This offseason has been one of economic turmoil and reality checks. Franchises across all sports are certainly strapped for cash, and the effects of this are certainly showing themselves. When it comes specifically to the MLB, the average contact sizes diminished, both in dollar amounts and years teams were willing to commit to individual players. It was Manny Ramirez who expected to get a four-year, 100 million dollar contract when this season began, and after weeks of drama, complaining, uncertainty, and negotiations, he finally settled on signing with the Dodgers for two years, close to 50 million, about half of what he expected initally. And he has an opt-out clause in his contract after this season. Outside of Ramirez, big-money contracts were a dime-a-dozen, essentially non-existent.
These market conditions relate to the San Francisco Giants in many ways. With all the supposed young talent in the farm system, the front office has been hesitant to say the least about acquiring veteran talent, especially for an extended period of time. The bullpen was an area that changes certainly needed to be made coming into this season, and the Giants quickly addressed that with the signing of Bobby Howry and Jeremy Affeldt. With the loss of Omar Visquel, shortstop was also a gaping whole for the club, and they hope to solve that issue with the addition of Endgar Renteria. They also felt the starting rotation could use one more big arm, a hall of fame arm, so they went out and got Randy Johnson.
The Giants were unwilling to throw money at the 'one-dimensional' Manny Ramirez and prevent him from going back to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they say this was due to depth in the outfield already present in the club and the risk the team would be taking with the media-whore that Manny Ramirez can be. Another significant reason for why this transaction didn't take place could had something to do with money and the economy.
The limited big-money offers didn't go unnoticed by players who are scheduled to be free agents next winter - including the Giants' Randy Winn and Bengie Molina. Winn batted .306 last year, and Molina led the team with 95 RBIs. Both turn 35 this summer.
"The later the free-agent period got, the contracts weren't as good aside from Manny" Ramirez, Winn said. "I guess I'm an optimist, hoping the economy turns around sooner than later and not just for baseball free agents' sake."
It's no surprise both Winn and Molina said in separate interviews they're open to extensions. Who knows what the atmosphere surrounding baseball will be like next season. Unfortunately, it's difficult. The Giants have younger players with smaller salaries preparing to replace Winn and Molina. It's expected that right fielder Nate Schierholtz and catcher Buster Posey will be in the 2010 Opening Day lineup, but neither is as much a sure thing, at least for now, as Winn and Molina.
"I love San Francisco. I love the Bay Area," Winn said. "It's documented I grew up there. High school, college, all that. My family's there. My friends are there. The people in the front office have treated me very fairly. I'd love to stay."
So would Molina. "I want to talk to them or have them talk to me, either way," Molina said. "It would make me feel like they want me and like what I do. I love these guys. I'm thinking this is my priority right now, to stay here."
Rather than discuss extensions, the Giants prefer to have the season play out. "It's a good question, but not an easy answer because the economy is uncertain for both the club and the players," said Bobby Evans, vice president of baseball operations. "It's in both parties' best interest to wait and see what happens with the economics of the sport."
The market was less than lucrative for many free agents in their mid-30s. Bobby Abreu took an $11 million pay cut, and Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek sought Jorge Posada money but had his salary slashed in half. "When you're a free agent, you need teams that want you and are willing to pay for what you've done in your career, what you've done last year and what they think you can do in the future," Molina said. "At the same time, things happen."
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