Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Dec 8 Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter:  Matt Cain
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary $20 million
2014 Salary $20 million

2015 Salary $20 million

2016 Salary $20 million

2017 Salary $20 million
2018 Salary $21 million (vesting option)
2. #2 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2017

2013 Salary $750K
2014 Salary $3.75 million
2015 Salary $6.75 million
2016 Salary $9.75 million
2017 Salary $11.5 million
2018 (club vesting option)
2019 (club option)

3. #3 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $22.5 million


4. #4 Starter:  Barry Zito
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2013 Salary: $21 million
2014 Salary: $18 million (club option) 

5. #5 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $5 million
2014 Salary: $6.5 million (club option)


Bullpen:
6. Closer: Sergio Romo
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

7. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Salary: $4.25 million

8. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

9. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2013 Projected Salary: $6 million
2014 Projected Salary: $6 million
2015 Projected Salary: $6 million

10. Right Handed Reliever George Kontos
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

11. Left Handed Reliever: Jose Mijares
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

12. Long Man/Spot Starter: Guillermo Mota
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary:  ??

Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2016
2013 Salary: $8.25 million
2014 Salary: $10.25 million
2015 Salary: $10.25 million
2016 Salary: $11.25 million

14. Second Base Marco Scutaro
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2015
2013 Projected Salary: $6.25 million
2014 Projected Salary: $6.75 million
2015 Projected Salary: $7 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2013 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2013 Salary: $5.7 million
2014 Salary: $8.25 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

17. Right Field: Hunter Pence
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

18. First Base Brandon Belt
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

19. Left Field: Gregor Blanco
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2013 Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Hector Sanchez
2013 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2013 Salary: $480K

22. Infielder Ryan Theriot
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary: ??

23. Infielder: Joaquin Arias
2013 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible
2013 Salary: ??

24. 4th Outfield: Xavier Nady
2013 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2013 Salary: ??

Cots Baseball Projections

Saltzman Says...My Tribute to Matt Cain

 

Matt Cain finished his Perfect Game with 14 strikeouts.

Reaction from the Final Out

A Team Celebration.

The Boxscore on the JumboTron

The Message Says It All

McCovey Chronicles Collection of Perfect Game Links

50 Awesome Things About the Perfect Game

Saltzman Says...What The Giants Post Season Roster Should Be

Starting Nine
1. Angel Pagan
2. Marco Scutaro
3. Pablo Sandoval
4. Buster Posey
5. Hunter Pence
6. Brandon Belt
7. Xavier Nady
8. Brandon Crawford
9. Matt Cain

Bench
10. Hector Sanchez
11. Ryan Theriot
12. Joaquin Arias
13. Gregor Blanco
14. Aubrey Huff

Other Starting Pitchers
15. Madison Bumgarner
16. Tim Lincecum
17. Barry Zito

Bullpen
18. Ryan Vogelsong
19. Guillermo Mota
20. Jose Mijares
21. Clay Hensley
22. Jeremy Affeldt
23. Santiago Casilla
24. Javier Lopez
25. Sergio Romo

Saltzman Says...Sabean's Strategery Showing Sure Signs of Success

Six Sure Signs of Success

1. Matt Cain is an Ace
No matter what happens with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain is signed through 2018.  Regardless of how much money Tim wants, Cain will be here.  That allows the team some leverage in negotiations and does force the hand of Lincecum to perform if he wants more than the $22.5 million he'll make in 2013.

2. 1st Pablo and now Madison
Locking young players up is the easiest way to ensure more cost certainty in the future.  The team did it previously with Cain, and also with Brian Wilson.  Wilson, who's contract is up after the season, actually has a 4th year of arbitration awaiting.  Pablo is signed through his arbitration.  Bumgarner is signed through the first year of his free agency.  Having their salaries locked him could save the team money they might have had to spend to keep them during arbitration, but more importantly, allows them to know what is on their books.

3. 1st Rowand and Huff and then Zito
This year will be interesting because the team might not have any money to spend as they approach the trade deadline, but may have some money next off-season.  Aaron Rowand's $12 million as well as Aubrey Huff's $11 million will both be off the books.  After the team says goodbye to that $23 million, they will finally breathe a sigh of relief the following year when the monstrous 7 year $126 million beast of a contract Barry Zito signed will be gone.  He will make $21 million next season and then the team will pay him $7 million to no longer be a Giant.  That $42 million that is currently devoted to Rowand, Huff and Zito will be gone.

