Giants season wrap: Aces still deemed "untouchable

Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews

The dust hasn't settled on the post-Barry Bonds era. The scaffolding remains visible as General Manager Brian Sabean enters the second winter of his rebuilding project.

But at least the task list is a little shorter this time, and some design elements are in place.

The Giants improved by one game from 2007, when they finished 71-91. But anyone who watched the youth infusion in 2008 could recognize a striking difference from one year to the next.

Another one-game improvement probably won't be enough to save Sabean's job, though. He is entering the final year of his contract, as is Manager Bruce Bochy, and they have a new superior officer to impress. Bill Neukom officially takes over the managing partner's office from Peter Magowan on Wednesday.

Are the Giants a power hitter and a few dependable relief pitchers away from making a 15-game leap in the standings, which should be enough to contend in a Downy-soft National League West? Sabean isn't sure. But he doesn't plan to sacrifice a pitcher like Matt Cain to make a go-for-broke effort.

Sabean said that Cain and Tim Lincecum remain untouchable, which might have been the biggest bullet point from his post-mortem session with reporters Monday.

"I'm not going to trade the Cy Young winner, whether he is or not," Sabean said of Lincecum. "And Matty, at 23, pitched like a Cy Young at times. ... I don't think it'll take trading Matt Cain to get something done."

Other notable developments:

Omar Vizquel has "zero chance" of returning; Sabean already told the 11-time Gold Glove winner that the club would buy out the option year on his contract.

Rich Aurilia could return, but it's a back-burner issue while the club addresses other needs.

Pablo Sandoval is "penciled in" as the starting first baseman and Emmanuel Burriss is the shortstop, though the Giants will be fluid positionally as they look to trade for a heavy hitter.

Fred Lewis will start in left field as long as he's healthy.

The free-agent priority will be relief pitching to address an evident talent gap in the bullpen.

The Giants will look at free-agent starters and ask CC Sabathia what his concept of a hometown discount might be, but they don't plan to spend "exorbitant" dollars.

Eugenio Velez and Nate Schierholtz will be on the team, though their roles are unclear. Velez could start at second base, though Sabean is "pulling for" Kevin Frandsen.

The coaching staff will return intact. Yes, Dave Righetti, too.

Sabean acknowledged the need for one or two hitters who can break open a tight game with a three-run homer. But that 30-homer, 100-RBI cleanup man? He might not exist.

"I'm not going to hang our hopes on getting that type of player," Sabean said. "It may be a combination of players."

Sabean has had preliminary meetings with Neukom about setting the payroll, which he expects to remain in the $90 million range. While Sabean was told there is flexibility to go higher, it's not likely that Neukom's first action would be to approve a pricey addition (such as spending $200 million on Mark Teixeira) that would draw the ire of his fellow investors — especially at a time when club revenue is trending downward.

Instead, Sabean said the Giants would focus on the trade market, targeting clubs that can't afford to keep their arbitration-eligible hitters. They'd also seek trade matches with teams desperate for pitching.

The Brewers are losing Sabathia and Ben Sheets to free agency while strapped with three high-profile arbitration cases: Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks. The Rockies will shop Garrett Atkins and Clint Barmes, who has admirers within the Giants organization. The Marlins will explore trading power-hitting second baseman Dan Uggla. And the Texas Rangers are in perpetual need of arms.

"We're not going to be trading for somebody with one year remaining on the contract," Sabean said.

Top pitching prospects Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson are practically untouchable, club sources said. Sabean is likely to shop left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, though his terrible second half figures to depress his value.

The Giants are hopeful about Noah Lowry making a full recovery but consider him "off to the side" for now.

Ideally, Sabean would acquire a cleanup presence so Bochy could move Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand down in the lineup. Rowand, who had an abysmal second half, is "ideally a six-hole or maybe even a seven-hole hitter," Bochy said.

"If we can get more than a run a game from a different combination in the lineup, and we can finish the job after the starter, getting to the closer, I think a lot of good things can happen," Sabean said. "I think we can play winning baseball."