with a pulse. Only Tampa Bay, Atlanta and Philadelphia had depth comparable to the Giants. Two of those teams made the playoffs and neither advanced to the second round.

There is no reason — absolutely no reason —that with the incumbent lineup as impotent as it is, that the precious dollars Brian Sabean chooses to spend should go towards a pitcher. But if they do, why not C.J. Wilson:

2011: 16-7, 2.94ERA, 223.1IP, 206K, 74BB

Those numbers would give him a very good shot at the No. 2 spot in the rotation. He’s an ace on most teams. But the San Francisco Giants are not the Philadelphia Phillies…and probably with good reason.