Because we know this team isn’t poor. Remember all season, when player agents (particularly Boras) were trying to move their players in the direction of the Giants, noting that they were the franchise in the best position to spend money? All those mid-season reports expecting that Reyes would sign with SF as a FA, and that they shouldn’t trade for him, when all he will take is money in the Winter, which they have plenty of?

This is just getting ridiculous. We all know this team must be rolling in dough, and it might be the case that Sabes is given a strict budget so as to keep the profits away from payroll, but I have to believe that if Sabes had any intention of signing Beltran, Reyes, anybody, he would posture disinterest and poverty, especially after everybody imagined him waiting for the offseason holding a big sack of money and two matching Bentleys with the personalized plates reading “REYES” and “BELTRAN.”

I’m quite positive that they must be trying to get Cain/Lincecum inked long-term and seeing the markets develop before going after anybody so as to not out-bid themselves. But what happens in Cain or Lincecum won’t extend? Do we then expect the team to go all in for 2012 and 2013 (assuming the extend Cain, but not Timmy)? I think that might be possible.

All that said, I think we will have a cheaper winter than the team can (and for fan support and winning’s-sake, should) afford, but we should look for a few things to happen.

1. Matt Cain will be extended. If he goes to free agency, we’re fucked. Somebody will give him the largest pitcher contract of all time (or damn close to it) if he reaches the market. He’s the only guy in the world that might not know that. He will be turning 28, have 7 years of consistent, #1 starter performance, and has shown an upward trajectory of getting a little better every year. I think he is the very archetype of a player that you build your team around, and I think most GMs would agree. His career resume is better than Greinke and Hamels in terms of IP, ERA+, and year-to-year consistency, and he’s a year younger. The Dodgers just yanked the best hitter of the 2012 FA market, the Giants need to do the same with the best pitcher.

2. They will try to extend Lincecum. Good luck here. If we can’t extend Lincecum, we know that we will probably lose $20m+ of the books after 2013. Makes win-now FA signings more possible.

3. They will do everything they can to sign Beltran. A. Because they need another consistent offensive force and B. Because they need to save face after dealing Wheeler.

4. If they can’t sign Timmy long-term, I think Reyes and Rollins will be in the realm of possibility. They already might be, under the veil of such extreme posturing. If Timmy is leaving after 2013, I think that makes 2012/2013 obvious SELL OUT THE STADIUM AND WIN NOW! years.