Dec. 2, 2010
GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO
Mychael Urban
CSNBayArea.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- After welcoming shortstop Miguel Tejada to the Giants Thursdayevening at AT&T Park, general managerBrian Sabean told CSNBayArea.com that the door remains open for the return ofWorld Series MVP Edgar Renteria as a backup.
Its a legitimate need for us, Sabean said of ahaving a reliable backup to Tejada, 36, who finalized a one-year, 6.5 milliondeal with the Giants after passing his physical Thursday. Edgar hasexpressed a desire all along to come back, even in a reduced role, and ussigning Miggy doesnt intimidate him at all.
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We spoke to Edgar today, as a matter of fact. After opening the 2010 season as SanFranciscos starting shortstop, Renteria, 35,spent much of the year on the disabled list and eventually lost his job to JuanUribe, who signed a free-agent deal with the Dodgers this week. Renteria batted .276 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 72regular-season games with the Giants but worked his way back into the lineupduring the playoff in the wake of third baseman Pablo Sandovalsstruggles at the plate.
REWIND: Renteria named Series MVP
Against the Rangers in the Fall Classic, Renteria batted .412 with a.422 on-base percentage, two homers and six RBIs, including a three-run homerin the seventh inning of the Game 5, which the Giants won 3-1 to clinch thefirst world championship in San Francisco history. Edgar Renteria is a great guy and a very good player,Tejada said. I want to talk to him and Uribe to find out as much aboutmy new teammates as I can. I want to join the family quickly.Renteria filed for free agency before the confetti from the WorldSeries parade has been cleared from MarketStreet, but he has yet to receive any serious offerson the open market.FONTENOT INKS DEAL: The team had until 9 p.m Thursdayto sign or tender contracts to anyone unsigned for 2011 and did so for everyoneon the roster but two players. The biggest surprise among the moves, though not a massive shocker, wasthe signing of arbitration-eligible infielder Mike Fontenot to a one-year deal.Financial terms were not disclosed.Among the arbitration-eligible players tendered -- not formally signedbut still under club control for 2011 -- were lefty starter Jonathan Sanchez, playoffherooutfielder Cody Ross, relievers Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla and RamonRamirez, and outfielder Andres Torres. They now have the option of negotiatingterms of a contract on their own (typically through an agent) or taking theircase before a three-person arbitration panel in January or early February.Not tendered contracts for 2011 were arbitration-eligible reliever ChrisRay and utilityman Eugenio Velez. Both are now eligible for free agency.