November 30, 200421 yr http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...1/30/GIANTS.TMP Atleast we can now really focus on going after Pavano or sighning other free agents on the market.
November 30, 200421 yr I don't see this anywhere else..... its not that I don't believe it... its just last year there were reports in news paper websites that Vlad had signed with the O's.
November 30, 200421 yr Here's another article: http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctime...10301628.htm?1c
November 30, 200421 yr Benitez is going to be officially signed within the next couple days for 3 years, 21 million. It's sad to see him go but Mota will do just fine taking his place. As for the first round pick, I'm pretty sure we do not get one if Benitez has been a free agent in the past. I don't know off the top of my head if he has been but since he's 32 that's probably the case. MikeLowell, I admire your optimism about Pavano, but he's as good as gone.
November 30, 200421 yr Sad but expected. I hope the best for Mando. He was our MVP last year. He will be missed. It is me, or this seems to be a very long offseason?
November 30, 200421 yr Mota will do fine. Alot of people here forget the job he did on the west coast last season. By this time next year we'll all be thrilled the guy is a Fish.
November 30, 200421 yr Well, Insider is reporting it as "tentative" so take that for what it's worth. Either way, this is very un-Giantlike (offering a type A FA a contract before the arby deadline) so I'm still guarded about it, but we'd still get that 1st rounder for 'Mando and Pavano, so I guess it's not a total bust, although it really is a stomach punch to me as a full season ticket holder who is already locked in for what appears to be a lesser on field team at a higher price. However, this does open the door for an Urbina reunion, so don't hand the job over to Mota just yet...
November 30, 200421 yr It is me, or this seems to be a very long offseason? 623508[/snapback] Very...
November 30, 200421 yr However, this does open the door for an Urbina reunion, so don't hand the job over to Mota just yet... 623511[/snapback] Counting on Urbina returning to major league baseball (the kidnapping thng) is a question mark at best but I wouldn't be adverse to the idea. Until then I don't think I'm alone in penciling Mota in as our closer. Speaking of the pullpen, I'm curious if anyone ever got the whole story on Billy Koch? I see the Rockies are interested in him which says to me there's a back story we never got. There were the "his wife is sick with cancer" rumors, "he's injured" stuff but there's more to it I'm sure. I sure would like to know.
November 30, 200421 yr However, this does open the door for an Urbina reunion, so don't hand the job over to Mota just yet... 623511[/snapback] Counting on Urbina returning to major league baseball (the kidnapping thng) is a question mark at best but I wouldn't be adverse to the idea. Until then I don't think I'm alone in penciling Mota in as our closer. Speaking of the pullpen, I'm curious if anyone ever got the whole story on Billy Koch? I see the Rockies are interested in him which says to me there's a back story we never got. There were the "his wife is sick with cancer" rumors, "he's injured" stuff but there's more to it I'm sure. I sure would like to know. 623517[/snapback] It may just be posturing, but every Detroit report says that Urbina is expected back for S.T., and they also had him going to San Fran or us, depending on who loses on the Benitez bidding. Koch has dropped off the face of the earth, and the last report from Rotoworld is simply that we released him on the 19th. Personally, I'd say that he was allowed to leave the team because McKeon wasn't going to use him anyway. I know that he had some control issues, but it went to personal vendetta status between him and Jack.
November 30, 200421 yr Don't get too excited on the pick. We have to offer him salary arbitration to him for us to be compensated, and to my knowledge we have yet to do so. I'm still holding out hope this doesn't happen though.
November 30, 200421 yr First of all if he has already signed with a team, offering him arbitration is a non-issue. As far as the guy above saying it was uncharacteristic of the Giants to offer a deal before the arbitration deadline, I am certain that I read an article that stated they liked doing it. Aardsama being the exception. As far as UUU, if he were not going to play in the big leagues I highly doubt Detroit would have exercised his option at the end of the year.
November 30, 200421 yr Marlins 2003 you aren't the only one that thinks Mota will do fine. He definitely has the stuff to be a top tier closer, the only reason why he hasn't is because LA had Gagne. If people are worried about him because of September's number's, look at his innings pitched. Every reliever that logs that many miles is going to run out of gas. Florida knew Benitez was going to leave and this was their plan from the beginning, and it's not a bad one. As for Billy Koch and the Rockies expressing interest, I don't know the story, but I know the Rockies are looking at signing Rob Nen if that says anything.
