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...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.

Saltzman Says...Bay Area Bullets

Bay Area Bullets

• Nate Schierholtz (San Ramon Valley H.S.) knocked in both the tying and winning runs last night to guarantee the Giants a split in St. Louis. The last Giant to do that was Tom Lampkin on June 19, 1996
• Freddy Sanchez got hit 1,000 hit
• Andrew Bailey is back.  The Oakland A's closer is back from injury.  Maybe this will be what turns the A's fortunes around in the bullpen.
• Brandon Crawford (Foothill H.S. in Pleasanton) got his first major league hit on May 28, 2011 and it was only the 6th time in Major League History a player's first hit was a grand slam.
• Mark Ellis got his 1,000 hit, and Giants Sanchez reflects

Saltzman Says...Breaking Down 25 Man on Last Day

San Francisco Giants 25 Man Roster Predictions:

Catcher:
1. Buster Posey
2. Eli Whiteside

1st Base:
3. Aubrey Huff
4. Travis Ishikawa

2nd Base:
5. Freddy Sanchez
6. Mike Fontenot

Shortstop:
7. Miguel Tejada
8. Mark DeRosa

Third Baseman
9. Pablo Sandoval

Outfield
10. Pat Burrell
11. Andres Torres
12. Nate Schierholtz
13. Aaron Rowand

Starting Pitching
14. Tim Lincecum
15. Jonathan Sanchez
16. Matt Cain
17. Barry Zito
18. Madison Bumgarner

Relief Pitching
19. Guillermo Mota (must be added to 40 man)
20. Dan Runzler
21. Jeremy Affeldt
22. Javier Lopez
23. Ramon Ramirez 
24. Sergio Romo
25. Santiago Casilla

DL - Cody Ross
DL - Brian Wilson
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Brandon Belt starting in AAA does three positive things, despite his great Spring and deserved callup.

1. It allows the Giants to avoid the three headed monster of who is being cut between Aaron Rowand, Nate Schierholtz, and Travis Ishikawa.

2. It allows the Giants to have an open spot on their 40 man roster.  If Guillermo Mota makes the team, he must be added to the 40 man roster.  The Giants may have already decided to keep the only man in the competition that was on the postseason roster last year.  That decision was made easier when the Giants decided to part ways with Jeff Suppan.  The Giants currently have 38 players on the roster.  If the Giants decide to keep a pitcher like Ryan Vogelsong as well over Dan Runzler, they won't have an open spot for Belt.  Runzler has options left, so sending him down wouldn't clear a 40 man spot.

3. Financially, the Giants don't have to "start the clock" on Belt's career, and in the long run, it means that Belt's free agency wouldn't come up for an additional year.  Tim Lincecum is making $13 million this year, and made $10 million last year after being declared a "Super 2" for being called up May 9th his rookie year.  That year counted as a full season, which sped his arbitration years up a season.  With Posey being a Super 2 after this season, the Giants can help themselves in the long run not bringing up Belt quite yet.

Could Belt unseat Ishikawa on the 25 man roster?

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.

Andrew Baggarly Says...Nate Schierholtz could be out

It’s getting to that point in the spring when trade talks begin to heat up. But from what I understand, there isn’t anything happening with Aaron Rowand.

Less than nothing, actually. When Texas contacted the Giants to gauge interest in Michael Young a few weeks ago, the Rangers told them in no uncertain terms: “Don’t even bother bringing up Rowand’s name.”

I know Giants fans are conjuring a million fantasy proposals for dealing Rowand – to-the-Phillies-for-Joe Blanton being the most popular framework for a deal. But my sense is that the Giants are becoming more and more convinced that they’ll have Rowand on the roster to begin the season.

In that instance, either Nate Schierholtz or Travis Ishikawa will be off the team – or, in a less likely scenario, both, if Brandon Belt makes the roster. (As a reminder, both Ishi and Nate are out of minor league options.)

The Rowand situation could change with a phone call. But if the choice comes down to Nate vs. Ishi, the indication I’m getting from a few sources is that Schierholtz could be the easiest and most likely to be dealt. Perhaps soon.
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Saltzman Says...

If the Giants want to prove winning is more valuable than money, they will release the less talented Aaron Rowand and allow Schierholtz and Ishikawa to start the season on the Major League Roster.

Henry Shulman is reporting that with a projected 12 man staff, there will be two spots for four players (Rowand, Ishikawa, Schierholtz and Belt)

It would make sense to keep Ishikawa and Schierholtz in San Francisco because we have to release them otherwise, and release Rowand. Belt can start the year in AAA.

They could also let Mark DeRosa fully rest is wrist and Brian Wilson fully rest his ribcage on the DL, and keep all four for now. Dan Runzler also has options and might make more sense to start in AAA to get more innings. That way we can give a roster spot to Guillermo Mota, Jeff Suppan or Ryan Vogelsong who are all non roster invitees.

Based on the rules baseball has in place, when a player such as Schierholtz or Ishikawa are 'out of options' they have to be offered to every team in baseball if they don't make the major league roster. If nobody picks them up, they can accept a AAA assignment, or be a free agent. Schierholtz might want to stay in that scenario, because in 1 year, the Giants outfield might go from crowded to empty very quickly. Every single Giants outfielder except for Rowand is on a one year deal, and Aubrey Huff will also be in the last year of his deal. Ross, Torres, Burrell, and DeRosa are all outfield options who could be gone.

Even if Huff, Torres, and Ross came back in 2012, Burrell and DeRosa would most likely be gone. Assuming Rowand is finally gone by then, Schierholtz still becomes the best available outfielder among the other options in Fresno, like Thomas Neal, Darren Ford, and others.