Giants sign Jeff Francoeur

[dubabay]

Guess Sabean is trying to get some Burrell and Scutaro magic

 

[Mays-Fan]

It's a little step, but it sends one of three signals:

1) We haven't thrown the towel in just yet, or

2) We're about to throw in the towel, and he is the replacement for Hunter Pence, whom we are about to deal for prospects

3) It doesn't mean anything and it's designed to keep everyone off-balance - players, competitors, agents, GM's, everyone

Stay tuned.

(I'm leaning toward #2)

 

[msgkings322]

It's a little step, but it sends one of three signals:

1) We haven't thrown the towel in just yet, or

2) We're about to throw in the towel, and he is the replacement for Hunter Pence, whom we are about to deal for prospects

3) It doesn't mean anything and it's designed to keep everyone off-balance - players, competitors, agents, GM's, everyone

Stay tuned.

(I'm leaning toward #2)

It's mostly #2, with a little #1. He didn't give any talent up so why not? I am fine with any move he makes as long as it doesn't involve trading any of our better prospects.

 

[Heathbar012]

It's a little step, but it sends one of two signals:

1) We haven't thrown the towel in just yet, or

2) We're about to throw in the towel, and he is the replacement for Hunter Pence, whom we are about to deal for prospects

Stay tuned.

At this point in the year, it's #1, but you're right that two and a half weeks could change things to scenario #2. Tanking doesn't get you anything in baseball except a shot at a possible All-Star four years from now. Sure it frees up some payroll budget, but we've already discussed next season's lackluster free agent out field. Great for Pence, bad for the Giants.

Frenchy is the typical no risk/possible average reward signing that Sabes loves. At the very least, it gives them another strong arm in the out field, and a guy with some power to the gaps (though with a notoriously high K/BB rate). Ironically, him and Hunter are very similar players. Pence is just younger, and hasn't had as many injuries, so he is better. Jeff could be an interesting example of what Herk begins to look like if his reactions deteriorate in the form that cal and others expect.

EDIT: Jeff is actually slightly younger than Hunter, but those injuries in his mid-20s have certainly slowed him to the point of looking like he is in his mid-30s.

 

[msgkings322]

At this point in the year, it's #1, but you're right that two and a half weeks could change things to scenario #2. Tanking doesn't get you anything in baseball except a shot at a possible All-Star four years from now. Sure it frees up some payroll budget, but we've already discussed next season's lackluster free agent out field. Great for Pence, bad for the Giants.

Frenchy is the typical no risk/possible average reward signing that Sabes loves. At the very least, it gives them another strong arm in the out field, and a guy with some power to the gaps (though with a notoriously high K/BB rate). Ironically, him and Hunter are very similar players. Pence is just younger, and hasn't had as many injuries, so he is better. Jeff could be an interesting example of what Herk begins to look like if his reactions deteriorate in the form that cal and others expect.

EDIT: Jeff is actually slightly younger than Hunter, but those injuries in his mid-20s have certainly slowed him to the point of looking like he is in his mid-30s.

For the Rangers, or Yankees, or whomever...

 

[dubabay]

I agree with Heathbar

Right now it's number 1, he'll play right field where we're getting no production. In 2 weeks, depending on how the team plays it could be 2.

The problem I see with 2 is, ok we trade Hunter but who are we going to sign next year with all the Pence money? I don't see many options, Choo is probably going to cost a lot, same as Ellisbury, other options are Granderson, Nelson Cruz and Carlos Beltran.

The Giants will have to think about it.

 

[Mays-Fan]

I agree with Heathbar

Right now it's number 1, he'll play right field where we're getting no production. In 2 weeks, depending on how the team plays it could be 2.

The problem I see with 2 is, ok we trade Hunter but who are we going to sign next year with all the Pence money? I don't see many options, Choo is probably going to cost a lot, same as Ellisbury, other options are Granderson, Nelson Cruz and Carlos Beltran.

The Giants will have to think about it.

Where those in favor of NOT re-signing Pence have fallen short so far is providing an acceptable alternative. Finding a WC-contending-quality RF on the FA market is not like going to autotraders.com, and finding 23 choices for your next used car within 25 miles of your zip code and within your price range. There are very few choices out there, they all have warts, and all the big-budget teams want one or two.

I understand Pence is far from perfect, but he's ours for now (that is an advantage for us going forward), he fits, and we have won a WC with him.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Guess Sabean is trying to get some Burrell and Scutaro magic

BTW - welcome here! I remember you from the Disney board, and you always had good takes on stuff.

