The Giants cut their roster to 25, and they’re going all offensive. From Hector Sanchez to Brandon Belt to Brett Pill, they kept the guys who can hit. Sanchez is the only backup catcher as Eli Whiteside was optioned and Chris Stewart was dealt to the [...]
Giants manager Bruce Bochy strongly hinted what has become obvious the past few days, that Brandon Belt not only has made the Opening Day roster for the second consecutive season but will be the first baseman in Phoenix on Friday. Asked if that were the case, Bochy said, “He’s been getting most of the playing time. Brandon has had a good spring.”
As I was watching the MLB Network yesterday after the Matt Cain signing, former ESPN and now current MLB Network analyst quietly praised the Cain signing but questioned it in his final thoughts, saying it was “impossible” for the Giants to sign both Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum to long term deals.
Impossible, huh?
Reynolds isn’t the only one though. Many media personalities across the country, columnists and apparently want-to-be financial experts continue to preach the same – the Giants simply can’t afford both Cain and Lincecum. I’d like to assume that those said “experts” checked the Giants’ books, but I have a feeling they didn’t so I guess Public Enemy had it right – don’t believe the hype.
This isn’t a situation on if the Giants should sign Tim Lincecum long term as you’ll have a variety of opinions on that matter, it’s just a case of can they afford it? Simple answer – yes.
Tiny Tim is currently banking a very lucrative $22 million dollar contract for this season. One could safely assume that the initial year of his new contract would easily break $25 million, but let’s just stay on the short side of that and say his opening year would start at $25 to keep it simple. It’s a three million dollar increase from the ’12 year – not exactly the things that make or break franchises with the type of finances the Giants have.
Let us not forget, this is a franchise who invested heavily in the ballpark development area (real estate) when AT&T Park was built. This is a franchise that owns 30% of their television network – not just Giant games, the network. That means money from Warrior broadcasts. Money from the Shark broadcasts. No, we’re not talking Yankee YES money or NESN, Red Sox money but it’s certainly no chump change either. Yes, there are still stadium debts but those are quickly evaporating.
But back to the actual on field talent. Reynolds, among others, clearly choose to ignore the fact that money from albatross like contracts will soon be clearing themselves from the books. Barry Zito? Yes, there is a $7 million dollar buyout going into the ’14 season, but that’s $18 million dollars off the books alone (and who knows, maybe they come to a buyout situation long before that). In addition to the vomit worthy Zito contractual situation, you have $12 million on the books that the Giants are currently paying Aaron Rowand who’s sitting home after failing to make the Miami Marlins roster.
Aubrey Huff, who’s entering the final season of his contract, will remove $10 million dollars from the Giants payroll ($2 million buyout) for the ’13 season. Brian Wilson and his $8.5 million will depart (though if Sabean has his wish, he’ll return). Freddy Sanchez? His $6 million is off the books. Melky Cabrera? Who knows what will happen after this year, but he and his $6 million is off the books if the Giants so desire. In addition to all the above, Jeremy Affeldt and his $5 million dollar option will run out as will the $5 million dollar contract of Angel Pagan.
Pablo Sandoval is signed through the ’14 season at a very reasonable $5.5 annual (give or take) rate as is Ryan Vogelsong who has a $6.5 million dollar option for 2014.
Granted, yes, there will be players like Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner who will have salary increases via arbitration or their contracts extended, but at such youthful points in their career, the MLB contractual structure will play heavily into the franchises favor over the players. In addition, you’ll see raises for players like Matt Cain who’ll jump from $15 million this season to more or less $20 million in ’13.
And yes, it’s difficult to look into the crystal ball and see exactly what Brian Sabean will do in terms of bringing back players like Brian Wilson, but it’s safe to say financially the Giants are well equipped to bring back Tim Lincecum if they so desire.
So next time somebody on TV or in print says the Giants can’t afford it? Tell them to do their job, because yes, they can. They might opt not to, but as former Padres play-by-play man (who’s still well in-tune with the NL West) who’s now the lead host of MLB Network told Reynolds yesterday, “they’re printing money up in San Francisco”.
Financially, Tim Lincecum can and will be a San Francisco Giant if the Giants want to invest in him.
San Francisco Giants Have No Money For Tim Lincecum & Matt Cain? Says Who? – Around the Foghorn – Around the Foghorn – A San Francisco Giants Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Matt Cain and friends – and he has more today than yesterday – were at a news conference moments ago to announce his five-year, $112.5 million contract extension. CEO Larry Baer, GM Brian Sabean, manager Bruce Bochy and Cain were front and center, and Cain’s agent [...]
The late Hall of Fame baseball writer Leonard Koppett was so right. We call it Koppett’s Law: Events will transpire in a way that most inconveniences sportswriters. I was on Interstate 5 near Kettleman City this morning when our John Shea broke the story that a deal in the neighborhood of five years and $110 [...]