4. The Kids are coming, The Kids are coming...
Freddy Sanchez is making $6 million, Jeremy Affeldt is making $5 million, and Angel Pagan is making $4.5 million. Even if any of these 3 end up having strong years in 2012, they will more than likely be making less in 2013.  It is possible that with the strides being made in the minors by Joe Panik, Heath Hembree and Gary Brown, that the $15.5 million currently devoted to Sanchez, Affeldt and Pagan will turn into $1.2 million to Panik, Hembree and Brown.

5. The Bills will be Paid!
According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports, the Giants will no longer owe $20 million a year for AT&T Park after 2017.  So when the Giants are paying Matt Cain $20 million and Madison Bumgarner $12 million, they can afford to pay Lincecum $25 and Buster Posey whatever he will be making.  Same for Pablo Sandoval, Sergio Romo, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Nate Schierholtz, Gary Brown, Joe Panik, and Heath Hembree.

6. Even more Kids are coming...
Whether it's current 25 man roster contributors like Hector Sanchez and Brett Pill, 40 man roster options like Francisco Peguero and Charlie Culberson or up and comers like Tommy Joseph and Chris Dominguez, the Giants are stockpiled with talent and that will continue because of the scouting department and the staff the team has put together in the minor leagues.  San Jose, Richmond and Fresno are loaded with talent and potential and it will allow the Giants the flexibility to move a player like Zach Wheeler for Carlos Beltran even if it is a 2 month rental because the team has Erik Surkamp or Kyle Crick

Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Madison Bumgarner Extension Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million
2013 Salary: $22.5 million

2. #2 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $560K
2013 Salary $750K
2014 Salary $3.75 million
2015 Salary $6.75 million
2016 Salary $9.75 million
2017 Salary $11.5 million
2018 (club vesting option)
2019 (club option)

3. #3 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $15 million
2013 Salary $20 million 
2014 Salary $20 million

2015 Salary $20 million

2016 Salary $20 million

2017 Salary $20 million 
2018 Salary $21 million (vesting option)

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million
2013 Salary: $5 million
2014 Salary: $6.5 million (club option)

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million
2013 Salary: $21 million
2014 Salary: $18 million (club option) 

Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.25 million
2013 Salary: $4.25 million

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3.2 million
2013 Salary: $5.7 million
2014 Salary: $8.25 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $650K

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Hector Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. UT Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Gregor Blanco
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Salary: $480K

Aaron Rowand ($12 million)
Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says...25 Man Roster (Matt Cain Extension Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million


2. #2 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2017 (vesting option in 2018)
2012 Salary: $15 million

Matt Cain obtains a signing bonus of $5MM and his 2012 salary of $15MM remains unchanged, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). The right-hander will earn $20MM annually from 2013-17 and the deal includes a $21MM option with a $7.5MM buyout for 2018, according to Rosenthal. The 2018 option will vest if Cain is healthy in 2017, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Otherwise it becomes a club option. Cain has full no-trade protection, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio (Twitter link).

3. #3 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $850K

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million ($46 million buyout unlikely)


Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $4.25 million

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Non Guaranteed Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $3.2 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Eli Whiteside
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. Infield Mike Fontenot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.05 million

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench Estimated Payroll Impact: $4 million

Estimated Payroll: $114 million
Aaron Rowand ($12 million)
Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says... Giants 25 Man Roster, Updated 1/27/12

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $18 million


2. #2 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $15 million (with added extension??)

3. #3 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $850K

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has the breakdown (on Twitter). Vogelsong will earn $3MM in 2012, $5MM in 2013, and then a $6.5MM club option with a $300K buyout for 2014 comes into play. The total guarantee is $8.3MM.

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $19 million ($46 million buyout unlikely)


Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract 
2012 Salary: $1.575 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $4.25 million

SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Lopez -- one of baseball's most reliable lefties out of the bullpen -- had been set to become a free agent before receiving a new deal, confirmed under the condition of anonymity because the team had yet to make a formal announcement. Lopez will earn $4.25 million in 2012 and '13.

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $2.2 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Clay Hensley
2012 Salary Situation: Non Guaranteed Contract
2012 Salary: $750K 


Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $4.85 million

The Mets avoided arbitration with outfielder Andres Torres on a deal worth $2.7MM, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.  The Mets also avoided arbitration with reliever Ramon Ramirez, agreeing to a $2.65MM deal, tweets ESPN's Enrique Rojas.

(Saltzman Says...By my count, we saved $500K.  With only that savings, I sure hope Pagan is a major upgrade from Torres, because Torres is a better defender and Ramirez was a very strong arm in the bullpen. I'm not sure if we will replace Ramirez with a better arm.)

