Espn: Giants offseason grade

[ColinCoby]

Mediocre grade from the geniuses at ESPN.

C+
Key Transactions: Acquired OF Melky Cabrera from Kansas City for LHPs Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo; acquired OF Angel Pagan from New York Mets for OF Andres Torres and RHP Ramon Ramirez; signed IF Ryan Theriot, one year, $1.25 million.

Bowden’s Take
It was a quiet offseason for the Giants. They wanted to save money and allocate it toward signing pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain to long-term contracts. But they were unable to do that, signing Lincecum to a two-year pact as negotiations continue with Cain. Their trades improved their speed and defense, and they are counting on Buster Posey's return to health to give them a big boost.

 

[ColinCoby]

And our main competition:


Arizona Diamondbacks – Grade A-Key Transactions: Acquired RHP Trevor Cahill, LHP Craig Breslow and cash from the Oakland for RHP Jarrod Parker, OF Collin Cowgill and RHP Ryan Cook; signed OF Jason Kubel, two years, $15.5 million; signed 2B Aaron Hill, two years $11 million; signed LHP Joe Saunders, one year, $5.5 million dollar; signed IF/OF Willie Bloomquist, two years, $3.8 million; signed RHP Takashi Saito, one year, $1.75 million; signed C Henry Blanco, one year, $1.5 million; signed IF John McDonald, two years, $3 million; signed 1B Lyle Overbay, one year, $1 million.

Bowden’s Take
The Diamondbacks might have had the best offseason of any midlevel market team in terms of undervalued free-agent signings and trades. Cahill gives them a solid No. 3 starter, while Breslow and Saito improve an already strong and deep bullpen. Kubel provides much-needed power in left field, while the re-signing of Saunders allows the Diamondbacks time to develop top prospects Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs. The D-Backs should be favorites to repeat in the NL West.


Colorado Rockies – Grade: B+Key Transactions: Acquired 2B Marco Scutaro from Boston for RHP Clay Mortensen; acquired RHP Tyler Chatwood from Los Angeles Angels for C Chris Iannetta; acquired RHP Guillermo Moscoco and LHP Josh Outman from Oakland in exchange for OF Seth Smith; acquired RHP Jeremy Guthrie from Baltimore for RHPs Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom; acquired OF Tyler Colvin and IF/OF D.J. LeMahieu from Chicago Cubs for 3B Ian Stewart and RHP Casey Weathers; signed OF Michael Cuddyer, three years, $31.5 million; signed C Ramon Hernandez, two years, $6.4 million; signed 3B Casey Blake, one year, $2 million.

Bowden’s Take
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd has been on a roll since last July’s trade deadline, stockpiling seven starting pitchers in five separate trades, including the blockbuster that brought top prospects Drew Pomeranz and Alex White from the Indians for Ubaldo Jimenez. Almost as important, the Rockies’ offseason moves were focused on improving the clubhouse culture, which they accomplished with veterans Cuddyer and Scutaro. I expect them to finish anywhere from second to fourth in the NL West this year.



San Diego Padres – Grade: B+Key Transactions: Acquired 1B Yonder Alonso, C Yasmani Grandal, RHP Edinson Volquez and RHP Brad Boxberger from Cincinnati for RHP Mat Latos; acquired OF Carlos Quentin from Chicago White Sox for LHP Pedro Hernandez and RHP Simon Castro; acquired RHP Huston Street from Colorado for LHP Nick Schmidt; acquired RHP Andrew Cashner from Chicago Cubs for 1B Anthony Rizzo; acquired C John Baker from Florida for LHP Wade LeBlanc.

Bowden’s Take
General manager Josh Byrnes did a phenomenal job of rebuilding the Padres this offseason; in particular, his blockbuster deal with the Reds landed the Padres long-term solutions at catcher, first base and setup reliever. Street and Quentin not only improve the team but also provide trade pieces for next year’s trade deadline.







Los Angeles Dodgers – Grade: C+Key Transactions: No trades; signed RHP Aaron Harang, two years, $12 million; signed LHP Chris Capuano, two years, $10 million; signed 2B Mark Ellis, two years, $8.75 million; signed IF/OF Jerry Hairston, two years, $6 million; signed OF Juan Rivera, one year, $4.5 million; signed RHP Todd Coffey, one year, $1.3 million; signed RHP Mike MacDougal, one year, $1 million; signed 2B Adam Kennedy, one year, $800,000.

Bowden’s Take
The Dodgers started their offseason strong with an eight-year, $160 million deal for Matt Kemp. But they fell short in their seven-year offer to Prince Fielder, then couldn’t re-sign Hiroki Kuroda, who ended up going to the Yankees for the same amount the Dodgers had offered. L.A. was very active in free agency, committing more than $85 million to nine different free agents, but none are more than a fourth or fifth starter, second-division starter or bench player.

 

[msgkings322]

Sad to say, can't say I disagree with this assessment.

Hard to be super precise but the Dbacks definitely did more improving than we did. We are counting on health normality to be the key.

As always, the baseball gods will decide it. I'd say % chances (just wild ass guesses of course) to win the West are 40% Dbacks, 35% Giants, 15% Rox, 8% Dogs, 2% Pads.

 

[Stokes1931]

How DARE you bring info and analysis to this board, Colin!

(Rep!)

Good to know these grades are about the activities of each team, not a grade on the overall teams themselves.

