NewsDeparting Winn earns 'Good Guy' nod
Giants not planning to re-sign veteran outfielder
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
11/11/09 10:00 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO -- Randy Winn is as good as gone from the Giants. But maybe it's more fitting to consider him good and almost certainly gone. Winn, who garnered this year's "Good Guy" award for cooperation with the media covering the Giants, appears destined to revive the tendency -- most likely coincidental -- for recipients of the honor to be sent packing by the end of the following season, or sooner. The previous three Good Guys stuck around for at least another year (Omar Vizquel, 2006; Matt Cain, 2007 and Aaron Rowand, 2008). But before them, Reggie Sanders (2002) and Rich Aurilia (2003) left after those respective seasons; Matt Herges (2004) was traded in early June of 2005 and Marquis Grissom (2005) didn't even finish the year with the club.Good Guy award winners
| Year | Player |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Rod Beck |
| 1998 | Stan Javier |
| 1999 | Ellis Burks |
| 2000 | Rich Aurilia |
| 2001 | Benito Santiago |
| 2002 | Reggie Sanders |
| 2003 | Rich Aurilia |
| 2004 | Matt Herges |
| 2005 | Marquis Grissom |
| 2006 | Omar Vizquel |
| 2007 | Matt Cain |
| 2008 | Aaron Rowand |
| 2009 | Randy Winn |
Winn is eligible for free agency and has been informed by club officials that the team wants to seek alternatives in the outfield. True to his nature, Winn harbors no ill will toward the Giants.
"The organization has still treated me great," he said Wednesday. "I got to play here for four and a half years. I got a great contract. My two kids were born here. I got to come home to play [Winn graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in the East Bay]. The only disappointing part is we didn't make the playoffs. For all those reasons, I don't have a bad taste in my mouth about coming here, playing here and what looks to be leaving here." Winn acknowledged that he "really didn't have a great year" to propel him into free agency. A lifetime .288 hitter who had batted .298 as a Giant entering this year, Winn slumped to .262 with two home runs and 51 RBIs. The 35-year-old switch-hitter batted .292 left-handed and .158 right-handed, prompting him to compare his performance with 2006, when he hit .278 left-handed and .219 right-handed. He rebounded to hit .300 overall in 2007 and .306 in 2008. Winn, who's adept at all three outfield spots, hopes to find an opening as a regular."I still feel like I can play every day," he said. "I don't feel like I'm a step slow. I still stole bases at a pretty good clip [16-for-18]."
This marks Winn's first foray into free agency after 12 Major League seasons."It's a little nerve-wracking and a little scary," he said. "But exciting at the same time."
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
