I'm really surprised by the backlash to this one. It's a done deal, and some folks are just freaking out. For a three- or four-year deal? Oh, yeah, storm the administration building and march in the quad. For a two-year deal? Low-risk, medium reward. The concern of the freaker-outers, distilled into one question:
Why come no youth movement?
The freaker-outers are ready to say, yes, those last 150 at-bats from Burriss meant more than the rest of his minor league career. Those 150 at-bats showed that Burriss didn't need AA or AAA; he was ready right away, and he'll be ready next year. I wish I had that kind of faith. But if Burriss flopped at short, the Giants would be screwed for two years. Next year's shortstop market is a mess, and any shortstops on the trade market will either cost some crazy Caingarnerson price, or they'll be unproven, cross-your-finger types, just as Burriss is right now.
It isn't as if the Giants are saying, well, back to Siberia for Burriss, either. There are about three or four hundred at-bats waiting for a guy who can play second and short. Burriss will get his chance, it just won't be at short, for the most part. I would love for him to start in Fresno, actually, but I guess I'm in the minority. And if Burriss does well wherever he plays? The Giants will have a shortstop to trade in next year's market. I don't see the down side. My last Renteria post gave four likely scenarios, and a two-year deal to a former plus player isn't a disaster in any of the scenarios.
There aren't any disastrous scenarios other than two full seasons of lackluster range, booted balls, and weak hitting, that is. But that's a total worst-case scenario, and if it happens, the Giants aren't just going to run Renteria out there every day while Burriss hits .350 in Fresno. Complete asininity on the part of the Giants' manager and front office in the event of an age-related implosion is the only way this deal will turn out to be awful.
Wait a sec.... Lemme go back and rethink this....
You know what? I'm fine with this move. Because in a couple of years, Edgar Renteria will HIT A THREE-RUN HOME RUN IN THE MOTHERFUCKING WORLD SERIES OFF OF CLIFF LEE! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THE GIANTS WILL WIN THE WORLD SERIES BECAUSE OF THIS SIGNING! IT WILL BE AMAZING! IT WILL BE BETTER THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE! THIS CRAZY-EXPENSIVE SIGNING IS THE TIPPING POINT. WE'RE A GOING TO BE CHAMPIONS! WE'RE A GOING TO BE CHAMPIONS! EDGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
In conclusion, this was a fantastic signing for the San Francisco Giants.