Also, I think it’s funny how Caincecum has turned into Caingarnerson.

I am not a freaker-outer, I just don’t see the point. The Giants are not going to contend in ‘09 (and may only do so in a marginal fashion in ’10), so the need for a mid-30’s SS at this point is a bit of a headscratcher.

Also, if the Giants are serious about Sandoval at 3rd, that side of the infield is likely to be a sieve.

I’m inbetween whatever and love it. Renteria could be a good player; a bit overpayed, and i’ll be bummed if that means we lose out on the Sabathia bidding, but if Renteria plays like he has in the NL before, I’ll be very happy. It’s just that, with our manager, Renteria could decline rapidly with age and still get every at-bat that he would get otherwise, youth be damned.

The trade seems to signal a sea change in the approach of the FO.
a 3 or 4 year deal would have meant that the new boss is the same as the old boss.
This 2 year deal would seem to indicate that the FO is a little more forward thinking than in the past, say, decade.

I chose “whatever,” but I actually kind of like the signing… I just don’t love it.

I don’t know that he ever has before, and I just pulled that out of my ass, but I’m sure he could actually move to any of the other 3 IF positions if one of the following happens; Burriss becomes a MLB quality hitter and Frandsen plays well enough to be the everyday 2B, the Cubs get desperate and offer up Ronny Cedeno for Randy Winn and Alex Hinshaw, we trade Molina at the deadline next year to a catching starved team that has a young stud SS. Knowing the way the Giants front office thinks, I’m sure they like the potential versatility of signing a SS.

Looks like we are trying not to suck as much as last year. I love that we have not lost a draft pick or signed a contract longer than two years. I have a feeling that the remaining moves will cost us a little more.

So I like it. I don’t love it, because I don’t think Renteria is going to prove to be that much better than Burriss, but it makes sense and I think it’s a smart move.

It fits in line with this offeseason’s mantra (minus the Denker mess): what we can’t fill immediately from our farm system, we’ll sign to cheap short term deals. I think the Front Office would feel better having a competition in spring training between 2 SS prospects with the idea one of them will turn out, so once renteria’s deal is done, burriss and crawford or maybe noonan could duke it out. i don’t blame the FO for wanting more of a sure thing in at least one of the IF spots, being as the rest of the IF is left to unknowns like Pablo, Franny, Baron Pickoff von IronGlove and Ishi.

But I am not IN love with it.

I like it. B/c it is a short term deal it won’t hurt long term development. Burriss will get his at bats, here (playing 2nd) or in Fresno (playing SS) and he’ll have to prove that he belongs. Signing Renteria to a 2 year deal helps bridge the gap between the current team and the future team when more of the young studs in the minors start to develop and become big league prospects. Right now the team is lacking in realistic SS options (except Burriss) even close to the majors. Crawford, if he’s the one, will take a few years. As will Culberson, Schoop. eHire, etc. Renteria’s been solid and even poor play on his part will be superior to what the team got last season.

And that brings me to the next point, which is that its fairly obvious what Sabean is doing here. The starting pitching was a strength for the team last year and will probably be better this year. But the bullpen blew too many leads and the offense was horrendous. By shoring up the bullpen, and getting the offense to “acceptable” or close to league average, the team has a chance to compete in the NL West. And since he’s doing it without giving up draft picks and mortgaging the future with long term deals, I say he’s doing a decent job and the team will be much improved next year.

Much much much better than Furcal for any money for any length of time would have been!

It’s not Orlando Cabrera.

Renteria will earn $9 million in 2009 and $9 million in 2010. The team option includes a $500,000 buyout. If Renteria is traded anytime during the contract, he can void the option and collect the buyout.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/04/SPO714I5PS.DTL

Just got a congrats e-mail from a freind for the Rentaria signing. Here’s what I answered:
Affeldt – GREAT signing.
Howry – Could be GOOD, but maybe a bust. Low risk though, which makes it OK.
Rentaria – The only thing that could have been worse is 4 years for Furcal. On a team built on pitching, why sign a guy who, regardless of how he hits, is gonna be a negative in the field? (And I doubt he’ll ever be a plus hitter anymore either!) Once again, spend just for the sake of spending instead of some real plan.
Now they’re talking Sanchez for Cantu! Picture that left side of an infield!!!!! If that crazy rumor is true (God forbid!), don’t you think Sanchez has more value than that? If not, KEEP HIM! I have a new evaluation formula just for Giants fans. I call it Sabeanmetrics:
Aging, declining veteran + Expediancy >/= Courage + Creativity + Patience + Well thought out plan.
 
P.S. Way to get younger Sabes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I eagerly await the “This space for Renteria” signs that will soon pepper the landscape of Phone Company Park.

I think our farm options at short still need some development so this position needed to be filled. The fact that is only a 2 year deal makes it that much easier to like. I dont see the injury worry posted above as it looks like he hasnt spent any time on the DL since 2007, a year he hit 332. All that and this comparison makes me feel like this was a positive upgrade (and a etter deal than a Furcal signing):
2008 Stats: Hits AB Avg HR RBI Runs SO OBP SLG
Giants SS: 162 703 .230 1 46 72 110 .286 .254
Renteria: 136 503 .270 10 55 69 64 .317 .382

Lastly, I lke the idea of pablito at 1st and either tradign for or signing a 3rd baseman with some pop. A poster yesterday mentioned Beltre as possible trade. I imagine we are going to do something like this over signing Dunn or Burrel.

also. I hope Buriss sticks around the pros though. I think him and Tim are buddies. Either way it doesn’t seem like the downside is too much since I agree w/ those who say that it was too risky to trust Buriss without another 300 ABs which he could get here at second or late innings defensive replacement for Renteria, or in Fresno.

I’d rather have had Furcal, but 4 years wasn’t going to happen, and it seems obvious Rafael is jerking the Gints and the A’s to get back to the Braves, so f@!k him. On the other hand, every report says Edgar has lost one or two steps and you’ll miss those one or two steps after watching Omar these past few years. Can Renty still hit? Better than Omar and Emmanuel? Probably. I’d rather see Emmanuel play SS and acquire Uggla to play second. Maybe I’ll be surprised. Any how, it’s better than re-signing Neifi.

I’m OK with this but slightly worried about his defense, especially if Pablo ends up at third.