Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants reached agreement on a $16 million, one-year contract Thursday night that will keep the controversial slugger in the Bay Area to take aim at baseball’s home run record. The deal includes four performance bonuses that could make the pact worth a total of $20 million.
Archive for the ‘Giants’ Category
Giants finalize three-year, $16M deal with Molina
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006The San Francisco Giants finalized a $16 million, three-year contract with catcher Bengie Molina on Wednesday to replace Mike Matheny, who might not play again because of a concussion.
Molina, a two-time All-Star, is scheduled to make $4 million next season, $6 million in 2007 and $6 million in ’08. He batted .284 with a career-high 19 home runs and 57 RBI in 117 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2006.
Molina will be the starter after rookie Eliezer Alfonzo stepped in and played well in place of Matheny, who didn’t play after May 31 following a series of foul tips he took in the mask. Alfonzo will still be in the mix, likely as the backup.
Giants to sign Roberts, near deal with Aurilia
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006The Giants have reached agreement with free-agent outfielder Dave Roberts on a three year, $18 milion contract. Roberts most likely will play center field for the Giants. He hit .293 last season in San Diego with 49 stolen bases.
They also have a two-year deal worth approximately $8 million in the works for free-agent infielder Rich Aurilia, who still needs to pass a physical.
Aurilia hit .300 with Cincinnati, with 23 homers and 70 RBI. He spent his first nine seasons in San Francisco.
Giants talking to Red Sox about a deal for Manny Ramirez
Monday, November 27th, 2006As the Giants work to complete a three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts, they are talking to the Red Sox about acquiring one of Roberts’ former teammates in Boston, a big fish named Manny Ramirez.
Sources on Sunday confirmed that the Giants are among the teams talking seriously to the Red Sox about their disgruntled, temperamental yet unquestionably talented slugger.
There are many obstacles to such a deal, although money might be the least of them. A bigger potential obstacle for the Giants acquiring Ramirez is his right to veto any deal because he has more than 10 years of major-league tenure and five with the same club. He would have to approve San Francisco, and 10 months ago, after he reportedly demanded a trade, he told MLB.com, “I know the American League system. That’s one reason I don’t want to go to the National League.”
Giants are pursuing center fielder Pierre
Wednesday, November 15th, 2006Major-league sources said Tuesday the Giants are negotiating with Juan Pierre,who had 204 hits, 156 of them singles, and stole 58 bases in 78 attempts for the Cubs in 2006. However, one source said it would be wrong to assume that Pierre is the Giants’ primary free-agent target for center field. The club remains in contact with Gary Matthews Jr., Dave Roberts and Jay Payton as it tries to fill what it considers a pressing need: a leadoff-hitting center fielder.
Report: Phils’ Burrell would waive clause for SF deal
Friday, November 3rd, 2006The Philadelphia Phillies have been trying to find a taker for outfielder Pat Burrell’s big contract, but his no-trade clause has severely restricted that effort.
Burrell had said he would only waive that clause if he were sent to New York or Boston. According to a report in the Philadelphia Daily News on Friday, he has recently added San Francisco to that list.
Representatives for the left fielder confirmed to the paper that Burrell would accept a deal to the Giants and would consider a move to first base if the team requested it. He played the position in 2000.
The 30-year-old has approximately $27 million left on his contract over the next two seasons. He hit .258 with 29 homers and 95 RBI last season.
Giants acquire Hillenbrand from Blue Jays
Saturday, July 22nd, 2006The Giants sent reliever Jeremy Accardo to Toronto for Hillenbrand and reliever Vinnie Chulk, getting in Hillenbrand the first baseman and offensive threat they had been seeking before the trade deadline.
Hillenbrand, who has a $5.8 million contract for this season, hit .301 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBIs for Toronto this year.
The Giants had a hard time parting with Accardo, someone they considered a future closer.
Giants trade Alfonzo to Angels for Finley
Wednesday, December 21st, 2005The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Steve Finley from the Los Angeles Angels for third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo on Wednesday in a swap of former All-Stars who dropped off dramatically last season.
The 40-year-old Finley batted .222 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 112 games last season for the Angels.
Alfonzo played in only 109 games last season, batting .277 with two home runs and 43 RBIs.
Giants, Morris agree to three-year deal
Monday, December 12th, 2005Right-hander Matt Morris agreed to a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after nine seasons.
Morris went 14-10 with a 4.11 ERA last season, winning his first eight decisions for the Cardinals. But St. Louis didn’t pursue him with the same fervor as the Giants, who were desperate to add a top starter to their depleted rotation.
Morris is 101-62 with a 3.62 ERA in his career. He became the 12th player in St. Louis franchise history to win 100 games when he beat the Giants on Aug. 20.
Morris will join right-hander Jason Schmidt in a San Francisco rotation that’s undergone several changes in the last year, including the departures of Kirk Rueterand Brett Tomko.
Giants and Royals Looking at Kris Benson
Saturday, December 3rd, 2005The SF Giants and KC Royals are making a push to acquire SP Kris Benson from the Mets. Obviously, the Mets would have to eat some of the money remaining from his 3 year, $22.5 million contract they agreed to last year.