The San Francisco Giants made their first big move in the post-season by signing utility player Mark Derosa to a two year, $12 million contract.  Derosa can play many positions and will bring veteran leadership to the lineup.  He can fill in at all positions that are neither catcher nor pitcher.   He will bring a solid bat and stable glove to the team.

If it sounds as if I feel that this signing is rather lackluster, it’s because it is.  With Derosa, you get a ‘gamer’.  A guy with his head in the game in the right spot.  However, this is not the big impact bat that the team needed for next season.  But, let’s be honest here.  Jason Bay was the big target but he will be playing in New York next season.  As per Matt Holliday, I say no as a centerpiece to a lineup.  Ask Oakland how he worked in East Bay in 2009.   Nothing else really excites me in this offseason.  Laroche?  Meh.  Nady?  Ditto.  This might be a necessary move.  If 2010 goes well, Derosa might elevate the lineup as a whole.  Combine his abilities with those of Pablo Sandoval and Fred Sanchez and you have fertile grounds upon which young players like Travis Ishikawa, Nate Schierholtz, and Buster Posey will be able to blossom.  For that, I’ll be alright with this move.  Re-sign Juan Uribe and stick him at shortstop and it gets even better.   Edgar Renteria?  I’m sure there’s some place for him, though I would be alright with an outright release.  Just my two cents.

Utility infielder Juan Uribe and starting pitcher Brad Penny declined one year contract offers to remain with the San Francisco Giants.

Penny, signed as a free agent starter, was reportedly offered an incentive laden, one-year deal.  The 31 year old hurler was 4-1with an ERA of 2.59 in the closing month of 2009 after posting a mark of 7-8 with a 5.61 ERA in Boston. 

Uribe, signed to a minor league contract in the 2009 offseason, batted .289 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI, turned down a one-year contract with player option and buyout. 

The team aren’t in talks with representatives for either player at this time. 

Analysis of these two moves show that neither should really affect the team that much:

With Penny, while it was nice to have him pitching well for the final month, he was basically taking Randy Johnson’s place in the rotation.  Johnson’s now a free-agent.  The team has a rotation of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Barry Zito and probably rookie Madison Bumgarner.  Hence, he wasn’t really needed any more.  If Bumgarner can’t go, the team has farm-hands Kevin Pucetas, Joseph Martinez, and Ryan Sadowski to choose from. 

Uribe was slightly more valuable.  He provided unexpected pop with a versatile glove.  However, I think that he was a one-season wonder in 2009.  I have a feeling that he would have regressed if he was snapped up with multiple years (which he no doubt now will be with another club).  There’s really no reason to sink a salary buster into somebody who was making an encore to a career swoon. 

Thanks to both for their contributions in 2009 and best wishes for next season.  Now, if the team can figure out how to get rid of Renteria for 2010.  But then, that’s a debate for another time.