SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle
Building a baseball team is like trying to paint a chameleon. The artist must be willing to re-imagine his vision for the work because the subject constantly changes colors.
So it is this offseason with the Giants and general manager Brian Sabean, who formally announced Juan Uribe's one-year, $3.25 million contract Tuesday.
Ideas germinated in October have been pushed aside by market realities, a dearth of available impact hitters that sent their prices sky-high - beyond what the team was willing to spend - and a reluctance to trade away pitching.
In October, Sabean suggested catcher Buster Posey and starter Madison Bumgarner needed more seasoning in the minors. Now, unless something unforeseen happens, they will go into spring training with jobs to lose.
After spending most of their available money to re-sign Uribe, acquire Mark DeRosa and extend Freddy Sanchez's contract, Sabean said what little money remains will go toward improving the offense, preferably with a left-handed bat.
The Giants are believed to have some interest in free-agent outfielders Johnny Damon and Jack Cust. Others on the market include Scott Podsednik, whom the Giants tried to acquire via trade some years back, and Rick Ankiel.
Thus, there is little or no money left for a catcher or fifth starter. Sabean said he is "comfortable" with a catching corps of Posey and Eli Whiteside. And if Bumgarner, a 20-year-old lefty, is the top option for the No. 5 starting job, you can bet Sabean will not trade No. 4 starter Jonathan Sanchez for a bat.
The Giants still could sign a left-handed-hitting first baseman. They extended an offer to Adam LaRoche, $17 million for two years, according to ESPN. LaRoche reportedly turned that one down, but if he eventually signs, Uribe would be a super-utility player. Lefty-hitting Nate Schierholtz still could get a crack in right.
Now, however, there is a Plan B that was not discussed by Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy until now.
"Boch and I talked this morning," Sabean said. "We are still pursuing more help. Selfishly, we'd like it to be a left-handed hitter. Having said that, there is a scenario that could develop (for Uribe) other than the super-utility role, which he signed for. He could end up being the third baseman and DeRosa could be the left fielder. We're also visiting internally what could be the leadoff situation."
Ah, another metamorphosis for the chameleon.
After the season, management suggested a left-field and leadoff platoon of Eugenio Velez and Andres Torres. Now, Sabean said, "We're not necessarily comfortable with that."
So, if the Giants do not acquire a leadoff hitter, they might give the job to Aaron Rowand. His .319 on-base percentage does not scream "table-setter," but Rowand did give the team a spark when given a shot there last year. In fact, his average rose to .294 and his OBP to .341 from the first spot in the order.
Bochy could paint a real dramatic brushstroke by allowing Uribe, 30, to compete with Edgar Renteria for the shortstop job, but Bochy said that will not happen because Renteria has been "an astounding shortstop, a smart player and a clutch hitter" whose production faltered because he was injured.
"We're going into the season with Edgar as our shortstop, and I think you'll see a different player in the fact that he's healthy now," Bochy said.
The news of the day, Uribe's re-signing, will cheer Giants fans who enjoyed his 2009 production (16 homers, 55 RBIs in 398 at-bats) and teammates who loved his sense of humor and graciously handed him their spare cash in clubhouse domino games.
Uribe was not available for comment.
To clear a 40-man spot for Uribe, the Giants designated for assignment Brian Bocock, their 2008 Opening Day shortstop who struggled to hit at Class A San Jose last year.
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