News
Giants can find talent in 'second tier'
A look at possible targets as the Hot Stove cranks up
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
11/20/09 8:40 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO -- Exactly who might occupy that "second tier" of free agents that prompted the enthusiasm of general manager Brian Sabean?
The Giants rarely divulge details regarding their free-agent plans. But certain players available in the open market, who became eligible on Friday to entertain offers from all teams, fit the profile of what the Giants need more than others.
Proven hitters who can get on base. Reliable performers who won't embarrass themselves defensively. Hoping to establish a semblance of an everyday lineup, the Giants can find a handful of qualified candidates even without pursuing Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. None, however, are proverbial impact players. Each has his flaws. Here, in alphabetical order, is a list of players likely to have attracted San Francisco's attention: Russell Branyan, 1BHis tendency to strike out (149 in 431 at-bats in 2009) might dampen the Giants' ardor for him. But the 31 home runs he hit will get him a job somewhere if he doesn't return to Seattle. Branyan's .347 on-base percentage last season doesn't sound so great until you consider that San Francisco first basemen recorded a .328 mark, 15th in the National League and .045 below the National League average. Marlon Byrd, OF
Like Branyan, Byrd conveniently had his best season this year when he happened to be approaching free agency. Byrd's defenders would point out that he played regularly for the Rangers in 2009 the first time in his career. The Giants would welcome Byrd's pop (20 homers in '09). But though he hit consistently for average regardless of location (.282 at home, .285 away), he was much more productive in Arlington (14 homers, 52 RBIs, .538 slugging compared to six, 37 and .419 on the road). That won't help his marketability. Mark DeRosa, INF
Agent Keith Grunewald told The Los Angeles Times earlier this week that the Giants were among a horde of teams that had expressed interest in his client. DeRosa, who finished the 2009 season with the Cardinals, would be an adequate replacement for Juan Uribe if the hard-hitting utility man signs elsewhere. DeRosa can play first base, second, third and the outfield. He hit 23 homers with 78 RBIs last season. He's also recovering from left wrist surgery and is 34 years old, so let buyers beware. Jermaine Dye, OF
Skeptics cite Dye's age (36 next Opening Day) and his .179 batting average after last season's All-Star break. He also averaged 32 homers annually in his five White Sox seasons. The Vacaville, Calif., native, who played for the A's from 2001-04, might get a lift from returning to the Bay Area. Chone Figgins, 3B.
Figgins can be a catalyst (.363 career on-base percentage, including .395 in 2009). But this was the first year in six in which he reached triple figures in walks. Will he sustain that or regress? Everybody knows that small ball, not power, is Figgins' game. And the Giants have conceded that they can't play for the home run at AT&T Park. But with Freddy Sanchez (38 homers in 2,732 career at-bats) already at second base, the Giants might prefer somebody with a little more power than Figgins (31 homers in 3,585 at-bats for the Angels). Orlando Hudson, 2B
Wait -- the Giants don't need a second baseman, because they re-signed Sanchez for two years. But Sabean has pointed out that Sanchez can play third, where he has logged 172 Major League games. That's a not-so-subtle hint that the Giants will consider offensively capable second basemen. San Francisco's second basemen ranked 14th or lower in the NL last season in RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) and runs. With a .282 career average, the switch-hitter would be an upgrade. But injuries have been a concern for Hudson, who won his fourth Gold Glove for his 2009 work for the Dodgers. Nick Johnson, 1B
The former Washington National might be the most attractive player in this group, at least among those who value on-base percentage. Johnson's OBP has exceeded .400 in each of his last four seasons, including .426 in 2009. He recorded a .415 OBP despite hitting .220 in 2008. Johnson won't collect a lot of long balls, but he possesses occasional power (89 homers in 770 Major League games). He has been challenged to stay healthy, however. Adam LaRoche, 1B
Trade rumors have linked the Braves' LaRoche to San Francisco in previous years. But the left-handed batter, who has 123 homers over the past five seasons, might not even want to contend with AT&T Park's daunting right-field wall. For a comparison, think of J.T. Snow, who hit 108 homers in five years with the Angels and Giants until moving into AT&T in 2000. Snow proceeded to hit 57 homers in six seasons. Felipe Lopez, 2B
For years insiders questioned Lopez's attitude. His .310 average and 38 doubles last season with Milwaukee convinced a lot of people that he's a great guy. Lopez stole 44 bases in 2006, but that's no longer a major part of his game, given his 14 thefts in 28 tries over the past two seasons. Placido Polanco, 2B
The .303 lifetime hitter has played exclusively at second base for four years after establishing himself as a utility player with St. Louis at the outset of his career. But the Giants might decide that one former Tigers infielder (they already have Edgar Renteria) is enough. Also, Polanco played a career-high 153 games last season and just turned 34. It's legitimate to wonder how much he has left. Scott Boras' gang
It's quite a group. Players in the agent's stable who have been linked at various times to the Giants, according to wholly unsubstantiated reports, include third baseman Adrian Beltre, infielder Hank Blalock, outfielders Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady and catcher Ivan Rodriguez. While declaring that the Giants won't enter the sweepstakes for Holliday, whom Boras represents, Sabean acknowledged that the club has contacted Boras about some of his other clients.
"We know who's available," Sabean said, adding that negotiations involving Boras' players in lower strata often are prolonged.
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
