another reason to make a run at Furcal… only type B.

I would not sign Dunn or Burrell unless one of them is going to play 1B. I would probably pass on Sheets, Moyer, Dempster. Olivier Perez and Derek Lowe would have to come with very favorable terms. The bottom two sections on your list are a clear ‘pass’.

Long aside over. The comment starter: Which free agents should be off limits because of the draft-pick cost?

In my opinion, any of the relievers. I think punting a pick for Juan Cruz — who is a pretty good reliever — is a bunch of malarkey.

Marte is off the market, by the way. He just re-upped with the Yankes for $3/12.

I think if you’re signing a “big name player” then i don’t think losing the draft pick is really an issue. For example, your first couple of lists, shouldn’t really be impacted by the draft pick, but whether signing them is the right move.

If it’s a utility player, or buy low candidate, then it should really make you look elsewhere. As mentioned, i think it really impacts on the relief market, as i’m hard pushed to see any of the relievers being worth it to be honest, especially given the number of other options that don’t require picks. I guess it’s more of a question if it’s a big name closer, but hopefully we’d steer clear of them anyway.

Ultimately i think draft pick compensation can be overplayed, especially in the case of the bigger name players, but it should make you steer clear unless you think you’re signing a really good player.

I pretty much like Grant’s list, but I think I’d move Burnett down a notch (once he’s got his fat contract I have ZERO faith that he’ll be that valuable).

So much of this depends on whether the Giants FO really and truly thinks it can contend in 2009, doesn’t it? If they think a Holliday-less Rockies and Peavy-less Padres will bring up the rear of the NL West, and that they’re only one FA signing away from competing with the DBacks and Evils, then a Top 50 draft pick seems like a sacrifice worth making. Having said that, I’m very skeptical we’re just one player away, even if that FA fills a big need (e.g., power hitter who can play the corners). Then the question becomes is this FA going to be a valuable, productive player in 2010-2013 or would a much cheaper (albeit unproven) draft pick be a better option for those years.

Another problem is whether Sabean will feel pressure from the owners to make a big FA signing this year no matter what to sell tickets for ‘09, even if it limits the team’s options in future years, and even if (when? ohplease ohplease) Sabean isn’t around after next season.

Which is a super-long way of saying that, from that list, only Mark Teixeira and maybe CC seem worth a pick.

Glad to hear Casey Blake won’t cost us a pick.

Maybes: CC, Big Tex, Furcal

Everyone else: resounding no

Only CC and Teixeira if the contracts are right. As gregitsu stated, tying up significant amounts of money will have repercussions in the future when the team is ready to contend. CC and Tex are not signing a three-year deal.

The Giants certainly do not have any MLB ready player that can hit at the level of Teixeira. That would be an expensive investment, but one that should pay off.

CC should certainly pay with increased ticket sales, although the Giants do not seem to have much a problem in that area. This is not the Rays. My worry with CC is body type, health and longevity. He has not shown any signs, but the man has pitched significant innings. He may be the exception and not the rule, but it seems as if it would be a risky investment.

No to Furcal. He would be a good fit for the Giants right now, but the injury history leads me to believe there would be problems there. That….and he was a Brave and a Dodger. He must be evil :-)

Makes some sense from Sabean’s perspective. One of the best relievers on the market and won’t cost a pick

As for major FA’s, I’d probably stay away from the whole bunch. Teixeira has the most interest to me, but that’s obviously a huge commitment

I’m just sayin’…