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

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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...Giants back home but who will stay

San Francisco heads home with a few answers left:

1. Where will Brandon Belt start?
The smart money says Triple-A.
A) It saves the Giants money by not starting his clock.
B) There is no rush.
C) Gives the Giants more time to look for buyer for Aaron Rowand.

2. Who goes since Rowand isn't?
Nate Schierholtz looks like he is more likely to go than Travis Ishikawa. Ishikawa has less value, which makes Schierholtz more likely to move. Either way, both may be gone when Belt comes up to the club.

3. Who is the 12th pitcher?
Guillermo Mota or Dan Runzler
Runzler has options left, which says the smart money goes to Mota. Runzler wants to be a starter, and can win the long relief job over Mota on an even playing field. However, since the team can't send Mota down without releasing him first and exposing him to the rest of the league, it makes more sense to keep Mota.

Warszawski Says...Predicting the 2011 Fresno Grizzlies

Catchers (2)

Jackson Williams (Decker calls him the best defensive backstop in the system)

Chris Stewart (Hit .248 in 85 games last season for Triple-A Portland)

Infielders (6)

Brandon Belt (Top prospect likely will spend a couple months in Fresno before heading to the majors.)

Brock Bond (Hard-nosed gamer who works the count, sets the table)

Brett Pill (Needs to re-establish himself at crowded 1B position)

Emmanuel Burriss (Slick fielder still hasn't shown he can hit, stay healthy)

Edgar Gonzalez (Adrian's older brother adds depth, versatility)

Conor Gillaspie (Has not lived up to college and draft hype)

Outfielders (5)

Tyler Graham (Opened eyes last season by hitting .343)

Thomas Neal (Performed well enough at Double-A to earn promotion)

Terry Evans (Ex-Angels farmhand swatted 15 homers at Triple-A Salt Lake)

Justin Christian (Ex-Yankees farmhand hit .356 with .452 OBP this winter in Mexican Pacific League)

Brad Eldred (Slugger banged 30 homers in 106 games last season at Triple-A Colorado Springs)

Starting pitchers (5)

Matt Yourkin (At times last season, lefty was Grizzlies' most consistent starter)

Brian Lawrence (Former 15-game winner for Padres turned in solid 2010 at Triple-A New Orleans)

Shane Loux (Journeyman owns career 4.77 ERA over eight Triple-A seasons)

Henry Sosa (Maturity, experience all this hard-throwing righty is lacking)

Clayton Tanner (Lefty went 9-9 with 3.68 ERA last season at Double-A Richmond)

Relief pitchers (7)

Steve Edlefsen (Stingy sinker specialist still looking for first call-up)

Ryan Vogelsong (Look who's back. Ex-Giant farmhand once traded for Jason Schmidt)

Casey Daigle (12-year pro looking to wear third major-league uniform)

Alex Hinshaw (Lefty can be wild, and at times wildly effective)

Waldis Joaquin (Hard thrower re-joins Giants after rejecting White Sox waiver claim)

Dan Runzler (Lefty might also get stretched out to start if the Giants need rotation depth)

Marc Kroon (ex-Yomiuri Giants closer reportedly touches triple digits, but he's 38)

Other possibilities: IF Brandon Crawford, IF Ryan Rohlinger, RHP Felix Romero, RHP Osiris Matos
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Saltzman Says...

Brandon Belt and Dan Runzler may make Opening Day Roster for San Francisco.
Brandon Crawford should start at SS for Fresno.
Darren Ford should get promotion to AAA as well and play CF.
Ryan Rohlinger will start in AAA as well.

