STATE OF THE GIANTS

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UPDATE 1/12/10 - 12:08 PM PST
The Giants have a number of versatile players, which has given the team flexibility this offseason. After the signing of Mark DeRosa a few weeks back, it was assumed that DeRosa would play 3B with Pablo Sandoval moving to 1B. Now that the team has agreed to a deal with free agent 1B Aubrey Huff, Sandoval will move back to 3B with DeRosa likely becoming the team's everyday left fielder. The 33 year-old Huff, who hit just .240 with 15 HR's last year after hitting .304 with 32 HR's for Baltimore in 2008, agreed on a one-year, $3M deal.

Now the biggest question remaining is who will be the team's everyday right fielder? Eugenio Velez is my current projection. Despite having minimal experience at the position (10 games in 08-09), Velez was a fixture in the leadoff spot over the last two months of the season so Manager Bruce Bochy must like having the speedster in the lineup.

UPDATE 12/28/09 - 8:47 PM PST
The team agreed to a two-year deal with 34 year-old Mark DeRosa, who hit .250 with 23 HR's and 78 RBI's between Cleveland and St. Louis last season. The move makes it likely that Pablo Sandoval shifts to first base with DeRosa spending the majority of his time at third base. Another option would be for the team to acquire a corner infielder via trade or free agency and play the versatile DeRosa in left field. Regardless, the team still has a major need for some power in the middle of the lineup and will probably continue to pursue one other player for their starting lineup. After Sandoval, who hit 25 HR's last season, and DeRosa's 23, the next closest player in HR's on the current roster was Aaron Rowand, who hit 15. Free agent Juan Uribe, who is reportedly close to re-signing with the team, hit 16 HR's in 398 AB's last season but would likely play more of a utility role. I get the feeling they are not done shopping for offensive help.

UPDATE 11/7/09 - 1:34 PM PST
LINEUP - The Giants were already lacking some pop in the lineup and now it's possible they could lose cleanup man Benji Molina to free agency. Although the team has top catching prospect Buster Posey waiting in the wings, the team could bring Molina back if the price is right. We know that Aaron Rowand will be back in CF, Freddy Sanchez will be at 2B, Edgar Renteria at SS, and Pablo Sandoval will be at 3B but there are question marks at the corner outifeld spots and 1B. Are they content to go with Ryan Garko or Travis Ishikawa at 1B? Expect the team to be players for free agent sluggers Jason Bay and Matt Holliday to fill one spot. The other could go to 2B/OF Eugenio Velez, who was the team's primary leadoff hitter to finish off the season.

ROTATION - Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito are set to be the 1 thru 4 starters. Number 5 is likely someone not yet on the roster. Twenty year-old lefty Madison Bumgarner is close but the team will probably let him get some AAA experience before he's given a permanent spot in the rotation.

BULLPEN - Closer Brian Wilson and setup man Jeremy Affeldt make it hard to come back on this team after the 7th inning but they could lose their 7th inning guy, Bobby Howry, to free agency. Sergio Romo and Brandon Medders will be in the mix to take over for him if he departs and Dan Runzler and Waldis Joaquin appear to be ready for the big leagues after successful minor league seasons in '09.