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2014
2012 Salary: $3.2 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.3 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench:
21. Catcher Eli Whiteside
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

22. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

23. Infield Mike Fontenot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.05 million

24. UT Ryan Theriot
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1.25 million

25. 4th Outfield Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench Estimated Payroll Impact: $4 million

Estimated Payroll: $114 million
Aaron Rowand ($12 million)

Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says...Breaking down the Giants 25 Man Roster (January 12th Edition)

Rotation:
1. #1 Starter: Tim Lincecum
2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 3)
2012 Projected Salary: $19.2 million

2. #2 Starter: Matt Cain
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $15 million (with added extension??)

3. #3 Starter: Madison Bumgarner
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $850K

4. #4 Starter: Ryan Vogelsong
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $3 million

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has the breakdown (on Twitter). Vogelsong will earn $3MM in 2012, $5MM in 2013, and then a $6.5MM club option with a $300K buyout for 2014 comes into play. The total guarantee is $8.3MM.

5. #5 Starter: Barry Zito
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $19 million ($46 million buyout unlikely)

Starters Estimated Payroll Impact: $56.5 million

Other candidates to start: Dan Runzler and Erik Surkamp, (eligible to pitch in the minors.) 

Possible Free Agent Starters include: Jon Garland, Hiroki Kuroda, Jason Marquis, Brad Penny, Javier Vasquez

Bullpen:
6. Closer Brian Wilson
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $8.5 million

7. Setup Man Sergio Romo
2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 1)
2012 Projected Salary: $1.3 million

8. Lefty Specialist Javier Lopez
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract through 2013
2012 Salary: $4.25 million

SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-handed reliever Javier Lopez has agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Lopez -- one of baseball's most reliable lefties out of the bullpen -- had been set to become a free agent before receiving a new deal, confirmed under the condition of anonymity because the team had yet to make a formal announcement. Lopez will earn $4.25 million in 2012 and '13.

9. Right Handed Reliever Santiago Casilla
2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 2)
2012 Projected Salary: $1.9 million

10. Left Handed Reliever Jeremy Affeldt
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $5 million

11. Right Handed Reliever Guillermo Mota
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $1 million 

12. Long Man/Spot Starter Dan Runzler
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Salary: $480K 

Bullpen Estimated Payroll Impact: $22 million ($78 Million Pitching Staff)

Other Candidates to Relieve: Steve Edlefson and Waldis Joaquin (eligible to pitch in the minors.)

Possible Free Agents:

Starting Lineup: 
13. Center Field Angel Pagan

2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 4)
2012 Projected Salary: $4.7 million

14. Second Base Freddy Sanchez

2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $6 million

15. Third Base Pablo Sandoval

2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 1)
2012 Projected Salary: $3.2 million

16. Catcher Buster Posey

2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

17. Left Field Melky Cabrera
2012 Salary Situation: Free Agent
2012 Projected Salary: $4.5 million

18. First Base Aubrey Huff

2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Salary: $11 million

19. Right Field Nate Schierholtz

2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 1)
2012 Projected Salary: $1.2 million

20. Shortstop Brandon Crawford
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled
2012 Projected Salary: $480K


Lineup Estimated Payroll Impact: $32 million (110 million total)

Other Candidates to Start: Brandon Belt at 1st/LF


Bench:
21. Catcher Eli Whiteside
2012 Salary Situation: Under Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

6. First Base Brett Pill
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

6. Infield Mike Fontenot
2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 3)
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

6. Infield Emmanuel Burriss
2012 Salary Situation: Arbitration Eligible (Year 1)
2012 Projected Salary: $1 million

6. 4th Outfield Brandon Belt
2012 Salary Situation: Team Controlled Contract
2012 Projected Salary: $480K

Bench Estimated Payroll Impact: $4 million

Estimated Payroll: $114 million
Aaron Rowand ($12 million)

Total Payroll: $126 million

Saltzman Says...Answering Giants Questions

First and foremost
1. Matt Cain signed long term is priority #1 because he will be a free agent after this year.

Short term, Long term, The Freak is staying.
2. Tim Lincecum prefers short term deals, but the Giants would like to sign him long term if possible.

If we can only keep one lefty...
3. Jeremy Affeldt will be re-signed even if his option isn't picked up, in case Javier Lopez is too expensive to re-sign.

Too expensive to keep?:
4. Javier Lopez and Carlos Beltran will probably be offered more years/money than the Giants would like to spend.

Buster is still our catcher, but...
5. Buster Posey will be our starting catcher, but after him is another story.  Chris Stewart is the most likely to return with an outside chance Eli Whiteside could remain the backup.  Hector Sanchez should begin 2012 in the minors, so the question will be if the Giants go get a catcher in the open market to backup Posey.

Logjam at 2nd will get clearer.
6. Freddy Sanchez healthy is an oxymoron to Giants fans, but when he is, there is no issues at 2nd.  Will Jeff Keppinger be kept as insurance, or will he find an every day job somewhere else.  Manny Burriss has a better glove and Mike Fontenot's lefty bat are intriguing, but who stays is anyone's guess.  Even Conor Gillaspie will get a look next year.

