Nov. 23, 2010
URBANARCHIVEOCT. 5 CHAT TRANSCRIPTGIANTSPAGEGIANTS VIDEO
Editor's Note: Mychael Urban chatsregularly. Join him for free-flowing baseball talk everyweek!
Mychael Urban CSN
Aubrey Huff: signed, sealed, delivered. Let's do this ...From Nick
Had you heard of any other offers submitted to Huff from other teams?Mychael Urban CSN
I have. None surpassing what he got. That was always the deal: as long as the Giants could match the best offer Huff got, he was coming back. And they did.Mychael Urban CSN
So he did.From Guest
any word on Juan Uribe yet? whats the holdup? SS market is limited it seemsMychael Urban CSN
The holdup is that the Giants are exploring trade options to fill the void at SS, and paying for a starting shortstop for a World Series winner vs. a third basemanutility man is significant.From Dan
Also, What about Brandon Belt. Any Chance of seeing Huff in the outfield and Belt on first?-- POLL QUESTION --
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
This text be replaced with poll. To remove properly, delete this text INCLUDING start and endcharacters.Mychael Urban CSN
Not out of camp, no. Later in the year, depending on circumstances, yes. Those circumstances include Belt tearing up Triple-A and the Giants needing an offensive boost andor an outfielder of note.From electric
Are you stoked? Seemed like you got along well enough with Huff-daddy, as a journalist covering the team it's got to be a good thing for a developing relationship, right?Mychael Urban CSN
It's always nice to have a good relationship with the guys you cover, and Aubrey is one of the most engaging, accessible and personable guys I've covered in my 20 years in journalism. I think he's a hell of a baseball player, I like him a lot personally, and it's always nice to see good things happen to good people.From Logan
Tell us about Barry Zito's thoughts on the Huff extension.Mychael Urban CSN
I know you're looking for an irreverent answer to that, but it just doesn't feel right. I haven't spoken to Barry in a few days, but I do know that he thinks the world of Huff as a teammate so I'm sure he's thrilled. Huff is one of the most universally liked clubhouse guys I've ever seen in baseball -- Giambi-esque that way. Ironic that they both have thongs as part of their story.From Nick
Is Bartlett the main SS target through a trade, or have you been hearing any other names kicked around as serious possibilities?Mychael Urban CSN
I can't say with any certainty at all who's the top trade target at that position, but I'd like to think it's a bigger name than Bartlett. That's not to say I don't like his game; I do.From SF Mully
Does the idea of trading for a SS seem more risky than over-paying for Uribe? Barlett was a one-year offensive wonder and his s last year were booty. Additionally, there is a log-jam in the OF again with DeRosa back...where does he fit in?Mychael Urban CSN
DeRosa is a better infielder than outfielder. He's a utility guy at best right now, in my opinion.Mychael Urban CSN
And what's overpaying for Uribe?From Dan
Should we expect that Burrell isn't coming back in Orange and black?Mychael Urban CSN
I think he wants very badly to come back, and Huff's return surely intensifies that feeling. But he's not going to get much guaranteed money. I wouldn't say you SHOULDN'T expect him back, but it would be a mild surprise to me.From Brian
Don Nomura mentioned the A's going after Beltre as a "PR move," and with things going the way they are with Iwakuma, it's looking like that may fall through as well. Do you think the A's are serious about picking up Beltre? In addition, do you think the A's are really done with trying to sign Iwakuma?Mychael Urban CSN
The A's are dad serious about adding Beltre, and the more I hear from Nomura, the more I think he's way over his head when it comes to dealing with big-league negotiations in the U.S. ... Dude needs to pipe down and try to get his client a deal; what the A's are offering is more than fair for an unproven import, and yes, they're serious about getting him, too.From john izumi
what up urbs, huff 10 mil a year, thats to much, and i thinks its a excuse not to sign crawford, but thats my opionion.Mychael Urban CSN
So you think the Giants would overpay one guy as a ploy to cry poor regarding signing another? Is this Mel Gibson?Mychael Urban CSN
Carl Crawford is not signing with the Giants unless something REALLY nutty happens, people. Giving Huff 10 million for two years vs. giving Crawford more than 100 over five years is not an "excuse." It's business.From Dan
in the 1 in 7 billion chance Jeter doesn't get a satisfactory offer from the pinstripes, how would you feel about the Giants making an offer and could they even afford him?Mychael Urban CSN
If his agent sticks to saying 21 million a year is "baffling," nobody will sign Jeter. He's not worth that to anyone but the Yankees.From Talent Dave
Do the Giants have the funds to try to add a legit power bat?Mychael Urban CSN
