Milton Bradley has been traded to Seattle for Carlos Silva.  This reduces again the number of teams looking for OF.  The teams looking for corner IF help has also been reducing steadily.  However, there still appears to be plenty of talent available on the FA market who could upgrade the Giants offense, in addition to the trade targets such as Uggla and Overbay.  Players from an earlier top 50 FA list still available:

-Holliday

-Bay

-Beltre

-Damon

-Hudson

-Tejada

-Byrd

-LaRoche

-Branyan

-DeRosa

-Delgado

-Nady

That's quiet a few players who could be very helpful to the Giants.  At the same time, I'm finding it hard to find fits for all these players around the league.  It seems the number of players > than the number of spots available.  IMO, Holliday will realize St. Louis is his best spot and the Mets pick up Bay because they feel they have to do something.  I'd be fine with that since those players are going to get much bigger contracts than I'd want to see the Giants give them. 

Still, if those signings do happen, there are plenty of players available that are improvements.  As always, there is the caveat that it all depends on the deal they sign.   But Sabean seems to be setting himself up to have quite a bit of leverage (especially if you include the trade options such as Uggla) to negotiate with these remaining FAs.  I'm actually hopeful of how this off-season will turn out.  My biggest fear is that Sabean will get nervous, break from the strategy it appears he's using and overpay for someone.  But if he doesn't, the Giants could very well be in the catbird seat.

Turned the channel whenever the highlights came on.  Avoided KNBR liked the plague.  Muttered a few inaudible words whenever someone brought up the Giants.  This is what I have done since yesterday afternoon.  It’s time to focus on the game today.  I hate labels, but this IS the biggest game of the year.  Get the W and the road trip is done with a 6-5 record, a success no matter how painful it has felt.  Get home to face the very bad Diamondbacks while the two teams we are chasing beat up on each other.  Three games in the standings are there for the taking, no matter who wins in Colorado.  Then the Rockies come to AT&T to face Lincecum, Zito and Cain.  No matter how down I felt yesterday, sitting back today I can see it all falling into place.  It is still within reach.  Time to turn the page on yesterday.

Open Pre-Biggest Game of the Year Thread.