Manager: One more thing, as for the Giants skip, I am cool with Wotus, Brenley, or Rags.

I wouldn't mind seeing Dusty come back... as hitting coach (not bloody likely).

How about Robby Thompson as bench coach?

Will Clark as first base coach?

Matheney as third base coach?

I'd like to have SOMEBODY worthy of the All-Star team since we're going to host.  Bonds is trying now so I think he'll want to come back.  We shouldn't give a penny over $3M.
I think signing Soriano, Wells, or Dye is imperative.  Two mashers and a bunch of young guys in the lineup, I can live with that.

I don't like your roster.  It doesn't have any good position players.

He was sent down to Fresno to work on being a starter now, and Alou even said he was going to start him when he was called up in September (paraphrasing) "even if it means going to a 6-man rotation."

I'm just guessing, but I think Matheny is done. I'm sticking with Notgardo myself. Greenie can stay or go it matters not.

I think it would be insane to resign any of the veterans, even Schmidt (though I love him) simply because this team is so entrenched in this hole of expenive mediocrity right now it would cost too much to retain a team competitive enough to get him the wins he deserves.

IMO it is time to embrace the horror which is the reality of a couple of years of rebuilding. Linden, Frandsen, Niekro and dare I say it, Ellison should all be in starting roles with people maybe someone like Lewis as an extra outfielder.

Winn, Morris, Sweeney, Benitez and sadly Vizquel should all be traded in order to stock the farm and speed the rebuilding process, not sure what they could get for Morris though I'm sure that next year at the trading deadline if Morris is doing just nominally well he could be traded to a team like the Yankees for above market level prospects. Benitez is in the same boat as Morris as a hard guy to move. He should have been pushed on a team like Atlanta a few months ago I think.

The 25 man as I would like to see it:

SP:

Lowry
Cain
Sanchez
Hennessey
Corriea

RP:

Wilson (CL)
Chulk
Taschner
Worrell (?)
Kline (Resigned)
Threets, Sadler, Misch, Palmer, free agent

Lineup:

CF Jason Ellison, Fred Lewis
2B Kevin Frandsen
3B Pedro Feliz (Resigned on the cheap)
LF Todd Linden
1B Lance Niekro
C Eliezer Alfonzo (I think Matheny might be done and if not trade him to a team like Philly who doesn't have a catcher)
RF (FA on the cheap, Fred Lewis or (out on a limb) Schierholtz, Ortmeier, Timpner)
SS (FA on the cheap, trade. Do what STL did with their second base situation this last year, bring in a bunch of fringe guys and hope one breaks through in spring training, I wouldn't mind someone like Aaron Miles or Hector Luna maning the position next year.

Bench:

C Knoedler
OF Lewis
OF FA, Schierholtz, etc.
IF/OF Cervanek, Santos, FA, etc.
IF/OF Shabala, FA, Etc.

The reason the Giants are in this mess is because management was so non-commital on an organizational philosophy. They say they were playing to win "now" however they refused to go out and get a slugger to "protect" Barry after Kent left and instead opted for a bunch of average to below average players instead. To affect change its time to embrace one philosphy, a rebuilding philosophy. Who knows maybe we'ell stumble across a season like florida has had this season. The pitching is going to be young and good and in the NL west who knows, it might be enough

I agree with Walrus, Sanchez is a starter and I see him starting over Hennessey, with Hennessey taking Sanchez's spot in bulllpen in a role similar to this year.  I also agree with tk that probably Matheny is gone but Eliezer will take over, but he hasn't hit that well this past month so we'll see if the Giants dip into free agent market for starting C.

I would not consider Aurilia, Lilly, Hunter, or Dye as big free agents, but that's me.

Did you count Matheny's salary twice, once in position players and once in dead salary?  Though I guess his replacement, if it is not Eliezer, would cost about that much so I guess it's OK as a placeholder.

You need to read the Sabean chat that was on MLB.com recently, lot of good info there in the transcript.  It explained a number of items that you didn't know.  First, Sabean said that the payroll is not going down, it will be about the same - which I guess the pessimists will interpret as down slightly but your take drops it over $10M (I think the budget is suppose to be around $93-5M now, if I remember right).  Second, if they are spending that much, they will be able to afford to resign Schmidt if they really wanted to, but I think the amounts you list is too low, he's going to get much higher, in my mind, $15M-ish per year, and I don't think that the Giants want to go that high.  Third and relatedly, if they are spending that much, they can afford to pay big money for a Soriano or Carlos Lee if they wanted to.  That means Zito is a possibility if they do not resign Schmidt, though I don't know what their thoughts on Zito is.  

Nice take on the payroll situation, good post.  I agree that the Giants are looking to a future without the oldsters you listed, except that I think either Feliz or Hillenbrand will be resigned to play 3B and Niekro will man 1B in his last chance to become a regular (given how well he has hit in the minors in his short time there, I'm looking forward to him coming back up and slugging some).  I don't think Durham will get that much money given his health history, I think $4-5M will be closer to what he gets plus a team option for $6M or buyout at $0.5M, whether it be the Giants or whoever wants a broken down 2B.  

Given the big money the Giants will be flashing this off-season and the will to spend, I'm hoping to get Soriano to play 2B for 2007 then perhaps move to the OF after that to open up the spot for Fransen, if he is ready, or later if Sanders is ready.  Hopefully Schmidt will be resigned and I expect Bonds to resign given his resurgence lately, but for something low based with games played bonuses.  That fills up most of the main question marks (Linden/Ellison in RF/CF platoon with Winn moving to RF when Ellison) except for catcher.

Sabean does not like to be left without options and Matheny is one huge question mark.  So the Giants will be trying to see if Eliezer is ready to start next season if necessary but if not, the Giants will probably sign someone relatively good as a catcher who could start but don't necessarily have to start, not sure who fits that bill who is free agent.

I think Taschner will be the last bullpen spot in the scenario you set up above.  Since he's been closing, that to me means the Giants think highly enough of him to give him the last spot.

I don't really think that the Giants senior management is planning on rebuilding a la Cleveland.

I think trying to re-sign Schmidt isn't such a bad idea. One good reason is that his periphereals are those of the type of pitcher that can have a long, effective career, and a lot of the Giants pitchers either aren't quite ready yet, or have yet to show they can stick in a major league rotation. The second good reason is that most pitchers cost a lot, so why not pay a few extra mil for a good one. (I used this exact reasoning to decide on buying a twelve pack of Newcastle yesterday, rather than a sixer). Keeping Schmidt locked up gives them the same 1-4 with Lineceum, Sanchez, Correia and Hennessey all there when (WHEN!) somebody goes down.

I think money is better saved on the position player side. Put Bonds and Alou out to pasture. Replace them with Linden and some midmarket free agent. There's plenty of cheap good hitters that can play first and platoon with Sweeney.

Thanks for the replies to this topic, and the many thought provoking posts. For what it's worth, this was not my dream Giants scenario for 2007. I was outlining what I think management will do, at the prices the market will dictate.

My dream Giants scenario is a $120 million payroll, where the Giants keep their young core, re-sign Schmidt, Bonds, Feliz,  Hillendbrand, and Kline, then go out and sign Soriano to play 2B,  Carlos Lee to play 1B, and Torii Hunter to patrol CF.

My 22 years of being a baseball fan taught me that the MVP of any team is the owner. Sad, but true. "Barry window" or no "Barry window," if the Giants were willing to significantly spend, every season could be a championship potential season...

2B Soriano
SS Vizquel
CF Hunter
LF Bonds
1B Lee
RF Winn
3B Feliz
C  B. Molina