One talent evaluator told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that Aubrey Huff posted impressive numbers in 2010 because he “got better as a player." Huff has set himself up for a nice payday and he isn’t the only Giants free agent who stands to cash in this offseason, as Olney explains:
- One GM says players like Juan Uribe, who can hit 20 homers and play in the middle infield, are becoming harder to find. “Five years ago, you could find a lot of guys who could do what he does,” the GM said. “But not now.”
- Olney surveyed scouts and executives about the A’s-Royals trade and everyone said it was a good deal for both clubs.
- Rival teams believe the Rays are willing to trade B.J. Upton. What’s more, Tampa Bay wouldn’t have to be overwhelmed to agree to a deal.
- The Yankees are interested in John Buck, but the catcher could likely command a two-year deal (possibly from the Red Sox) and it seems unlikely that the Yankees would offer more than a one-year contract.
- In a series of tweets, Olney explains that the Blue Jays may only obtain a second or third round pick for losing Type A free agent Scott Downs (they will also get a compensation pick if they offer arbitration). There's a chance that Downs' new team will sign another free agent with a higher ranking, which would prevent Toronto from getting a first rounder.
Thanks for stating the obvious about Downs, Olney.
Interesting to hear that about Upton. He has mad potential but for some reason he’s never reached it. But I wouldn’t mind to see Jays pick him up. He could use a change of scenery and Jays could use a guy that can steal 40-50 bases.
If Tampa Bay wouldn’t need to be overwhelmed to move Upton maybe:
Beltran, Mejia, and 2 other prospects – Beltran can play CF and DH other days.
for
Upton and Garza
And please I’m just speculating, don’t kill me!
Why would the Mets want Beltran and his 18 million like at all?
I don’t think the Rays do that for sheer amount of money they would have to pay Beltran.
So the Rays are cutting payroll and dealing 2 relatively cheap (getting expensive, I know) for an $18 million OF with bum knees makes sense how?
Like I said ladies, I’m just speculating. Do you work for the Rays? Do you know that they’re cutting payroll? The Wilpons have said they willing to eat money if it means moving a bad contract.
I don’t work for the Rays but I do know they’re cutting payroll. It’s been pretty well laid out by the team. The Met’s would have to pay nearly all of Beltran’s salary and the Rays wouldn’t trade Garza in that deal… without Garza the Met’s wouldn’t include as many prospects. Overall I’d say too many obstacles to overcome. It might work for the Met’s but the Rays need to get younger, cheaper players they can afford to keep for a few years.
No need to call everyone “ladies” because your idea is insane.
Lol so you can make ridiculous trade proposals but no one can respond? Mlbtraderumors has a reply button for a reason.
Should get uncomfortably expensive for the Giants to resign those two who made a combined 6.25 mil last year. What are we looking at 13-15 mil this year for their services? Whatever the price tag, it should be worth it.
they should try to sign uribe first. hes more important.
I would say Huff is more important but I could see where you’re coming from because a SS that can hit 20 homers is a premium these days. With that being said as much as I like Uribe he might not be entirely important. If the rumors are true I think the Giants will go for Nishioka if they believe he can be an everyday plus MLB player. I think he’s playing in the championship series this weekend so I guess we’ll get more of a scouting report within the next week or so about his hitting. If his scouting report is good and if Bobby Evans, John Barr, and the advance scouts give the thumbs up I think the Giants should pursue Nishioka.
Huff though might command a three-year deal, and with Brandon Belt on the way and Huff not exactly a Gold Glove outfielder, I’m not sure he’s more important than Uribe. I’d also be hesitant if I’m the Giants to count on anything near Huff’s 2010 being repeatable.
You dont need an above average defender in LF if they’re giving you good offensive production (see Bonds, Ramirez, Burrell, Ibanez, etc). I think Huff maybe more of a key because lets face it… Uribe is slightly above average in the field but if we get more defensive up the middle, i think we’ll see more value then Uribe’s bat brings. I love Uribe mostly due to his presence with the young guys but i think his bat is replacable and it will be easy to replace his glove with guys like Burriss, Crawford or Adrianza in the farm.
So say Belt cracks the 25 man roster and starts at 1B and you bring back one or the other (Huff/Uribe)… it could either look like:
LF DeRosa/Huff, CF Torres, RF Ross, 1B Belt/Huff, 2B Sanchez, SS DeRosa/Burriss, 3B DeRosa/Panda
or
LF DeRosa, CF Torres, RF Ross, 1B Belt/Panda, 2B Sanchez, SS Uribe/Burriss, 3B Uribe/Panda
I like the flexibility and the offensive consistency with Huff in the lineup. Whatever the case they’re going to have to overpay for Uribe the way this SS FA class is. Huff as a 1B or LF actually has some competition and probably will get a 2/18 or 3/24 which is still a good value for his production.
I say he’s more important just because the giants have absolutly no shortstop. Huffs bat is very important but overall I still would rather have uribe signed asap.
I say he’s more important just because the giants have absolutly no shortstop. Huffs bat is very important but overall I still would rather have uribe signed asap.
i think huff brings stronger production and intangibles but can be replaced more easily (derrek lee, laroche) than uribe, who as the article mentions is the surest shot at 20hr from a ss available. so yes, that implies uribe is higher priority but i like re-signing huff and pursuing some of the cheaper ss alternatives: jjhardy or even theriot, or if this japanese guy can play ss. or renteria to hold the fort while crawford develops for another half year. as long as we don’t get locked down for more than 2 yr with anyone.
