The Phillies have signed Pedro Feliz pending a physical, to a two-year, $8.5M contract with an option year. It can total $15M including bonuses and the option year. The Giants get a supplemental pick between the 1st and 2nd rounds, the 37th pick overall at the moment.
Giants Thoughts
Hooray!!! Feliz Feliz es gone. I guess they have schools there for Feliz's kids. I thought his comment about "other cities have schools too" was pretty classless to me. It was he who brought up the reason why he wanted to be back with the Giants the other season, so it was legit for reporters to ask him that - he didn't have to give such a snotty answer.
Also, every year, he promises that he has turned a new leaf, that he's been training hard during the off-season, that he's doing some new thing that will make him a better hitter, and every year, it's the same old thing, only older and worse, at least offensively - I do credit him for making himself so good defensively.
And the Phillies make total sense, they were one of two teams that had worse production coming out of 3B in 2007 than the Giants, but they are competing while Pirates are not. So as bad as Feliz is, he is an upgrade for the Phillies both offensively (though marginally so) and defensively. He would also at least double and perhaps triple the number of HR hit at 3B for the Phillies, vs. 2007.
I wouldn't boo but I'm glad he's gone, I'm glad we got a draft pick, I'm glad that Frandsen's a step closer to starting at 3B, though I suspect a trade sometime in spring training to get a starting 3B.
Mainly, I'm glad the Giants are NOT going to sign Feliz. Sometimes in a relationship, it's just time to separate. It was time for Feliz to go, and while I won't wish him well, because if he does well, well, he should have done that while with the Giants and not afterward, I won't wish him ill either. With the Phillies homepark having a HR park factor of 145 in 2007 and 135 for the past three seasons for right-handed hitters, and AT&T Mays Field having 74 in 2007 and 84 for the past three seasons, Feliz could conceivably hit 30-35 homers for the Phillies - and still not walk that much.
Martin, your comments over the weekend on this topic opened my eyes quite a bit, especially your comment about the Giants needing a 3b for at least 2 years, as villalona won't be ready until '10 at the earliest. I would feel really good about this move if I thought the purpose was to give Frandsen a starting spot. I don't think that is the underlying reason - in fact, as you allude, I am afraid the giants will go out and trade a valuable chip (Lowry, Sanchez) for a veteran 3b who is almost indistinguishable from Feliz (I mean wouldn't you rather have Lowry adn Feliz rather than trading Lowry for Crede?).
ReplyDeleteI will be very happy with this move if the Giants go into the season with their 5 IFs as Ort, Durham, Omar, Frandsen, Aurilia. If they sign/trade for a 3b and move Frandsen to a part time slot I will be very despondent.
It does seem Crede is the most heavily rumored. I wouldn't even mind Crede if the cost were Roberts - or another OF, whcih would kind of break up our log jam in the OF. But to bring in another 3b, to split time with Frandsen would b e, IMO, a huge mistake.
But even an Ensberg or a MacPherson will take playing time away from Frandsen - at least until Durham is traded, if he is. I guess I wasn't clear. If they trade Durham or an OF, thereby opening up playing time for younger players, I'm OK with it. But if they take away Frandsen's playing time - without creating more playing time for the young OFs, I'm pissed. Although I would much more tolerate MacPherson than the 32 yr old Ensberg.
You do realize don't you that the countdown to Sanchez for Crede has already started. All you "Happy Pete" haters are going to end up sorry you were so quick to rejoice at his departure.
ReplyDeleteEt Tu giantsrainman? :^)
ReplyDeleteIf the Giants didn't pull the trigger on Sanchez for Carlos Gomez, as was rumored as the deal we turned down, I don't think they are going to go for Sanchez for Crede.
Besides, the ChiSox needs to get rid of him as best (i.e. cheaply) as they can (they need money to get other players they need), it will be a deal like how the Giants dumped Morris on the Pirates, they send us Crede and no money and we'll send them a 4th OF prospect, like Clay Timpner, perhaps one of our backup catchers (Alfonzo/Rodriguez, since Knoedler did so well last season), or a pitcher, like Matt Kinney, Matt Palmer, Chris Begg, Dan Giese, Scott Atchison, maybe even Billy Sadler if they gave up on him.
But he has to prove healthy first in spring training, so there's plenty of time before that for someone else to catch the Giant's eye, and he might not be healthy too, which would switch plans again.
Which puts me in the very uncomforatble position of hoping Crede goes on the DL on Feb 19
ReplyDeleteMartin, I think we lost Knoedler. I think he became a FA and (probably) signed with someone else.
ReplyDelete