November 30, 200421 yr Don't get too excited on the pick. We have to offer him salary arbitration to him for us to be compensated, and to my knowledge we have yet to do so. I'm still holding out hope this doesn't happen though. 623520[/snapback] See, here's how it works. We have until the 7th to offer, yet other teams are allowed to negotiate. The only reason teams shy away from offering arbitration to a free agent is that they're afraid that their offer of arbitration will be accpeted, leaving them stuck with an inflated salary for one year, or a long-term deal. If a player (Benitez) signs elsewhere before the 7th, we can still offer arbitration, however, the player cannot accept because he is under contract with another team, but we get the teams draft-pick. That's why the Leiter thing is going to take a while. The Mets won't offer arbitration because they know he'd accept and they'd be forced to pay him big for one more year, they're hoping he signs elsewhere before the 7th so they can get a pick for him.
November 30, 200421 yr Marlins 2003 you aren't the only one that thinks Mota will do fine. He definitely has the stuff to be a top tier closer, the only reason why he hasn't is because LA had Gagne. If people are worried about him because of September's number's, look at his innings pitched. Every reliever that logs that many miles is going to run out of gas. Florida knew Benitez was going to leave and this was their plan from the beginning, and it's not a bad one. As for Billy Koch and the Rockies expressing interest, I don't know the story, but I know the Rockies are looking at signing Rob Nen if that says anything. 623541[/snapback] I'm in a different camp on this. I'm 110% confident that Mota can be a dominating closer. However, I'm greedy and I wanted him in the same pen with Armando and Spooney. Oh well, still have 2 of 3. Don't get too excited on the pick. We have to offer him salary arbitration to him for us to be compensated, and to my knowledge we have yet to do so. I'm still holding out hope this doesn't happen though. 623520[/snapback] See, here's how it works. We have until the 7th to offer, yet other teams are allowed to negotiate. The only reason teams shy away from offering arbitration to a free agent is that they're afraid that their offer of arbitration will be accpeted, leaving them stuck with an inflated salary for one year, or a long-term deal. If a player (Benitez) signs elsewhere before the 7th, we can still offer arbitration, however, the player cannot accept because he is under contract with another team, but we get the teams draft-pick. That's why the Leiter thing is going to take a while. The Mets won't offer arbitration because they know he'd accept and they'd be forced to pay him big for one more year, they're hoping he signs elsewhere before the 7th so they can get a pick for him. 623548[/snapback] Yeah, I know exactly how the system works, just didn't want to write it all out. Thanks for clarifying it for the others, though. I think this is a case where you should offer arbitration no matter what. If he accepts, you have your closer back. If he declines, which is likely (he wants a multi-year deal and this is his best shot), you get your pick. Win-win.
November 30, 200421 yr As a Marlin fan, I'm a little concerned with Mota as the closer. On the other hand, the Giants just got so much better... Time to go get Jermaine Dye or Steve Finley !!!!
November 30, 200421 yr Not surprised at all, I thought he'd get a 3 or 4 year deal... It'll help the Giants, if the pieces from last year still work but I think it'd be appropriate if Barry finally implodes and the Giants who finally decided to be aggressive in the FA market won't be any better off than last season.
November 30, 200421 yr The Giants will be just fine. Barry is gonna have another monster year and as long as they get some more bullpen help, they will be much better than they were last year. This already makes them so much better.... Can't wait for the season to start...
November 30, 200421 yr Benitez is going to be GARBAGE in San Fran. Florida brought him back to his former self and he will realize that when he sucks @$$ for the giants
November 30, 200421 yr As a Marlin fan, I'm a little concerned with Mota as the closer. On the other hand, the Giants just got so much better... Time to go get Jermaine Dye or Steve Finley !!!! 623555[/snapback] Dye i don't really like that much. Great glove but his bat isn't much of an upgrade over Tucker. Steve Finley I just don't want him in a Giants uniform, he's a good player but I can't stand him after what he did to us last year. We need Alou, Drew, or Ordonez, whoever of the three we can get for cheapest
November 30, 200421 yr I can't get the image of Finley hitting the grand slam out of my head either, but the guy can flat out hit. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Giants uniform patroling CF. I think Dye has potential and I've heard his name so much surrounding the Giants... Now, if we can get either of the 3 you mentioned, then hell yeah.... I'm not convinced on Drew just yet though. I think he's an amazing player, but I just don't know if he's still as injury prone and he was in the past.
November 30, 200421 yr I'm surprised he turned down the hometown deal after we offered good money. Oh well. Yet another player that is gone, while we sit on our hands waiting for a signing.
November 30, 200421 yr I'm surprised he turned down the hometown deal after we offered good money. Oh well. Yet another player that is gone, while we sit on our hands waiting for a signing. 623671[/snapback] He was never after money with us, he wanted three years, we weren't willing to give it to him.
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