SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle
The Giants made their first significant player move of the offseason Friday, re-signing second baseman Freddy Sanchez to a two-year, $12 million contract.
On the other side of the infield, the Giants would like to re-sign Juan Uribe, and general manager Brian Sabean has begun talks with Uribe's agent. However, a quick resolution is unlikely.
"I get the sense he's going to test the free-agent market," Sabean said.
In another move that was expected but might carry some emotional weight, the Giants cut ties with popular but injured pitcher Noah Lowry by declining his $6.25 million club option for 2010 and placing him on outright waivers.
They also outrighted long reliever Justin Miller. Like Lowry, Miller can become a free agent.
Senior vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans said the Giants would not "close the door" on re-signing either pitcher. Given Lowry's perception that the team misdiagnosed the injury that has cost him more than two seasons, his return seems less likely.
The two-year deal for Sanchez eliminated his $8.1 million option for 2010 and instead pays him $6 million for each of the next two seasons.
The Giants traded pitching prospect Tim Alderson to the Pirates for Sanchez on July 29. The second baseman's two months with San Francisco were sabotaged by cartilage damage in his left knee, an injury that occurred before the trade, and a shoulder sprain that occurred afterward. He played in only 25 games for the Giants and hit .284.
Sanchez, 31, had knee surgery in September and said the joint "feels great. It feels almost like it never happened." He also said he just began rehabilitating his sprained shoulder.
The career .299 hitter called his contract extension "a big deal for me. Obviously, they gave up a pretty high prospect for me. I feel there's a lot of work to do to show what I'm capable of doing when I'm on the field. I try to be as loyal a person as I can. Being part of the San Francisco Giants' family, hopefully I can do what they traded for me to do."
Sabean said when Sanchez was healthy, "he certainly played up to our scouting reports and expectations. It's unfortunate he ran into not being able to stay on the field, because he really would have helped the ballclub."
Manager Bruce Bochy expects Sanchez to hit second or third. If he hits third, one presumes Pablo Sandoval would hit fourth, which means the Giants were not able to find a powerful cleanup hitter via trade or free agency.
The Giants are expected to make a run for Red Sox outfielder Jason Bay, but otherwise, Sabean said he sees a "later-developing market. We don't have a relative sense of urgency like last year, which will play in our favor."
Sabean reported having "some level of conversation" with each of the Giants' potential free agents, including Uribe, Bengie Molina and Randy Winn, to let them know where they stand.
The Lowry move ends a sad saga for the Giants and the 29-year-old left-hander. A first-round draft pick in 2001, he became one of the team's most popular players and led the team with 14 wins in 2007, when his season was curtailed by arm numbness. He has not pitched since then, but agent Damon Lapa said Lowry now is "completely healthy" and throwing three days a week.
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