With the Giants payroll uncertainties all resolved to 2012 with the signing of Tim Lincecum, Brian Sabean turned his attention to the final phase of the offseason, AKA dumpster diving. This is where even the most ardent Sabean naysayers admit he has had his share of successes, and why not? There is almost no downside to signing a guy to a non-guaranteed contract in MLB!
The first signing was of relief pitcher Clay Hensley another former Giants prospect who was traded to San Diego for Matt Herges a long, long time ago. Hensley is now 32 yo and has had an up and down career both as a starter and reliever. His best season was probably 2010 with the Florida Marlins when his K/9 spiked up to >9. He even closed for the Marlins some that year! Bruce Bochy was his manager in San Diego. If anyone can coax another bounceback out of him, I would think it would be Bochy and Rags. He could make a nice 7'th man out of the bullpen and provide insurance for the rotation as a 6'th starter in case of emergency or an expected Zito fail. I'll give this one a thumbs up.
I have been defending and promoting Brandon Crawford all winter as the Giants best option to start at SS outside a Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins which was never going to happen. As a result, I have developed this protective paternal instinct around Crawford and regard with suspicion anything that might threaten his big opportunity. I guess that's why I'm not quite as enthusiastic over the signing of Ryan Theriot(The Riot to Bip Roberts). I probably should not fret about it because at this point in his career, Theriot is almost certainly not a starting SS as his offensive and defensive numbers have been in steady decline for several years now. He has maintained the ability to hit LHP's pretty well and the Giants projected lineup leans to the left with some switch-hitters who probably hit better LH, so the Giants may be thinking of him as a RH bat off the bench or a RH platoon partner with Crawford. He also does give them a bit of a safety net in case Crawford's offensive numbers crater, but Theriot would probably remind Giants fans more of Miguel Tejada or OCab on defense than, say, Omar Vizquel. In fact, Theriot's Bayou Buddy, Mike Fontenot, had much better defensive numbers at SS last year than The Riot Man! Problem is, Fonty would not make a platoon with Crawford because they both hit LH. Theriot also gives the Giants another option at 2B if Freddy Sanchez' shoulder blows up in Spring Training.
Theriot's signing also opens up almost unlimited opportunity for fun with names and relationships. There's The Riot, of course, made all the more funny by Bip Roberts' local presence. Theriot and Fontenot sound like they should go together in some kind of foot stomping country song: "Theriot and Fontenot, the place is buzzin'. Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen." There's Bayou Brothers, Bayou Boys. The Riot and The Hobbit. The possibilities are already running wild!
Rumors are also out there that the Giants and Xavier Nady have a mutual interest. Nady would be the RH bat off the bench/dumpster dive I have been talking about for awhile. Nady and Bochy also have a connection from San Diego days so it seems like a strong possibility. It's been awhile since Nady as an offensive force of any kind, let alone adequate defensively, but he was a serious hitter in his day. As we've seen, you never want to say never in this game.
These moves create competition for several roster spots putting pressure to perform on several young players. It puts pressure on Crawford to not crater on offense at SS. It puts pressure on Emmanuel Burriss to up his game a notch or two just to hold a roster spot. A Nady signing might jeopardize Brett Pill's chances of making the roster out of spring training and probably would make it more likely that Brandon Belt starts the season in Fresno.
Should be an interesting Spring Training!
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I like both of these moves. Hensley's 2011 stats are distorted by his time as a starter (which didn't go well), but he should make a fine addition to the bullpen; and he does add some depth to the rotation, in case of emergency.
ReplyDeleteTheriot's not good, but he has the potential to add some value to the SS position simply because of his ability to hit lefties. I'll take it.
I always thought that Fontenot and Theriot sounded like stinky cheeses you would find yuppies spreading on their baggets at a polo match.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, they could be exotic wines from France or something.
DeleteThey could play Born on a Bayou for their walkup music.
There's always the Ragin' Cajuns, but neither one seems to fit the type.
DeleteGiven all the outcry at MCC, you would think we just signed Renteria for $18MM and Tejada for $6MM. The Riot costs $1.25MM, if he makes it, and frankly will be just as good (or bad) as Rent/Tejnada/Bocock/OCab (except that WS dinger). Some combo of Sanchez/The Riot/Lord Fontenot/Stamos/Burriss should cover 2nd and SS with average to solid D and average hitting. It feels like we have some kind of insurance when, not if, Sanchez needs a rest/injury. Plus I like the competition and low risk contracts. What's not to like here? Oh yeah, Sabes name is attached to the deal.
ReplyDeleteHensley I think has real upside and is a great depth move - buying time younger arms to mature for 2013.
I read again and again that Pill is not a second baseman, but I cannot shake the feeling that the Giants FO thinks of him as a backup at 1st and backup option at 2nd.
ReplyDeleteI would say probably only an emergency second baseman, but yeah, anything that increases the manager's options increases the player's value.
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