Benitez news - from Rotoworld

by Aadik on Jan 14, 2007 7:46 PM PST

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/home_MLB.aspx

[i]The Marlins are still holding out hope of acquiring Armando Benitez and would prefer not to shift Ricky Nolasco to the pen.

Nolasco would become a favorite to close if he is tried as a reliever, but the Marlins think he can contribute more as a starter. As things stand now, Taylor Tankersley looks like the best bet for saves in the Florida pen. The team is still believed to be willing to part with either Yusmeiro Petit or Sergio Mitre for Benitez. However, if the Giants are going to be paying almost all of Benitez's salary, they'll want more in return.[/i]

Maybe its just me, but I think Benitez is a sunk cost at this point - anything we can get for him is a bonus. Mitre or Petit wouldn't be that bad.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Keeping Our Powder Dry

Doesn't hurt to keep our powder dry. He might show up healthy to spring training, in which case we might want to keep him or we might be able to get more in return.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 14, 2007 8:51 PM PST reply actions

Re: Keeping Our Powder Dry

Still DrB, Yusmeiro Petit is a pretty decent prospect. I'd see him as around a number 3 type pitcher in his prime.

Plus, Benitez hates the San Francisco fans (I guess since we booed him so much) and I doubt that any comforting words that Bochy will try to say will fix Benitez's attitudes towards the Giants organization. His heart is not here--and thus he doesn't give his full effort. I see him only try out there but not go all out. I doubt he will ever be successful in SF again, though with a change of scenery and a new season he actually might be decent and even dominant at times.

I'd say at this point, take Petit. Sabes can try and push for a little more, but id take Petit.

Sabean stop giving away our first round draft picks!!

by z4 landshark @ McCovey Chronicles on Jan 14, 2007 10:23 PM PST up reply actions

Petit

I could live with a trade of Benitez for Petit. That still leaves us without a closer, but Petit should have trade value himself. Still, I think we can get Petit at the end of spring training. Also, I don't completely buy that Benitez would dog it in a contract year even if he hates the fans. Wouldn't take too many good games to turn the fans around and everybody's happy.

by DrBGiantsfan on Jan 14, 2007 11:09 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Petit

I think he could probably win back the fans if he did really well for a while. But they could quickly turn on him with just one or two bad outings.

Personally I'm more concerned about how the rest of the team and him will get along. I don't think he made many friends last year trying to blame other people for his performance. The biggest problem was probably between him and Felipe, maybe Boche will help make things better. He seems to have some confusion about what his job is, perhaps our new manager can explain it in terms that he can understand.

I think Benitez needs a change of scenery. To me it's no longer an issue of whether he can be effective (which isn't impossible, despite what we all witnessed last year), I think his relationship with the fans and organization has been damaged too much. If he's traded and becomes dominant, great for him, I just don't see it happening with the Giants.

by Snof on Jan 14, 2007 11:46 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Keeping Our Powder Dry

I hate everything about Benitez. I hated everything about my previous car. I did not shoot my car. I actually tried to put it in the best light, showcase its pluses, yet truthfully disclose its shortcomings. I priced it fairly and got top dollar for it. I was happy, the buyer was happy.

I'm with DrBGiantsfan on this.

Save The Pitcher. Save The World

by E Ticket on Jan 15, 2007 9:09 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Keeping Our Powder Dry

Logic can be so anti-climactic, though!

I own my own business and I'm a giants fan; being a Giants fan is harder.

by hairball on Jan 15, 2007 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Benitez news - from Rotoworld

I'm not a fan of Petit.

It isn't that he's such a bad player...it's just he'd be nothing more than clutter in the Giants' system.

I'd compare him to the Giants starter prospects, but that's useless; through 2007 and 2008, the Giants have 4 rotation spots filled; Zito, Cain, Lowry, and Morris. Spot #5 may be up for grabs, but it's pretty much keeping the seat warm for Lincecum. Sure, a trade may happen, replacing any of those four with Petit is a downgrade.

After '08, the Morris spot is opened...but is Petit so much better than all of Sanchez, Misch, Pereira, or Griffin (or others)? And after '08, Petit is out of options.

In the bullpen? The losers of the 5th starter battle, Correia and Hennessey, will probably move to relief along with existing young relievers Chulk, Munter and Taschner. That's a tight mix. Beyond that mix, there's Sadler, Anderson, Quinowski, not to mention Bateman and Hedrick, and all the current talented starters who could be moved to the bullpen. Does Petit outrank then?

I'm unconvinced about trade value; It's a risk, especially after his awful 2006 season in the PCL, much less the majors. Yea, he might bounce back......might. In the meantime, I think he'd hurt the team by taking up space on the 40 that Armando staying would free up after this season. The 40-Man roster crunch that we expected to deal with this offseason will still happen after this season.

This list has changed a bit, but it's still sizable: EME, Timpner, Hedrick, Espineli, Sanders, Whitaker and Mooney are just the guys we can foresee. The Giants will have 8 guys coming off the roster as it stands currently. Making it 7 and adding Petit won't help things, I think, especially considering the chance/likliehood that the Giants will replace a significant number of those major league players with young players as opposed to free agent signings.

It's not exactly a crisis situation, but I think the Giants have to look ahead, and I don't see a trade for Petit helping the major league team and costing the team other prospects. Sure the other prospects are also fringy, but at least they'd play positions the Giants don't have as much depth in.

by BruteSentiment on Jan 15, 2007 4:11 AM PST reply actions

Re: Benitez news - from Rotoworld

after his awful 2006 season in the PCL

Was it really awful? Yes, his strikeout rate finally plummeted, but a 4.28 ERA in Albuquerque seems pretty good.

through 2007 and 2008, the Giants have 4 rotation spots filled; Zito, Cain, Lowry, and Morris

It'll be nice if it works out that way, but it seldom does. Pitchers get hurt, pitchers collapse, pitchers need to be shifted to the bullpen or traded for help at some other position. You can't have too many decent rotation candidates.

If Benitez is a sunk cost, then Petit (or Mitre) would be worth having. But is he a sunk cost? As much as I don't ever want to see him again, the wise course may be holding onto him and seeing if he can come back. Our bullpen needs all the help it can get.

by Evan on Jan 15, 2007 8:27 AM PST up reply actions