With Taschner now gone with a minor leaguer in return, Bochy now has a simpler short term decision for today. There is only 3 left to cut to bring them down to 30 as he suggested would happen today on KNBR yesterday. There is the potential addition of Ohman to be considered, but that merely factors in the overall non-roster invitee decisions to be made.

I think its pretty clear that one of the three to dropped out of the running on the active roster is Bowker. Between Nate, Torres, Velez, Aurilia, Guzman, and even Sandoval, his positions available to him are simply full up. 

I'm having trouble with the other two cuts, but I think it'll be by Joe Martinez and Osiris Matos who get told today to head over to the minor league camp. We expect Lowry and Romo to go DL, but they need to retain Valdez since he's out of options. 

With regard to the non-roster invitees, I think Aurilia is still a strong consideration, with only Guzman providing opening day competition for that spot. Velez could be trade fodder if the older Torres is considered a better bet. I'm not hot on Hinshaw so far this spring, but he got a reprieve with Taschner gone (see Ohman above). I only bring up Hinshaw here since we have the whole Perdomo/Medders/Miller slot to consider. I think Medders has earned it, and can play the long reliever as can Miller. Sadly, Perdomo will likely be shipped home unless packaged in a trade.

I always thought that the whole 11-12 man roster for pitcher discussion was dancing around the elephant in the middle of the room.

As Baggs is want to do, he threw in a nugget at the end of this article on sagging ticket sales:

 Pablo Sandoval will begin catching in the bullpen as early as today and log a few innings behind the plate over the final Cactus League games, Bochy said. The Giants had hoped to use Sandoval as a third-string catcher, but backup Steve Holm could be squeezed out if the Giants feel they must have a 12th pitcher.

So, when Bochy puts Sandoval in at catcher, its not that the 3rd base experiment is over, but rather that the solution to having that extra bench spot for Torres, Guzman, or the like may in fact be moving Holm down or otherwise.

During my morning commute I turned off the CD and switch to KNBR to hear the tail end of Fred Lewis speaking about the potential for Manny Ramirez being signed. Apparently, he has already had discussions with Bobby Evans concerning this and has been told that in case they do sign another left fielder (who, eh?) that Freddy will still be in the lineup daily, likely at right field.

This is another piece in the puzzle of the outfield that perchance has been put in place. My guess is that either one of Winn or Rowand are assured of being traded. My guess, considering their interest in retaining both Freddy and Nate long term is that Rowand is the likeliest to be traded. A Manny signing is more of an all-in proposition at this point with the collection of Cy Young winners on board. 

Going further, my _feeling_ is that the likeliest trading partner is the Yankees, moving Rowand to them as their CF, with Swisher in return for first base duty, along with perhaps some cash. Longer term, one can only presume that the outfield would be Manny, Lewis, and Nate from left to right, agreed?

MP3 of Fred's conversation is now up! -- Edited to add the interview

I was thoroughly roasted weeks back when I jokingly suggested we solve the Padre's Peavy problem by sending local boys Zito and Roberts back home to them. Just like CC, those two might just want to be closer to home. I even got "Abe Simpson"ed to the merriment of all others.

Well, Peavy's agent at least thinks that the only likely candidate for the Padre's to unload Peavy is the Giants, as noted over on the Padres site. Well, if you really wanted to solve their problem, they are looking for prospects and other approaches to lower payroll at all costs. If I recall correctly, they are trying to put the team up for sale.

I can see sending a few of the mid-level "prospects" of the batting sort, and either one of Sosa and/or losing Sanchez to them. Today's favorite post regarding Adrian Gonzalez doesn't seem as far fetched now. If the Padres really want to drop payroll, then perhaps the Giants can get these two if they also bet some of the future, considering the ages of these two proven players also makes them relatively young and under decent contracts. I can only guess it would be 4+ players on the Giants end to make it happen, two pitchers with one ready, and two position players. 

The real monkey wrench is that Adrian's brother will probably want to tag along and also fight for 2nd base.

The Padres can't seem to find an attractive suitor for Peavy. Why not return to them some local favorites, with a little youthful icing? Zito and Roberts as the cornerstone of a Peavy trade seems to fit the bill, but alas some young talent would need to be sent their way. Perhaps Ishikawa, Velez, or the like. The primary concern of the Padres seems to be fielding a team with little to no payroll, so one would guess we'd still need to pay for Zito' and Roberts' contracts, but Peavy would at least come cheaper for first year. I think the Padres are setting up a sale, and at least they can still sell the team with a Cy Young present.

Castillo was previously designated for assignment by the Giants, but it appears that he was claimed by the Houston Astros as noted here. I'm lacking a certain amount of clue with regards to what further benefit the Giants derive by this waiver claim. It would appear that the Astros will pick up his salary and his rights to the following year as Castillo is arbitration eligible.

Since this was not a trade but a waiver claim, I suspect that Giants will only get salary relief, with no possibility of compensation draft picks or the like. Is there truly nothing else gained by his being claimed? I guess with the DFA they would have been bound to pay out the rest of the year, but he was already cheaper than crap to begin with.

