State of the Giants: Addendum

Any discussion about the State of the Giants is incomplete without a comment on the Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand signings. As I see it, the Zito/Rowand signings were desperation attempts to keep the Giants competitive while awaiting the maturation of the Rebuild from Within, along with an eye on maintaining attendance. It didn't hurt that both were popular players, in Zito's case already a star in the Bay Area. Both players predictably have failed to live up to the size of their contracts. Both are now widely seen by Giants fans as being impediments to either signing other, possibly more productive, free agents, or to the promotion of worthy prospects.

Up to this point, neither Zito nor Rowand have really blocked anyone. The Giants have had enough openings in the pitching staff to accomodate all their MLB ready prospects so far, and they have not had a legitimate CF prospect as yet. As for FA's, last year's marquee FA's, Sabathia and Teixeira were destined for New York, as the Yankees were not going to allow anyone to outbid them. This year, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are considerably less talented than Teixeira and Sabathia. It does not look like anyone can or should outbid St. Louis, and no team seems to really want Bay, at least at his preferred price.

The Zito/Rowand signings may become more problematic down the road. They may come to block talented prospects who are MLB ready, or they may take up so much payroll that the Giants will not be able to afford to sign their homegrown stars to long term contracts, or they may prevent them from signing more talented free agents. As it stands, Rowand's contract will be up after the 2012 season, and Zito's after the 2013 season which is right about the time the Giants Rebuild from Within is hitting it's stride. The Zito/Rowand contracts should not prevent the Giants from hanging onto their homegrown players long term.