When the Giants Come to Town Says...Top 50 Prospects: 2011 Edition

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Down on the Farm: DrB's 2011 Giants Top 50 Prospects

OK team, it's that time of year again to reveal DrB's 2011 Giants Top 50 Prospects. We've been doing this since about 2003 and a lot of people really seem to appreciate it. We'll post the list here along with Honorable Mentions and "Dominican Dandies" and then give a short scouting report on each one leading up to the start of the season. In researching the list, I am struck by how much younger, deeper and more athletic the Giants farm system is than just a few years ago. You will find that the Honorable Mention list is quite lengthy with quite a few names that you might think should be in the Top 50! One area of mild concern is the relative lack of strong pitching prospects in the upper minors. Luckily, the strength and relative youth of the Giants pitching at the MLB level gives them some time to correct this imbalance. As always, this list and the scouting reports to come are just one fan's opinion. As always, please don't get too hung up on the exact order. The most important part of the exercise is getting to know some of the players the Giants have in their farm system. On with the list!

1. Brandon Belt, 1B/OF.
2. Zack Wheeler, RHP.
3. Thomas Neal, OF.
4. Gary Brown, OF.
5. Francisco Peguero, OF
6. Dan Runzler, LHP.
7. Chuckie Jones, OF.
8. Ehire Adrianza, SS.
9. Brandon Crawford, SS.
10. Charlie Culberson, 2B.
11. Jarrett Parker, OF.
12. Conor Gillaspie, 3B.
13. Tommy Joseph, C.
14. Rafael Rodriguez, OF.
15. Nick Noonan, 2B.
16. Seth Rosin, RHP.
17. Mike Kickham, LHP.
18. Kendry Flores, RHP.
19. Heath Hembree, RHP.
20. Jose Casilla, RHP.
21. Ryan Verdugo, LHP.
22. Steve Edlefsen, RHP.
23. Johnny Monell, C.
24. Chris Dominguez, 3B.
25. Carlos Willoughby, 2B.
26. Jose Valdez, RHP.
27. Jorge Bucardo, RHP.
28. Jacob Dunnington, RHP.
29. Jake Dunning, RHP.
30. Hector Sanchez, C.
31. Carter Jurica, SS.
32. Dan Burkhart, C.
33. Reiner Roibal, RHP.
34. Matthew Graham, RHP.
35. Brandon Allen, RHP.
36. Roger Kieschnick, OF.
37. Clayton Tanner, LHP.
38. Craig Westcott, RHP.
39. Eric Surkamp, LHP.
40. Jason Stoffel, RHP.
41. Ryan Cavan, 2B.
42. Chris Lofton, OF.
43. Edwin Escobar, LHP.
44. Austin Fleet, RHP.
45. Wendell Fairley, OF.
46. Leonardo Fuentes, OF.
47. Marvin Barrios, RHP.
48. Juan Perez, OF.
49. Caleb Hougheson, 3B
50. Tyler Graham, OF.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Rohlinger IF, Brock Bond 2B, Jackson Williams C, Mike McBryde OF/RHP?, Darren Ford OF, Henry Sosa RHP, Waldis Joaquin RHP, Matt Yourkin LHP, David Mixon RHP, Wilmin Rodriguez LHP, David Quinowski LHP, Michael Main RHP, Drew Biery 3B, Michael Sandoval 1B, James Simmons OF, Justin Fitzgerald RHP, Kelvin Marte LHP, Ari Ronick LHP, Aaron King LHP, Nick Liles OF, Luke Anders 1B, Ydwin Villegas SS, Christopher Heston RHP, Brian Irving RHP, Jeremy Toole RHP, Andy Reichard RHP, Craig Whitaker RHP, Chris Gloor LHP, Chris Wilson RHP, Jason Jarvis RHP, Ryan Scoma OF, Devin Harris OF, Edward Concepcion RHP, Shawn Sanford RHP, Stephen Shakleford RHP, Carlton Salters OF, Joe Staley OF, Ryan Bean RHP, Jose De La Cruz OF, Sundrendy Windster 1B, Wes Hobson 2B.

"Dominican Dandies": Fernando Pujadas C, Christian Paulino 3B, Jesus Galindo OF, Shurendell Mujica SS, Luis Angeles RHP, Joan Gregorio RHP, Ariel Hernandez RHP.

Saltzman Says... Giants Set for 2011?