I'm surprise no one brought up the latest from the GM. Its already foggy in my mind, but among other things, he really likes Bowker, sees Burriss playing at shortstop and not second, and doesn't expect a trade to be a foregone conclusion at the deadline, but wouldn't be surprised if Aurilia was gone. He seemed to think Molina and Winn are unlikely to go as they represent a solid 3-4 spot core in the line up. Some bull pen guys may be bait, but the starting pitching also is sitting still.

Probably the most important new tidbit was that either as a catcher or if Aurilia is traded, Sandoval will be surely called up by September. The latter trade possibility would bring him up as a first baseman to share time with Bowker. Obviously, it doesn't bode well for Ort who came off the disabled list and went directly to Fresno.

His take on Sandoval was that he was tearing up AA and likely would skip AAA. My guess is that based on his performance, he may make Molina tradable in the offseason. 

Apparently, the Brew Crew blogs have Taschner still warming up for the Giants, so it looks like its a more direct swap of Durham fro Hammond and Ford, with the question of how much money had to be sent over, if anything. This doesn't mean that something else may go down from the pitching end, as rumor had it that a lefty reliever was being called up for the Giants. Then again, with Durham out I can see a need to restock the bull pen anyways with the extra space.

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/default.aspx

I'm also wondering what this will mean come Tuesday/Wednesday when Roberts is due to activated. Perhaps then we'll lose someone else down to the minors unless another trade can be made.

Looks like the Phillies picked Kline up. Wonder why some deal couldn't be made, but my guess is that the minor league contract was all that was desirable. Between their DFA for their underperforming first baseman and the Giants DFA, one would think there are better ways to make such re-contracted trades.

Better yet, I wonder what a Felix and Kline trade last season would have netted the Giants. (apparently you need 75 words to post!)

Perhaps its posturing, but in the latest article about Roberts and impending surgery, they snuck in a note detailing the fact that although they need a solid left-handed hitting first baseman, they are not interested in Dan Johnson. Clueless incompetence or another bullet avoided?

He seemed low risk, but alas they'd have to remove someone from the 40 man roster, and that might have meant a DFA. At the rate Aurillia and Durham are going, they may be close to just that, but perhaps not yet.

Saw this new post ... Looks like with Curtis Granderson is out for a month, Inge is primed to stick with the Tigers as the center fielder. Maybe he'll were out the welcome and they'd jump all over a Roberts/Inge trade straight up. 

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As noted at MLB TradeRumors the Giants are mentioned as candidates for moving a first basement or a catcher from the Braves to get a trusted, veteran bat. I think considering our "unhealthy" beginning to the season, Brian and co will be unwilling to move Ray Durham or Aurilia, but this is the opportunity, as long as cash is sent along with it. It may give new life to the catcher position, if not the 1st base potential need. What do people think of the offered Brayan Pena (C) and Scott Thorman (1B)?

Continue reading this post »

Perhaps the latest was seen already and spoke of, but I didn't see it. As noted at sfgiants.com it would appear that Correia also agreed to a contract, no more free agents will be considered, but trades during spring training are still a possibility. Mentioned again is the oft considered Crede for Giant named "x" with x still unknown during sprint training. Somewhat new fodder is the questions of who to give up, whether in trade or one supposes who to drop as well. If Crede does come here, perhaps Chicago would want another backup infielder. I think we have a Center Fielder or two that want to play infield as well, right?

Looks like the Giants are winning one off season analysis. Check out Fox Sports take of the worst around the horn. Perhaps we should have had 1st base in there as well since they select Aurillia.

As noted at mlb.com, a few things seem to be shaking out.

Inge at 3B? Maybe.
Rios for Lincecum? Last resort option only
Interest in Lowry? From the NL West, and as we know, perhaps NY.
Sanchez on the block? A lot of queries have been made of the giants.
Tejada? Gone.. not interested.

A-Jones was never really an option at the going price. I find myself liking the idea that a LF or 1B possibility of Hideki Matsui for one of either Sanchez/Lowry, especially if that improves the chance of landing the OF/3B possibility of Fukudome. At ~$10M/year with Matsui in the line up, any non-English speaking ex-patriot will want to go to warm confines. I think Fukudome would opt for Tokyo Giants over the Cubs, so a west coast team is his preferences. LA, SF, or Seattle.

Saw this posted today over at that rumor site.

Goes into the stats, and why its actually a better idea to go with what you are stuck with, Aurilia, at third, and just resist the 12M sink hole that is being suggested.

Just a linking story. MLBTradeRumors has posted them gem comprised of only contracted players, by first glance:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/09/needs-and-lux-3.html

It also echoes this list directly on a few items, and a few mistakes have already been noted in the comments.

As posted on the mercury news:

"Sanchez and outfielder Nate Schierholtz will be recalled from Triple-A Fresno today when major league rosters expand, Bochy said. The club will call up three or four more players, including catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, after the Triple-A season ends Monday. Outfielder Fred Lewis will follow as soon as his sprained ankle heals. Bochy said one of the call-ups could be a player who isn't on the current 40-man roster, possibly outfielder Clay Timpner.

As expected, the Giants sent 17-year-old infielder Angel Villalona to finish his year at Salem-Keizer in the short-season Northwest League. The $2.1 million bonus baby hit .285 with five home runs in 200 at-bats in the rookie-level Arizona League. The AZL Giants lost 8-5 to Seattle's club in the championship game Thursday."

So, yes to Timpner, no to Villalona. The mystery will be sovled after Monday, but not much is left.