
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
2005 finish: 75-87, 3rd place in NL West
Manager: Felipe Alou (4th season)
Free agents: RHP Brett Tomko, LHP Scott Eyre, 1B J.T. Snow
On the block: 3B Edgardo Alfonzo, OF Todd Linden
Looking for: Starting pitcher, relievers, left-handed bat, power-hitting first baseman
What’s going on: The news from the Bay Area mostly has been about who is staying, rather than coming or going. GM Brian Sabean isn’t in the running in Boston, as was originally speculated, and the club has exercised options on Jason Schmidt ($10.5 million), Ray Durham ($7 million), Moises Alou ($6 million), Randy Winn ($5.1 million) and LaTroy Hawkins ($4.35 million). Ancient lefty Jeff Fassero also signed a one-year deal. Adding a starting pitcher is Sabean’s top priority, with Matt Morris at or near the top of the list. They also will have to pay to keep Scott Eyre, whose value is high as one of the game’s best left-handed setup men. Edgardo Alfonzo could go to make room for Pedro Feliz at third base, but on the other hand, they may keep everybody around at least until they know Barry Bonds will be able to give them 120 or so games in left field. Brett Tomko could return if the Giants can’t come up with another starter on the market. The futures of J.T. Snow and Lance Niekro could hinge on the club’s ability to acquire a power-hitter at first base. Assistant GM Ned Colletti left for the GM job with the Dodgers.
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SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?
DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
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