San Francisco Giants: Making the Case for Michael Cuddyer

The 2011 San Francisco Giants struggled to score runs in support of a dominant pitching staff.

Although they were able to maintain some momentum after Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez went down for the year, the remaining hitters' inability to manufacture runs was the team's undoing.

The pitching staff will return basically intact in 2012, and while the fifth spot in the rotation is a question mark and will be occupied by either Jonathan Sanchez or Barry Zito, the top four spots showed no sign of stumbling as the season drew to a close.

The bullpen may change a little bit, as Javier Lopez is a free agent and there will be a lot of interest in him. The other main players will be back, and should be able to repeat their stellar 2011 performance.  Brian Wilson is the only real question mark going into spring training, and it is a big question mark as he finished 2011 injured amid a cloud of uncertainty.

Brian Sabean has stated that his first offseason focus will be the young pitchers. Once he finalizes the pitchers' statuses, he will turn his attention to a couple of key places on the field where he can upgrade without breaking the bank.

Forget about Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder—they are a pipe dream and will hamper a team like the Giants for years to come. Sabean needs to upgrade at shortstop, center field and either left field or right field.

Michael Cuddyer would be a logical step in the right direction.

Cuddyer has been consistent throughout his career, with an overall line of .272/.343/.451/.794. His 2011 numbers basically mirror his career stats. He'll be 33 years old at the start of the 2012 season, and is coming off a four-year, $33.5 million contract.

A three-year deal in the area of $30 million might land this "professional hitter"—and if it does, the Giants should be the team to sign that deal.

Cuddyer would fit nicely in the lineup behind Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval. He can play both outfield corner positions and has played third base, second base and first base. At AT&T Park, Cuddyer would be a left fielder, allowing Nate Schierholtz to once again roam the park's vast right field.

I feel like the Giants need to do everything they can to re-sign Carlos Beltran, if for no other reason than to get more out of the trade of Zack Wheeler than they got in the final third of 2011.

They should only pursue that to a certain point, however. If they are being outbid by other teams who are willing to give Beltran four or five years guaranteed, then they should go to plan B.

Cuddyer isn't a Hall of Famer, but with the Giants he wouldn't have to be. What the Giants need is to surround their pitching staff with hitters who can be consistent and productive.

Coupled with a few other under-the-radar type of deals that Sabean should pursue, Cuddyer would make the Giants a significantly better offensive team in 2012.