That said, I'd agree with msg as a first take on the odds to win the NL West. AZ won it last year, and got stronger.

 

[Mays-Fan]

If it's a grade as to what was done, in a vacuum, then yeah, C+ is about right.

If it's a grade about what could be done given the circumstances (ie, budget constraints), then B+ is better.

I thought given what they had to work with versus what they needed, they did pretty good.

 

[msgkings322]

If it's a grade as to what was done, in a vacuum, then yeah, C+ is about right.

If it's a grade about what could be done given the circumstances (ie, budget constraints), then B+ is better.

I thought given what they had to work with versus what they needed, they did pretty good.

This is true, but when they do these grades they are looking strictly at how much a team has or hasn't improved. Circumstances are how you decide if your GM is any good.

B+ is about right for where I value Sabey-sabes.

 

[ColinCoby]

If it's a grade as to what was done, in a vacuum, then yeah, C+ is about right.

If it's a grade about what could be done given the circumstances (ie, budget constraints), then B+ is better.

I thought given what they had to work with versus what they needed, they did pretty good.

Good points. I'm not sure if the Cabrera/Pagan trades will be a cure-all, but at least they address some of the team's needs. Overall, not a bad offseason, given the lack of funds.

So much is riding on Posey's shoulders. If he's healthy, I like our chances (I think msg has the percentages about right...except for the 2% for the Maxis!). If he struggles, might be a lot more torture...

 

[Mays-Fan]

Good points. I'm not sure if the Cabrera/Pagan trades will be a cure-all, but at least they address some of the team's needs. Overall, not a bad offseason, given the lack of funds.

So much is riding on Posey's shoulders. If he's healthy, I like our chances (I think msg has the percentages about right...except for the 2% for the Maxis!). If he struggles, might be a lot more torture...

Yes. We addressed our OF weakness, and I like the Theriot signing.

I know the point has been made before, but if we hit even average, we will contend. For everything.

 

[Stokes1931]

Pitching and defense will keep us in most games, and the offense canNOT get worse than 2011, can it?

 

[tzill]

Pitching and defense will keep us in most games, and the offense canNOT get worse than 2011, can it?

No, it cannot. It was the worst championship defending offense in the history of the game -- including the dead ball era.

We will score 700 runs this year.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Pitching and defense will keep us in most games, and the offense canNOT get worse than 2011, can it?

Careful. I think we were saying the same thing about the 2011 offense vis-a-vis the 2010 offense.

Just sayin'.

 

[ColinCoby]

Espn Future Power Rankings

Giants at #17

The lowdown
Great pitching can mask a lot of deficiencies, and the Giants have plenty of both. They took a big gamble in July when they traded top prospect Zack Wheeler to the Mets for pending free agent Carlos Beltran in hopes of a repeat. Beltran was fantastic for San Fran, but the Giants still came up short.



Now they're without their best pitching prospect, Beltran is in St. Louis, Matt Cain is set to be a free agent next winter and Tim Lincecum the year after that. The Giants will contend this year, but they are a club that could see its ranking change significantly in the next year or two if they can't keep their top two starters in town. -- Buster Olney



The next step
Though they were able to extend ace Lincecum this offseason for two more years, the Giants still must somehow sign both him and Cain to long-term contracts. Because they have pitching at the big league level they need to focus on drafting developing position players to pair with Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt. -- Jim Bowden

 

[Mays-Fan]

Espn Future Power Rankings

Giants at #17

I'll take the under on that one. As in better than #17.

Once we get the dead money off the books (Rowand, Zito), and get the mortgage paid off, we will be able to maintain elite status based on payroll alone. I know it takes more than money, but there is certainly a high correlation. We will be better than a middle of the pack team for the foreseeable future.

 

[ColinCoby]

I'll take the under on that one. As in better than #17.

Once we get the dead money off the books (Rowand, Zito), and get the mortgage paid off, we will be able to maintain elite status based on payroll alone. I know it takes more than money, but there is certainly a high correlation. We will be better than a middle of the pack team for the foreseeable future.

I agree. Well, perhaps not "elite" status, but in the hunt nonetheless.

Each team got a ranking in five categories, with a top score of 30 for each category. The Giants were around 20 for four of the categories, but earned a 4 for minor-league prospects. Yikes.

 

[mistgl]

Espn Future Power Rankings

Giants at #17

The lowdown
Great pitching can mask a lot of deficiencies, and the Giants have plenty of both. They took a big gamble in July when they traded top prospect Zack Wheeler to the Mets for pending free agent Carlos Beltran in hopes of a repeat. Beltran was fantastic for San Fran, but the Giants still came up short.



Now they're without their best pitching prospect, Beltran is in St. Louis, Matt Cain is set to be a free agent next winter and Tim Lincecum the year after that. The Giants will contend this year, but they are a club that could see its ranking change significantly in the next year or two if they can't keep their top two starters in town. -- Buster Olney



The next step
Though they were able to extend ace Lincecum this offseason for two more years, the Giants still must somehow sign both him and Cain to long-term contracts. Because they have pitching at the big league level they need to focus on drafting developing position players to pair with Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt. -- Jim Bowden

I doubt they fail to draft a pitcher in the 1st round come the 2012 draft. It's what we know, and we have exactly one pick in the first and supplemental rounds, so they need to make it count.