Put down the cookies Panda! Put down the beer and cigarettes Huff Daddy!
7. Aubrey Huff and Pablo Sandoval's conditioning is the biggest offensive question marks of the players returning.

Brandons not Ready for Prime Time.
8. Both Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford are having problems with their swing, and both could use some more minor league seasoning if possible.

Nate still Great, but the rest of the outfield...
9. Nate Schierholtz is the 2012 starting right fielder barring an upgrade or a fall off at the plate.  Neither Andres Torres, Justin Christian or Cody Ross seem like options to start 2012 in CF, so the question becomes who will.  Gary Brown is not ready and might not be until 2013.  Even if he is ready sooner, the team will not go into Spring Training with Torres and Ross only as options.  Torres and Ross might not even be brought back, but if they are, it will be to compete for the 4th or 5th outfield spot.  Pat Burrell has said he will only return to SF if he does come back in 2012, and Darren Ford doesn't have the bat to go with his legs.

Saltzman Says...2012 Giants new additions??

CF Coco Crisp (Sign as a Free Agent)
2B Freddy Sanchez
3B Pablo Sandoval
C Buster Posey
LF Nelson Cruz (Trade Erik Surkamp/Dan Runzler/Steve Edlefson)
1B Gaby Sanchez (Trade Jonathan Sanchez/Santiago Casilla)
RF Nate Schierholtz
SS Brandon Crawford

Cruz could provide much needed right handed pop at AT&T

Wouldn't you want this guy having your back?

Anyone who closelines Nyjer Morgan is a stud in my book

Bench:
C Chris Stewart
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Jeff Keppinger
3B Omar Infante (Sign as a Free Agent)
OF Cody Ross (Sign as a Free Agent)
OF Juan Pierre (Sign as a Free Agent)

Rotation:
SP Tim Lincecum
SP Matt Cain
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Ryan Vogelsong
SP Barry Zito

Bullpen:
RP Guillermo Mota
RP Jeremy Affeldt
RP Ramon Ramirez
RP Javier Lopez
RP Sergio Romo
CL Brian Wilson

------------------------------------------------------
Instead of bringing Carlos Beltran back, we use his money to re-sign our pitching, and sign Crisp and Infante. We get a true leadoff hitter as a buffer for Gary Brown in a year or two and we get a true utility player to replace the void of Juan Uribe. Juan Pierre gives us a major league hitter with the speed of Darren Ford.

We let Pat Burrell, Mark DeRosa, Eli Whiteside, Mike Fontenot, Andres Torres, Bill Hall, and Manny Burriss go. Cody Ross as well as Aubrey Huff could all be gone before the year ends, if not sooner, if we find better options.

We move 5 good pitchers (Jonathan Sanchez, Santiago Casilla, Erik Surkamp, Steve Edlefson and Dan Runzler) and we get two potent right handed bats in Nelson Cruz and Gaby Sanchez.

Now we can let Brandon Belt get his year in AAA, we can get Pablo and Buster some protection, and we can let Nate Schierholtz and Brandon Crawford's defense stay in the lineup. We can also let Darren Ford go back to AAA, where is bat belongs.

Saltzman Says...Projected 25 Man roster next year

Would the veteran Coco Crisp be the spark the Giants need?

San Francisco Giants 2012 Opening Day Roster:

SP Tim Lincecum (re-signed)
SP Matt Cain
SP Madison Bumgarner
SP Ryan Vogelsong (re-signed)
SP Barry Zito

RP Guillermo Mota (re-signed)
RP Ramon Ramirez (arbitration)
RP Santiago Casilla (arbitration)
RP Jeremy Affeldt (re-signed)
RP Javier Lopez (re-signed)
RP Sergio Romo (arbitration)
RP Brian Wilson

C Buster Posey
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Freddy Sanchez
SS Brandon Crawford
3B Pablo Sandoval
LF Brandon Belt
CF COCO CRISP (added as a Free Agent)
RF Nate Schierholtz

C Chris Stewart
2B Jeff Keppinger (arbitration)
SS Orlando Cabrera (re-signed)
OF Cody Ross (re-signed)
OF Andres Torres (re-signed)

Obviously, if we can move Jonathan Sanchez, release Aaron Rowand, and maybe trade some prospects, we can upgrade our lineup more than simply Coco Crisp.  Re-signing Ryan Vogelsong is probably just as important as signing a player like Crisp.  37 Stolen Bases at the top of the lineup is certainly a welcomed addition to what Andres Torres is not doing.