By Andrew Baggarly, MEDIANEWS STAFF
Deals for Cabrera, Young would have had to involve Cain or Lincecum
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants haven't received a proposal that would be worth sacrificing young pitchers Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum, and general manager Brian Sabean said he doesn't anticipate finding one — even if it includes Florida third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
The Giants dismissed a Marlins proposal that would have included Lincecum in a multiplayer offer; Sabean also declined to include Lincecum in a package for Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young, who was traded to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
With league officials gathering in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sabean figures to keep his force field up as other clubs attempt to begin every conversation with Cain and Lincecum.
"We have to listen; that's our job after finishing in last place," Sabean said on a conference call with reporters Thursday. "But I'd be in shock if there's something as good as what their future brings. There's too much chatter around the industry about these guys."
The price might be worth it in a straight-up deal for Cabrera, an elite hitter who is just 24 years old. But Sabean insinuated that the Marlins weren't serious about trading their franchise star.
"I hate to speak to somebody else's business, but you wonder if they really want to trade the player or if they absolutely, positively have to win the deal in such a one-sided fashion," Sabean said. "Maybe they're not going to get something done. I don't know.
"But there are some pitfalls to a player like that, too. He is arbitration eligible ... and you're not going to be given the window to talk to the player about an extension."
The Giants have been active in trade discussions all winter while mostly keeping tabs on free agents.
It appears neither Andruw Jones nor Aaron Rowand will land with the Giants. Sabean said he is "on the fringes" of discussions with the two free-agent center fielders, and he has talked with manager Bruce Bochy about returning Randy Winn from right field to center.
Also on the fringes is third baseman Pedro Feliz, whose agents are demanding what Sabean termed a "pie in the sky" three-year contract. The Giants must offer Feliz arbitration by Saturday or they cannot re-sign him until May 1.
Unless Feliz's agents lower their demands, the Giants will look to the trade arena for a third baseman, with one source calling the Indians' Andy Marte a possibility.
Sabean reiterated that he wouldn't hesitate to acquire young, unproven players for major roles — a remarkable shift after years of denying opportunities to the Giants' own prospects so the team could surround Barry Bonds with veteran free agents.
Sabean even spoke undiplomatically about the new clubhouse dynamic that could happen by going young.
"By and large on every single day, everybody is ready to play, everybody is healthy enough to play, and everybody wants to play," he said.
Sabean lamented Bochy's struggles as a first-year manager, which included the daily soap opera of whether Bonds would be in the lineup. Many in the clubhouse felt Bonds undermined Bochy's authority to the point where the manager couldn't police other veterans in the room.
That wouldn't happen on a younger club, Sabean said.
"You have the power of the pen," Sabean said. "You (say), 'You're hitting fifth. If you don't like it, you can sit on the bench next to me. And if you don't like that, you can hit fifth in Fresno.' There's a lot of continuity and strength to that.
"After what Boch has been through the last year, managing a younger team has a chance to be pretty exciting and enjoyable because you're not going to get much flak back. You're pretty much going to get things in check the way you want them."
Sabean has found minimal interest in Dave Roberts, Ray Durham or Rich Aurilia — all veterans with unattractive contracts. While the club isn't looking to move catcher Bengie Molina, the Mets have expressed interest and could part with a player Sabean could use in another deal.
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