Rumors....

I get the feeling that Russ Ortiz would be a bad idea.

And in an attempt to turn this thread into another Richie Sexson discussion, this was noted in the linked NYPost article:

"In other developments, the Mariners gauged the Yankees' interest in first baseman Richie Sexson. To make the deal work - Sexson has $28 million for the next two seasons - the Yankees told the Mariners they would have to take the $22.95 million and two years remaining on Carl Pavano's deal. Seattle politely declined."

The Mariners really seem intent on shedding Sexson's salary.

I like these rumors. They make me think Sabean is at least trying to pull some more moves off to help out this team. As of right now we are looking up at better teams in Zona, LA, and SD.....

Riske has always been an under-the-radar reliever for some reason.

Justin Speier (33 years old): 4.02 career ERA, 7.76 K/9, opponents have hit .237/.308/.416/.722 against him in 517 IP.

David Riske (30 years old): 3.59 career ERA, 8.62 K/9, opponents have hit .229/.314/.392/.703 against him in 361.1 IP.

Riske, like most relievers, has had some up and down years. He was wild in 2004 and injured in 2006. But his numbers in 2003 (.196/.260/.336/.592) and 2005 (.208/.260/.374/.631) were simply remarkable.

I'm in.

Ortiz hahahaha oh my. Grant, you are the best. LOL.

Hey! We got Molina for a discount!

[Molina] reputation took a hit last winter when he overestimated his market value and was forced to take a one-year contract with Toronto after he balked at a three-year, $18 million offer from the Mets, and they pulled it off the table.

Gagne = move of spite. Is Colletti done cherry picking Giants yet?

Here's a good quote from the Merc about the Cards' potential interest in Bonds:

"Late Wednesday, La Russa asked Borris to arrange a meeting with Bonds while the agent was in the presence of a Mercury News reporter. But a day later, the Cardinals publicly sprinted away from Bonds as if from a burning building."

16M, one year deal.

I'll grant that Gagne is a huge risk.  He hasn't pitched in awhile, he's dealing with several apparently unrelated arm issues, and what little we did see of him last year indicates that he might be down 5-8 mph in velocity.  So I concur that we should be looking only at a one-year deal with a very low base.

However, I'd like to step in on the "i hate gagne and i'd rather die than see him in orange and black" issue.  Really?  Does Eric Gagne really represent "The Dodgers" to you?  What other Dodgers can you name that are at all like Eric Gagne?  To me, Eric Gagne was (dare i say "is?") a badass who played (plays?) with a lot of emotion, pride, and heart.  Bonds himself said that Gagne was the best one-inning guy ever, and Barry isn't one to give out compliments freely.  Two definitive Gagne moments:

1. In a 3-0 game (another dominant Odalis Perez performance, as I recall--what was that guy's DEAL against us?), Gagne threw Bonds nothing but fastballs for an entire at-bat.  After Bonds yanked a pitch measuring at 102 mph FOUL, he clubbed a shot into the left-center bleachers.  Gagne's comment afterwards?  "That's probably about as much fun as I've ever had playing baseball."  
   
2. In one of those late-afternoon games where the glare off the hitter's backdrop at PacB-C-and-T is merciless, Gagne goosed a fastball way up and out of the zone (but not particularly in) to Michael Tucker.  After spinning himself into the ground, Tucker got up and started posturing for a fight, jabbering at Gagne.  Gagne flipped off his glove and just started walking towards Tucker, calmly but confident that Tucker wanted no piece of him.  Now I'll grant you; Michael Tucker was one of my least favorite Giants of the past ten years, and that may be coloring my reactions to this exchange.  But I've always felt like Gagne was a real throwback-type player, a badass who could back it up.  In his prime, he was one of the most lights-out pitchers I've ever seen.  Yes, he played for the Dodgers; but to me, he was a great player that I hated because he was so good and because he always stuck it to us.  He was good enough that he transcended being a Dodger.  Red Sox fans have come to appreciate and respect Derek Jeter, even though they hate the Yankees.  I guess that's how I feel about Gagne.  I was bred to hate the Dodgers, and I always will; but I'm a baseball fan and that means recognizing great players like Gagne (and terrible players like Tucker).  If it's a short, cheap deal, I'd love to have him on-board.  At least he'd bring a little attitude to our 'pen.  Remember that we're not that removed  from Matt Herges hesitating to come out in the 9th to "Tom Sawyer" because he worried that the lyrics might offend somebody.

How about this scenario? Sabean gives $100 million to Zito over six years, trades Lowry, Benitez, and some lower-level prospects for Sexson and Putz (picking up much of Benitez's salary), and signs David Wells to a cheap one-year contract. The Giants also invite Russ Ortiz and pretty much anyone who wants a shot to spring training in case someone decides this is do-or-die year and drops 20 pounds or otherwise regains form.

Realistic? Except for basically trading Benitez for Putz, probably yes, but maybe we could find a way to get him anyway. The best deal financially? Probably not for Zito, but we'd be competitive this year, and if not, we'd still have many veterans with short-term deals who could be traded mid-season if needed. Here's what it would look like:

1. Roberts CF
   
2. Vizquel SS
   
3. Durham 2B
   
4. Bonds LF
   
5. Sexson 1B
   
6. Aurilia 3B
   
7. Winn RF
   
9. Molina C

Rotation: Zito, Cain, Morris, Wells, Sanchez. Hennessy and Correia serve in long relief or as extra starters when needed. Putz would close. There are still gaps, but it could be worse. If you don't want to spend the money on Zito, I still think Wells would be a (potentially) good signing, and really, signing some re-treads and being clear about getting in shape has the potential to work. People often don't change until they need to, and if it's a question of losing 20 pounds and working hard in the off-season or retirement, it could work...

It's good thinking, but I don't see Putz being moved.  The M's just traded Rafael Soriano, their other viable closing option, and I don't think they'd want to put everything on Benitez's shoulders now that they've gouged out their late-inning depth.  Of course, Bavasi DID deal Soriano for Horacio Ramirez, who is essentially a garbage bag that happens to throw lefty, so maybe he'd be willing to make the move.  

I'm not so high on signing Zito, though.  His peripherals have been slipping quite a bit and, much as I enjoy watching him, I don't think signing any pitcher to more than a three- or four-year deal makes any sense.  I'd rather save the money.

By the way, there's talk that Abreu is available.  Could we put together a deal that would send Feliz, Eliezer, Lowry, and Benitez to the Yanks?  Maybe throw in Sanchez?  The Yanks have expressed interest in Notgardo, need some sock at first (maybe other people don't realize how awful Feliz is?  The Yanks are desperate enough to try Josh Phelps, after all), and were in the running for Ted Lilly, who's basically Noah Lowry's very rich uncle.  With the inconsistency of Farnsworth et al (when your second-best reliever is Scott Proctor, you have some issues to resolve), perhaps they'd be interested in seeing what Armando can do for them?

I got so excited I lost track of reality...

Jose Uribe died in a car crash: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6251122?FSO1&ATT=HMA

I attended my first Giants games in 1987 and will never forget how Candlestick fans used to chant"Ooh!  Ribe!" at each other from opposite sides of the park.  So a fond farewell to Jose Gonzalez/Uribe Gonzalez/Jose Uribe.

have we forgot the real reason we dumped Russ Ortiz to begin with...in the giants move towards washed up aged pitchers, Ortiz's youth and talent, at the time, was not the direction we wanted to go...but now he fits the mold...and while we are at it, how about Shawn Estes and in a couple of years, when his arm is hanging by a thread, welcome back livan...i also hear Terry Mulholland is free...