San Francisco's Updated Organizational Depth Chart:


Catchers:
C Buster Posey (ML) {league minimum}
C Eli Whiteside (ML) {league minimum}

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First Baseman:
1B: Aubrey Huff (ML) {re-signed for 2 years, $22 million}
1B Travis Ishikawa (ML) {league minimum}

1B Brandon Belt (Spring Training)

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Second Baseman:

2B Freddy Sanchez (ML) {will make $6 million in 2011}
2B Mike Fontenot (ML) {will make $1 million in 2011}

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Third Baseman:
3B Pablo Sandoval (ML) {league minimum}

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Shortstops:

SS Miguel Tejada {will make $6.5 million in 2011}

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Outfielders:
OF Cody Ross (ML) {will make $6.3 million in 2011}
OF Andres Torres (ML) {will make $2.1 million in 2011}
OF Pat Burrell (ML) {will make $1 million in 2011}
OF Mark DeRosa (ML) {will make $6 million in 2011}
OF Aaron Rowand (ML) {2 more years for $24 million}
OF Nate Schierholtz (ML) {league minimum}

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Right Handed Pitchers:

RHP Tim Lincecum (ML) {will make $13 million in 2011}
RHP Matt Cain (ML) {will make $7 million in 2011, $15 million in 2012}
RHP Brian Wilson (ML) {will make $6.5 million in 2011, $8.5 million in 2012}
RHP Sergio Romo (ML) {league minimum}
RHP Santiago Casilla (ML) {will make $1.3 million in 2011}
RHP Ramon Ramirez (ML) {will make $1.65 million in 2011}
RHP Guillermo Mota (Spring Training)
RHP Jeff Suppan (Spring Training)

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Left Handed Pitchers:
LHP Jeremy Affeldt (ML) {will make $4.5 million in 2011}
LHP Madison Bumgarner (ML) {league minimum}
LHP Jonathan Sanchez (ML) {will make $4.8 million in 2011}
LHP Javier Lopez (ML) {will make $2.4 million in 2011}
LHP Dan Runzler (ML) {league minimum}
LHP Barry Zito (ML) {3 more years for $57.5 million}

The last piece of the puzzle for 2011?

29 players for 25 spots.

Most Likely to Not Make the Cut:
26. Brandon Belt, it has been said publicly, will start on opening day or play in AAA.
27. Dan Runzler, who is trying to become a starter, will most likely start in AAA.
28. Jeff Suppan, who is a starter, was signed as insurance in case our starting 5 get hurt.  If they are healthy, he's gone.
29. Guillermo Mota, who was invited to Spring Training for the 2nd straight year, might not make the 25 either.

Saltzman Says... Mike Fontenot Re-Signed, Ray & Velez gone

Giants offer arbitration to all but 2

Saltzman Says...

Facts:
Mike Fontenot re-signed for a little over $1 million.

Cody Ross, Andres Torres, Jonathan Sanchez, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez were all offered salary arbitration.

Chris Ray and Eugenio Velez were not.

What all this means...
Mike Fontenot is coming back.

Ross, Torres, Sanchez, Casilla, Lopez and Ramirez will be as well.  The question is: Does something get done before arbitration?  The answer will almost assuredly be yes.

Brian Sabean's track record is he doesn't like to take a case to an arbitrator because of how negative the back and forth become with the team and the agent.

Giants who have avoided arbitration over the last 6 years

• Jonathan Sanchez
• Brian Wilson
• Tim Lincecum
• Brandon Medders
• Jack Taschner
• Brad Hennessey
• Kevin Correia
• Jim Brower
• Pedro Feliz

What About Ray and Velez?...
Chris Ray and Eugenio Velez become free agents who could be brought back to minor league deals if nobody brings them in.  Ray should have an easier time finding a home being a former closer.  Velez could end up back in Fresno to fill out the Grizzlies roster.  General Manager Brian Sabean said Dan Runzler had the edge over Ray to make the 2011 Opening Day Roster and Velez would not be able to make the Opening Day Roster.