What's a legit power bat to you? Only one I see out there is Adam Dunn, and he's a first baseman. Huff re-signing pretty much eliminates that possibility; I don't think Huff came back to be a regular outfielder.From Mike
And starting at 3rd base for the A's in 2011 is......?Mychael Urban CSN
If I had to put money on it, I'd say Kevin Kouzmanoff.From SF Mully
The assumption being...if Uribe has multiple offers and is truly a hot commodity in weak SS market, he uses the same tactics as Huff...the Giants will match the top offer...they could be over-paying. Is that more risky than dealing young players for mediocre SS...I would rather over-pay Uribe in a deal structured similarly to Huffs.Mychael Urban CSN
There are some good shortstops out there who might be available via trade. Reyes of the Mets, Rollins of the Phillies. Longshots, sure, but you'd rather have them at short than Uribe. I'd like to see the Giants get a legit SS somehow -- Sandoval has value out there -- and re-sign Uribe to play third.From Justin
Who will be 2011's scrap heap pickup of the year?Mychael Urban CSN
I'm assuming you mean in all of baseball, and I'm sticking with Carlos Pena.From Paul S
Does Castilla have any trade value ?Mychael Urban CSN
Absolutely, but I wouldn't deal him. He finally showed some guts to go with his filth this year. He's a keeper.From Logan
What does the club think about Ryan Rohlinger? He quietly had a pretty good year in AAA, and he could fill the utility role if Uribe walks, right? Would he be in the mix to be the shortstop? Maybe in a platoon with Fontenot?Mychael Urban CSN
They don't want anything to do with a platoon at short.From john izumi
hey urbs, any trade talk going on with rowand, zito or anyone else?Mychael Urban CSN
Zito will make about 57.5 million over the next three years, guaranteed, and Rowand will make 24 million over the next two years. Nobody is going to trade for those contracts unless the Giants eat massive chunks of them, and that's not going to happen, either.From Eric
Mota is in free agency. I'm thinking Kenny Powers as a reliever?Mychael Urban CSN
I like it. He'd look sick with the Wilson beard.Mychael Urban CSN
And can you imagine him punching out Casey Blake and walking him back to the Dodgers dugout with his catchphrase?From electric
Carl Crawford.. Anything there? I would love to see him break Chief Wilson's 1912 record for most triples in a season wearing our the AT&T gaps...Mychael Urban CSN
Nothing there, but yeah, that record might fall here with Crawford. He's the most underrated player of the past five years by far.From Nick
Any updates on Panda's training?Mychael Urban CSN
He's decided to stay in Arizona this winter instead of the original plan of staying in San Diego. He won't be under direct suprervision of the club, but there will be regular weigh-ins, etc. ... If I'm in charge, I don't supervise him at all. I want to see, once and for all, if this guy has the dedication it takesa to be an elite athlete. If he does, he'll come to camp in fighting shape whether he has a baby-sitter this winter or not.From Paul S
When Sabean says they need to re-arrange money, any chance Torres gets non-tendered? After all he is going on 32 and just had a career year.Mychael Urban CSN
I don't think so. That would be pretty cold, and while I know this is a business, the Giants don't often do cold. I don't know what he meant by saying re-arrange money; that's not easy to do in the big leagues. Maybe he's thinking he can get Zito or Rowand to re-structure their deals, a la Bonds a while back, to defer some salary. That's a risky move, thoughFrom john izumi
all im sayin urbs, that id rather pay crawford 20 mil a year than huff, uribe for the same amount!!!!!!!!!!!Mychael Urban CSN
All I'm saying is I wouldn't.Mychael Urban CSN
Remember, John, Huff only signed for two yearsm and that's all Uribe will get, Crawford is going to get five or six years, so we're talking 100-120 mil (your math) vs. 40 million.From Talent Dave
Adrian Beltre to China Basin? Has pop and a nice glove? And they can rub it in the A's faces ...Mychael Urban CSN
You see the years and dollars the A's offered? I don't think the Giants would even think about going there. Third base is not a huge issue for them right now.From therizzl
Any word of avoiding arbitration with Cody Ross by singing him to a 2yr deal?Mychael Urban CSN
I haven't heard that. On the Huff conference call today, Sabean indicated that Ross return is a lock You have to be careful about paying a guy coming off a hot, high-profile month or so. I'd give him his arb raise and go from there.From Kruk
The Giants should trade a guy like Kevin Pucetas I think. Any trade value in him since we have so much depth at pitchingMychael Urban CSN
The Giants already traded Pucetas. He was the player to be named later in the Jose Guillen deal. He's a Royal now.Mychael Urban CSN
Thanks for joining the chat, everyone. Time to get ready for the Huff press conference at AT&T Park. We'll be airing it live at 2 p.m. on CSN Bay Area. Happy Thanksgiving and have a great weekend. We;ll chat again next Tuesday. Until then, peace, garlic mashed potatoes and Michael Buble's "Home" to all ...