Tick. Tick. Tick. No, that’s not the newest animal (or in this case, nasty insect) hat created by the Giants’ marketing team but rather the clock on the self imposed deadline for contract negotiations set by Matt Cain and his representatives. As Spring Training has all but wound down with the Giants bringing their talent north before their season opening Arizona return, the front office and Cain’s agents have intensified their extension talks, this according to CSN’s Andrew Baggarly:
The Giants did more than pack their lockers as they broke camp Sunday. The front office also tried to wrap up right-hander Matt Cain.
Sources tell me that the volume of dialogue has increased between the Giants and Cain’s representatives as Friday’s soft deadline edges near. Cain reiterated on Saturday that he sees the start of the season as a “cutoff” to ensure he stays focused on baseball.
As Baggs makes mention, the deadline really is soft – though obviously both sides would prefer to put this scenario behind them quickly as possible, but even if it extends into the regular season (which seems plausible) you’d assume that would be good news as both sides attempt to iron out their financial differences.
Either way, it looks like both sides are trying their best to get something done before the Giants return to Arizona.
Are Giants And Matt Cain Close To Reaching Contract Extension? – Around the Foghorn – Around the Foghorn – A San Francisco Giants Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More
When a sportswriter has covered so many spring trainings that his rookie year was before Madison Bumgarner was born, he better learn a thing or three. I do pay attention about 60 percent of the time (33 percent will get you into the Hall of Fame!), so I feel comfortable sharing a few thoughts.
Fans and writers are the same in one respect. We sometimes tend to make too much of spring-training trends, which is dangerous because the baseball here is so much different than regular-season ball. When you get to the end of spring, though, bad trends should at least raise red flags. For the Giants, one is [...]
Barry Zito started out the spring looking stellar. Yes, Zito was. He looked like he could be solid in the San Francisco Giants’ rotation. However, his last two starts have completely gotten out of hand. In his last one against San Diego, he barely made it into the fourth inning. His spring ERA has now bloated to 7.91 in only 19.1 innings. Add that to his 12 walks, there have been a lot of baserunners this spring.
While the rest of his team heads up to northern California to play in the Bay Bridge exhibition series, Zito will remain in Arizona to try and figure out a way to make it work. He has little time remaining to do that, one start and two side sessions. So, he’ll compete against minor leaguers while in Arizona.
He is scheduled to start April 9th againts the Rockies at Coors Field. The Giants have no other options with Ryan Vogelsong and Eric Surkamp(strained flexor tendon) on the disabled list. Vogelsong is scheduled to join the team on April 15th.
Zito spent much of Saturday throwing on flat ground under the supervision of bullpen coach Mark Gardner. Hopefully the former ace can find a way to just compete in the big leagues.
Last spring, Zito was a tremendous pitcher ion the Cactus league with a 2.30 ERA in 27.1 innings and 16 strikeouts. This spring training has gone much differently for the southpaw, and perhaps the extra time spent in the desert sun will help his delivery and performance.
Side note: When I was in Scottsdale, I paid $60 for a signed mystery ball. I got Barry Zito.
Zito To Stay In Arizona – Around the Foghorn – Around the Foghorn – A San Francisco Giants Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More
When your “top prospect” (if you will) comes into Spring Training and rips it apart, it’s a pretty usual occurrence that he breaks camp with the big boys and their toys. When your “top prospect” slugs his way to a .407 average through 20 games and plays solid defense (one of his strengths), chances are, he breaks camp with the big boys. And when his said competition is a 35 year old, coming off a career low year, broken swing having questionable defensive playing first baseman, well, you get the picture.
Granted, this isn’t an Aubrey Huff bashing piece – Huff is notorious for his on again, off again seasons. The Giants are clearly hoping (more wishing/praying) this upcoming one will be of the “on” variety but it’s also the future versus a player in the final year of his contract. But alas, it’s politics as usual for the Giants front office, even though Brandon Belt, who can all but feel his impending demotion to AAA Fresno isn’t exactly feeling the same vibe as the Giants’ brass.
“My personal opinion? If you want to reach a certain level, you have to play at that level,” he said. “If I need to get better against big league pitching, I need to face big league pitching.”
Well at least somebody gets it. Belt has little else to prove at the AAA level, holding a career .343 minor league average to go with his sparkling .990 fielding percentage at first base. He played Winter Ball to be a “company man”, as Sabean would so politely refer to it. Yet, it’s still not enough, or at least, that’s what we’re being told.
So, uh, here, Brandon. Take this pointy hat and go sit in the corner! GO! And write on the chalkboard!
“I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean. I will not question Brian Sabean.
Did he do enough now, Sabes?
Giants’ Brandon Belt Hits Baseballs Well – Also Throws Verbal Daggers – Around the Foghorn – Around the Foghorn – A San Francisco Giants Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More
