Edgar Renteria HAS Signed with San Francisco

[Marky Mark]

2 years, 18 million.

[RockRaines]

SF-where buying old ball players past their prime is the standard.

[Kalapse]

If the Giants could have put off signing Renteria for another week they probably would have saved themselves a 2nd round pick. The Tigers probably weren't going to offer Renteria (a type A free agent) arbitration and the deadline to offer free agents arbitration is next Monday. So by locking him up before December 1st they cost themselves a 2nd round pick (they finished with one of the 15 worst records in the game last season so they lose a 2nd round pick rather than a 1st).

[nitetrain8601]

Meanwhile, Cabrera is being looked at heavily by the Tigers.

[southsideirish71]

Meanwhile, Cabrera is being looked at heavily by the Tigers.

 

I hope the Dodgers get him. That first round pick would be nice.

 

 

[BearSox]

hopefully Cabrera signs with a team that picks 16 or lower, and before December 1. I don't care if it's the Twins, I want that 1st rounder and sandwich pick.

[bschmaranz]

From MLBTradeRumors

3:59pm: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle talked to a Giants source who said the below report is not true. Schulman admits the Giants may be splitting hairs, as they might deny a deal if only formalities remain.

 

Rafael Furcal's agent Paul Kinzer says he's still talking to the Giants, which would seem to indicate a Renteria deal isn't close.

[Milkman delivers]

The Giants are a terrible organization.

[Balta1701]

So, this means Omar Vizquel is available?

[Kalapse]

So, this means Omar Vizquel is available?

He and David Eckstein are both free agents, something I find terrifying.

[flavum]

He and David Eckstein are both free agents, something I find terrifying.

 

The Sox shouldn't try to get any position player over 30. We have too many of those guys to begin with.

[witesoxfan]

I seem to recall it being the Giants MO for a while to sign guys before the arbitration deadline to avoid paying for 1st round draft picks.

[caulfield12]

I seem to recall it being the Giants MO for a while to sign guys before the arbitration deadline to avoid paying for 1st round draft picks.

'

 

So the former club (in this case the Tigers) can't simply offer arbitration after the new contract has already been signed but before December 1st and get the picks anyway?

 

"6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold. Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants' fallback for Furcal. He notes that the Tigers would've loved to see Renteria sign today, as they're unlikely to offer him arbitration. Goold learned that Meister (Renteria's agent) will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere." mlbtraderumors.com

Edited November 25, 2008 by caulfield12

[southsider2k5]

'

 

So the former club (in this case the Tigers) can't simply offer arbitration after the new contract has already been signed but before December 1st and get the picks anyway?

 

"6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold. Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants' fallback for Furcal. He notes that the Tigers would've loved to see Renteria sign today, as they're unlikely to offer him arbitration. Goold learned that Meister (Renteria's agent) will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere." mlbtraderumors.com

 

I think he is saying that the Giants would sign guys before the Arbit deadline so they would lose their #1 pick, and not have to pay them.

[Kalapse]

'

 

So the former club (in this case the Tigers) can't simply offer arbitration after the new contract has already been signed but before December 1st and get the picks anyway?

 

"6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold. Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants' fallback for Furcal. He notes that the Tigers would've loved to see Renteria sign today, as they're unlikely to offer him arbitration. Goold learned that Meister (Renteria's agent) will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere." mlbtraderumors.com

If a type A/B free agent signs before Dec. 1st then his former club gets the comp picks even if they have yet to offer arb.

[nitetrain8601]

So if I'm a terrible team, unless I'm getting a young guy about to hit his prime, it makes no sense to sign those guys. Makes sense, but too bad no one ever goes with that plan.

[Balta1701]

So if I'm a terrible team, unless I'm getting a young guy about to hit his prime, it makes no sense to sign those guys. Makes sense, but too bad no one ever goes with that plan.

It depends on what your building plan is. If i were a team like the Royals or Nats and I had some money to spend but not a ton, I'd look in to signing a guy like Renteria, a veteran player who might come moderately cheap on a 1-2 year deal, and look to spin them off at the trade deadline for an extra minor leaguer or two, or turn them in to an extra draft pick as a type B guy.

[southsider2k5]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...8&fext=.jsp

 

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants culminated their courtship of shortstop Edgar Renteria by signing the 13-year veteran to a two-year, $18.5 million deal Thursday.

 

The Giants had pursued Renteria and Rafael Furcal, another free-agent shortstop. But Renteria proved to be more economical than Furcal, who reportedly is seeking a four-year contract worth more than $10 million annually. The Giants and Renteria's agents, Jeff Lane and Barry Meister, began exchanging proposals about two weeks ago, as initially reported on MLB.com.

 

"Jeff and I really felt like this was the right place for him," Meister said.

 

Renteria's arrival is expected to prompt change throughout the Giants' infield. Emmanuel Burriss, who began the offseason as the heir apparent at shortstop, likely will play second base, where he'll compete with Kevin Frandsen and Eugenio Velez.

 

Frandsen's also in the mix at third base, although the Giants would like to obtain an offensively proven corner infielder, with Pablo Sandoval manning the other corner. If this happens, Frandsen could be thrust into a utility role. That might in turn quash the Giants' thoughts of re-signing utilityman Rich Aurilia, who has spent 10 of his 13 big league years with the club.

 

The Giants believe that Renteria, a .290 career hitter, can help upgrade their offense. San Francisco finished 15th in scoring and OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) in the National League while ranking last in the Majors in home runs last season. Also, Giants shortstops ranked last in the NL in batting average (.228) and OPS (.576) and tied for last in home runs (one) and runs (51).

 

Renteria's 62-point drop in batting average, from .332 with Atlanta in 2007 to .270 for Detroit last season, appears ominous.

 

"I thought he slowed down a little bit," an American League scout said.

 

Among longtime Giants fans, this might awaken memories of second baseman Rennie Stennett, who signed a then-lavish five-year, $3 million deal before the 1980 season and proceeded to hit .242 in two seasons before being released.

 

But indications are that Renteria's no Stennett. Renteria, who also amassed 10 homers and 55 RBIs for Detroit, hit .299 in last season's final two months. Moreover, according to his agents, he has shed more than 10 pounds this offseason to get himself fit.

 

Hot Stove

 

A five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner, the 33-year-old Renteria was once considered among the Majors' most multitalented shortstops. He has exceeded .300 four times and enjoyed his best year in 2003, when he batted .330 with 13 home runs, 100 RBIs and 34 stolen bases for St. Louis.

 

Observers believe that Renteria will benefit from returning to the NL, where he hit .293 with Florida (1996-98), St. Louis (1999-2004) and Atlanta (2006-07). By contrast, he hit .274 with Boston (2005) and Detroit.

 

Because the Tigers declined to offer Renteria salary arbitration, the Giants will not lose a Draft pick for signing him.

 

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Leonard Zelig]

That seems like a lot of money for Renteria.