[lex24]

Off the top of my head…

Aaron Rowand
Mark Melancon
Jeff Samardzija



I’m sure there have been many, many more (help me out, lex).  The Giants have always paid out the cash.  The results of those deals haven’t always been great…

I’d mentioned Cueto.  Most of their big contracts involved locking up players - Posey, Cain, Crawford, Pence.  To a lesser extent Lincecum and Bum (who was on team friendly deal)  Giants would “reward” players. Sabean’s biggest failing is he didn’t see the changes coming. 30 is older today than in 2010….

Aubrey Huff. Not a big signing money wise (in fact bargain deal -3 million. Then they signed him to 2 year 22 million.) But a big impact in ‘10. Huff is now persona non grata with Giants. Troubled guy. But he was central to ‘10.

Not sure that Melky Cabrera would be considered a major signing. Had a major impact, both before and after he got busted. Cabrera was leading league in hitting. MVP of ASG. Then…. Giants handled that so well. “Don’t let the door hit you on way out.” No sympathy. Led by Posey. Who I remember essentially just saying words to the effect of he’s gone. We move on. Good riddance. They had a better record after he left.

Tim Hudson. Big name. But at end of career. Still, major ‘14 contributor.

They traded for Longoria. Another big contract.

They have not been big players on the FA high end market.  Finished second a lot. What Sabean excelled at during championship run years was deadline deals (or in the case of ‘10 earlier in season. Pat Burrell. Pat the Bat. I remember going to Spring Training in ‘11. Burrell would come in from left. (Dugout in Scottsdale is on first base side.) Stop around pitchers mound and go into his strut while scanning the stands. Huff was crucial in getting him to Giants. From what I read, they were friends at Miami. Huff was socially very awkward. Tough home life. Burrell helped him get out of his shell.

They didn’t all work (Wheeler for Beltran being the biggest bust). And some were under the radar. Like bringing in Lopez in ‘10. And, of course, getting “Blockbuster “ in ‘12. Luck also played a hand. Cody Ross in ‘10 was grabbed off waiver wire primarily to block Padres, who were in first. Then Jose Guillen got hurt in Sept.. The rest is, as they say, history.

[lex24]

Off the top of my head…

Aaron Rowand
Mark Melancon
Jeff Samardzija



I’m sure there have been many, many more (help me out, lex).  The Giants have always paid out the cash.  The results of those deals haven’t always been great…

I’d mentioned Cueto.  Most of their big contracts involved locking up players - Posey, Cain, Crawford, Pence.  To a lesser extent Lincecum and Bum (who was on team friendly deal)  Giants would “reward” players. Sabean’s biggest failing is he didn’t see the changes coming. 30 is older today than in 2010….

Aubrey Huff. Not a big signing money wise (in fact bargain deal -3 million. Then they signed him to 2 year 22 million.) But a big impact in ‘10. Huff is now persona non grata with Giants. Troubled guy. But he was central to ‘10.

Not sure that Melky Cabrera would be considered a major signing. Had a major impact, both before and after he got busted. Cabrera was leading league in hitting. MVP of ASG. Then…. Giants handled that so well. “Don’t let the door hit you on way out.” No sympathy. Led by Posey. Who I remember essentially just saying words to the effect of he’s gone. We move on. Good riddance. They had a better record after he left.

Tim Hudson. Big name. But at end of career. Still, major ‘14 contributor.

They traded for Longoria. Another big contract.

They have not been big players on the FA high end market.  Finished second a lot. What Sabean excelled at during championship run years was deadline deals (or in the case of ‘10 earlier in season. Pat Burrell. Pat the Bat. I remember going to Spring Training in ‘11. Burrell would come in from left. (Dugout in Scottsdale is on first base side.) Stop around pitchers mound and go into his strut while scanning the stands. Huff was crucial in getting him to Giants. From what I read, they were friends at Miami. Huff was socially very awkward. Tough home life. Burrell helped him get out of his shell.

They didn’t all work (Wheeler for Beltran being the biggest bust). And some were under the radar. Like bringing in Lopez in ‘10. And, of course, getting “Blockbuster “ in ‘12. Luck also played a hand. Cody Ross in ‘10 was grabbed off waiver wire primarily to block Padres, who were in first. Then Jose Guillen got hurt in Sept.. The rest is, as they say, history.