SF Giants sign Huff, as so-called misfit becomes cornerstone of title team

Henry Schulman
SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle

Aubrey Huff, one of the mercenaries and misfits who helped carry the Giants to the 2010 World Series championship, will have a much different role in 2011 as a highly paid cornerstone of a team that that will try to win another.

Last winter, Huff was out of job until January. Now, he will celebrate Thanksgiving with a two-year contract to return to the Giants, who opened their coffers wide in their first significant move to retain the core of an offense that hoisted them to the title.

The deal for the first baseman and outfielder, finalized Tuesday, will pay him $10 million each in 2011 and 2012 and includes a $10 million team option or a $2 million buyout for 2013, making the guaranteed value $22 million.

That is a lot of dough for a player who turns 34 in December, but Huff gave the Giants a lot for $3 million during his first season in San Francisco. He finished seventh in the National League Most Valuable Player voting and, just as important, helped foster a loose and happy clubhouse by letting his oddball personality all hang out.

It's a shame that one of Huff's spikes, and not his rally thong, is part of the Giants championship exhibit on display in Cooperstown.

General manager Brian Sabean said Huff's signing was "critical for the lineup, being our third hitter, left-handed, his profile and his versatility being able to play first base and the outfield."

Besides hitting .290, he led the Giants in all the big categories: homers, RBIs, hits, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. His .891 OPS (on base plus slugging) ranked 10th in the league.

Beyond that, Huff's ability to play first base or either corner position in the outfield gives Sabean significant flexibility going into an offseason in which two potential starters, Pablo Sandoval because of his weight and offensive decline, and Mark DeRosa coming off a second wrist operation, will not be able to prove themselves until spring training.

If Sabean chooses to sign or trade for another corner outfielder or infielder, he knows he can shift Huff to make it work.

"He was such an important piece of the puzzle this year with what he brought to us hitting in the three spot for the most part, and his versatility," manager Bruce Bochy said.

"You don't have many players who can do what Aubrey did, play first and the outfield plus a left-handed bat who can hit the way he does, and what he brought with the overall dynamic for the club, the presence on the field and off the field in the clubhouse."

Sabean said talks with Huff accelerated because another team was hot on his trail. Huff agreed to return when the Giants matched the other club's offer.

"He certainly did his part and got his just reward because of it," Sabean said.

In other news:

-- Sabean said talks with free-agent infielder Juan Uribe are not going as quickly because there are more teams going after him.

"I think both sides were willing to do something faster, but we're not talking the same language yet as far as the ballpark figures," Sabean said.

-- At the same time, Sabean continues to discuss potential trades for shortstop, saying he had one conversation today. Two shortstops rumored to be available are Jason Bartlett of Tampa Bay and Marco Scutaro of Boston.

-- Bochy said Sandoval has chosen to live and train in Arizona this offseason, not San Diego. That is critical because the Giants' trainers live and work in Arizona during the winter and can monitor him more closely.

-- First base and outfield prospect Brandon Belt will have a chance to win a job out of spring training.

"I think this kid is going to make some noise out of spring training," Bochy said.

-- Sabean said he might not tender contracts to all eight arbitration-eligible players, but that outfielder Cody Ross will be offered a contract and play in the Giants outfield in 2011.