Hot Stove Update: Aubrey Huff Signs With the Giants

The Giants signed the lefthanded bat they were looking for in Aubrey Huff. Huff is 33 years old, has spent time with the Rays, Astros, Tigers and Orioles. He has hit well, and hit for power, while playing 1B, 3B, LF and RF, but has also struggled on defense at all positions and has had some down years.

The first question is which Aubrey Huff are the Giants getting? The one who hit .304/.360/.552 with 32 HR's in 2008, or the one who hit .241/.310/.384 with just 15 HR's in 2009? Given Giants fans experience with these things, we have to assume it's closer the the 2009 version, which means we've just signed a poor fielding version of Travis Ishikawa for a lot more money than Travis will cost. On the other hand, if we get just an average Aubrey Huff with a .812 OPS, it should be a definite upgrade to the offense giving the Giants a respectable lineup.

The next question is where is he going to play? It makes no sense to play him at 3B where Pablo is better on defense. The last time he played in the OF was 2006, so it would seem that he will play first base with Pablo staying at 3B, DeRosa manning LF, and Uribe waiting for someone to get hurt. Travis gets thrown under the bus, but he was already under the bus with the DeRosa and Uribe signings. The nice part of this, at least for us Nate Schierholtz fans, is that it seems like only a very remote possibility that Huff plays RF, or that the Giants sign another FA OF to block Nate. It would seem likely that Huff will only start against RHP's with Pablo moving to 1B and Uribe to 3B against LHP's.

The Giants may sign a catcher and potential #5 starter on the cheap, but they are likely done with major additions to the team at this point. So, here is the likely starting lineup on opening day(assuming a RHP for the opponent):

CF Aaron Rowand
2B Fred Sanchez
LF Mark DeRosa
3B Pablo Sandoval
1B Aubrey Huff
RF Nate Schierholtz
SS Edgar Renteria
C Buster Posey
P Tim Lincecum

Fantasy Impact: Aside from Pablo Sandoval, I recommend staying away from the Giants offensive situation entirely until roles are better defined. There is just too much opportunity for Bochy to mix, match and platoon thus costing fantasy players valuable Plate Appearances.(See my earlier post re. the "Hidden Stat").