 

[SF11704]

Where those in favor of NOT re-signing Pence have fallen short so far is providing an acceptable alternative. Finding a WC-contending-quality RF on the FA market is not like going to autotraders.com, and finding 23 choices for your next used car within 25 miles of your zip code and within your price range. There are very few choices out there, they all have warts, and all the big-budget teams want one or two.

I understand Pence is far from perfect, but he's ours for now (that is an advantage for us going forward), he fits, and we have won a WC with him.

I'm not sure if many people are NOT in favor of re-signing Pence as much as they feel we will NOT be able to resign him. IMHO opinion I don't think it will come down to the money. I think that Pence will receive a 5 year offer from some team. I just don't see us matching that length of contract.

 

[msgkings322]

I'm not sure if many people are NOT in favor of re-signing Pence as much as they feel we will NOT be able to resign him. IMHO opinion I don't think it will come down to the money. I think that Pence will receive a 5 year offer from some team. I just don't see us matching that length of contract.

Yep, this.

I like the 'IMHO opinion' phrase. Kind of like saying 'ATM machine'

 

[SF11704]

Yep, this.

I like the 'IMHO opinion' phrase. Kind of like saying 'ATM machine'

LOL ... sometimes I think it's necessary to let people know it's just an opinion ... by saying it twice!
If I knew as much as management, the coaches and Bochy ..... or any combination of them ..... then it would be closer to a fact. That's part of the privilege of being a fan ..... we can disguise a WAG as an opinion! I have lots of opinions and my wife tells me they are all wrong!

 

[dubabay]

BTW - welcome here! I remember you from the Disney board, and you always had good takes on stuff.

Thanks man, liking this board so far, many of the best posters from there are now here.

 

[msgkings322]

Thanks man, liking this board so far, many of the best posters from there are now here.

We kept going over there and telling people to come over and no one (new) would. I'd still like to see LagunaHillsGiants and 4North here but probably not happening.

 

[calsnowskier]

LHG ain't coming. He has his reasons.

Too bad, but I respect his decision.

 

[GiantsPackersChamps2011]

Francoeur sounds fine to me. OF depth who can give Pence a day off when need be. Not expecting much from him but even if his bat can do a little we will take that

 

[dubabay]

I'm not sure if many people are NOT in favor of re-signing Pence as much as they feel we will NOT be able to resign him. IMHO opinion I don't think it will come down to the money. I think that Pence will receive a 5 year offer from some team. I just don't see us matching that length of contract.

Sooner or later the Giants will have to take a gamble on one of those contracts if they want to contend in the near future. Unfortunately the Giants don't have a player that's screaming for a promotion to the big league club (Gary Brown has struggled since his first year in SJ and unless he makes some adjustments, he can't be counted as more than a 4th OF).

The Giants have an OF spot and 3 pitcher spots to cover next year, I think they'll have to gamble with a long contract in at least one of those.

 

[msgkings322]

Sooner or later the Giants will have to take a gamble on one of those contracts if they want to contend in the near future. Unfortunately the Giants don't have a player that's screaming for a promotion to the big league club (Gary Brown has struggled since his first year in SJ and unless he makes some adjustments, he can't be counted as more than a 4th OF).

The Giants have an OF spot and 3 pitcher spots to cover next year, I think they'll have to gamble with a long contract in at least one of those.

This is a smart comment...if Sabean thinks 'overpaying' for Pence is better than alternatives, he's got 100% of my confidence.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Sooner or later the Giants will have to take a gamble on one of those contracts if they want to contend in the near future. Unfortunately the Giants don't have a player that's screaming for a promotion to the big league club (Gary Brown has struggled since his first year in SJ and unless he makes some adjustments, he can't be counted as more than a 4th OF).

The Giants have an OF spot and 3 pitcher spots to cover next year, I think they'll have to gamble with a long contract in at least one of those.

Yep. We have to go big and gamble to compete now, or go small and hope we can build from within which could take years if we ever get there at all. And we have few prospects that are major-league ready, esp in the OF. A 2014 OF of Francoeur, Pagan if healthy, and Blanco ain't gonna cut it. This is the reality, folks.

 

[sfsportsfan]

I don't see this being #2. If were trading Pence and selling, why would we bring someone in, and not give some of our kids a shot? Doesn't make sense IMO.

 

[BigDDude]

Not much love for Frenchy in here so far. Can't say as I blame you either. What the Giants needed was a power hitting OF guy they could count on to bring the lumber. What they got was a steaky hitter who K's way too much. That said, he is a plus OF guy, with a plus plus OF arm. And, he is a good teammate by all accounts, and the biggest friend to fans I have ever heard of.