Giants could go after bartlett too as a strong glove, weak bat short term option at SS. hes a bay area guy too, so it would be a burrell-like homecoming as well. Personally, I think Huff is the bigger priority. He lost weight and really came to camp focused and it led to a great season by him. Maybe the production is not replicable, but if he stays in shape he shouldn’t see much drop off. 2 years/12-14 mil plus maybe an option seems fair. If (fingers crossed big time) Derosa came come back healthy and play up to his ability, .265 or so average and 15-20 homers, then I don’t mind letting Uribe go. Get younger and focus on defense on the infield- nishioka, hardy or bartlett
People tend to marginalize the character that players bring to a team. The 2010 San Francisco Giants are a prime example of a team of “misfits” and “castoffs” whose locker room presence and character counted more than their UZRs and WARs. The Giants’ marketing slogan of “It’s Magic Inside” truly embodied what the 2010 team was all about. Nobody expected them to make the playoffs, let a lone win the World Series, but that’s what great pitching (and strong clubhouse character) can do for you.
i think huff brings stronger production and intangibles but can be replaced more easily (derrek lee, laroche) than uribe, who as the article mentions is the surest shot at 20hr from a ss available. so yes, that implies uribe is higher priority but i like re-signing huff and pursuing some of the cheaper ss alternatives: jjhardy or even theriot, or if this japanese guy can play ss. or renteria to hold the fort while crawford develops for another half year. as long as we don’t get locked down for more than 2 yr with anyone.
The Yankees are playing a dangerous game not going after John Buck…i hope Jesus Montero is not just a slugger with no defensive skills…Going after Buck would give them an insurance policy they could trade later or even keep if they find they would rather DH Montero in 2012 and not use him as a catcher…especially if there other prospect catcher Austin Romine doesn’t become a good hitter…
If Yankees want to improve Montero catching skills, why not let him stay him for another year in the minors until he improves to at least average?
His bat is major league ready, and he can work with Tony Pena up in the majors everyday.
Would Montero really be a big step down from Posada defensively? Would Buck really be worth a two year deal? iirc Buck isn’t exactly a defensive wizard either so I think it would be a bad decision to sign him to what he wants just for the small defensive improvement they might gain, especially since the best prospect they have is a hitter who catches and is going to need to get AB’s.
I’m going to call this now: Upton to the Braves. What would it take to get it done? I was thinking Mike Minor plus a B-grade prospect.
Braves would make sense. Don’t know what it would cost though, Upton is hard to gauge. He should be a star but hasn’t had a good year since 2007. He’s still so young though and still has the same skills. Not sure what his troubles are but a change of scenery may help, as well as a move to the NL or at least out of the AL East. The Rays would be selling low which I suppose is why they wouldn’t need to be blown away. I’m guessing a young, potentially impact prospect would get it done with some org filler thrown in. Upton is getting expensive and hasn’t been really good in four years so he’s not going to command a ton.
Love to see the Dodgers take a stab at Upton. Put him in the outfield this year and once Sands and/or Robinson are ready, consider moving Ethier to first base. Haven’t thought all the way through this, but I’m sure there are a ton of other teams that would love to take a “chance” on Upton if it’s true that he won’t cost a king’s ransom.
I would also like Ned to inquire about Upton. Obviously, it’s an upgrade over Pods, but it also strengthens the OF defense by putting everyone in more natural positions (Kemp RF, Ethier LF).
What do you think it would take for the Jays to land Upton? Marcum seems too expensive, but maybe something built around Scrabble? (is that worth it for the Jays?)
Would that mean Bautista is the everyday 3B with an OF of Snider, Wells and Upton?
Would love to see Upton in a Phillies Jersey next year. Just saying Ruben.
Hmm.
I still think that the Phillies should be forced to rework the trade and have it really be Dom Brown + Drabek for Halladay. Yes, for his caliber of a pitcher, two blue chip top prospects. And I’m a Yankee fan. Jus’ sayin’.
Utpon for Rizzoti, who could play 1b next year for them and a high ceiling pitching prospect….what do you think? I would deal Singleton for a player like Kemp, but not Upton. Upton would be a sick RF or CF in CBP. Also could provide power from the right side
Hell. No. For a guy that’s only had one good year…
If the Yankees are interested in a catcher, it SHOULD be Ramon Hernandez.
J.P.Arencibia and Chad Jenkins for Upton.
B.J Upton for Brendan Ryan and Aaron Miles.
Aaron Miles is a free agent, and the Rays already have two guys that can play a pretty good shortstop (Bartlett, Brignac)
B.J Upton for Brendan Ryan and Aaron Miles.
wonder what the Rays would want from the Twins, they are so deep everywhere. Kubel Guttierez ?
BJ and Delmon…together again! Gardy’s DY-plate-discipline-induced ulcers are just about healed, his head may explode with BJ. They could use a CF and speed though. Young/BJ/Span – it could work.
Upton would look awfully in a Padres uniform. I think Bell for Upton would be a pretty fair deal for both sides. Bell is looking for a 3 year deal and would probably take 5-6 million per. Is that still too rich for the Rays? As for Upton, he would be a triples machine in Petco and his defense would play well there too.
Now that sounds like a deal both sides could go for.
Giants have to sign Huff and Uribe. They are losing 70+ HRS with those two and Burrell and HR’s is a weakness for the Giants. Who is going to replace 70+ Hr’s? Nobody other than Uribe at short with either Huff or Lee on short deals. Even if they sign Huff and Uribe they are going to have to hope Belt can provide the power that goes missing with Burell. If they Giants had floundered in the postseason Giants fans would be blaming Sabean for not getting enough hitting. They have to shore up the hitting on this team. The post season offense defied the odds. The offense was way to feeble during the regular season and will be again next year especially if they lose 70+ HRs
Resign Barry Bonds.
Resign Barry Bonds.
The Giants will re-sign Aubrey Huff. Take it to the bank.