Huzzah!

Is it true? Could it be true? Have the Giants finally backed away from Pedro Feliz?

Words from Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Pedro Feliz apparently is gone, with Sabean saying, “We made a two-year offer, which he rejected. We’ve pretty much moved on from there.” There are other third baseman coming off injuries who might be available via trade – most notably Joe Crede and the already-dealt Scott Rolen – and Sabean acknowledged he is monitoring players in that category.

After offering Feliz a 2-year deal you can’t really say that the Giants totally backed away from Feliz, but it’s good news that Sabean is showing a modicum of restraint and not giving into the 3-year demands that Feliz apparently wants. Feliz is what he is, great with the leather, not-so-great with the bat. Toss in the fact that Feliz will be 33 next year and he’s a pretty big risk, even at two years. I think that a team with really weak 3B production last year might still take a shot at Feliz, maybe someone like the Phillies, but I’d really be surprised if he gets the 3-years he’s looking for.

The good news for the G’s is that they offered Feliz arbitration, he’s a type-B player, and will get a supplemental draft pick from whichever team he signs with — if he doesn’t end up playing in Japan or something. Despite what Schulman is saying, I don’t think the Blue Jays will be trading Scott Rolen, nor would I really want him. The same goes for Crede, even though the White Sox are definitely making him available, I do no want him. Actually trading talent for Crede is mind-boggling considering that Feliz and Crede are basically the same player. Crede’s agent is Scott Boras, too, who loves to test the market. Crede would be nothing but a potential 1-year rental with a lot of health concerns. I really, really, hope that Sabean doesn’t trade for him.

I’ve been riding shotgun on the Morgan Ensberg bandwagon for 2-years now and I won’t get off just yet. He’d come cheap and without the cost of prospects. He might even put up league average numbers for the Giants. An article in the San Jose Mercury News today briefly mentions that the Giants might be checking out Ensberg.

Club officials are exploring other possibilities for the corners, including free agent Morgan Ensberg. Giants scouts also plan to monitor Chicago White Sox third baseman Joe Crede this spring to see if his back is healthy. If so, club sources said there is a good chance the Giants could acquire him for a pitcher.

If the Giants trade for Crede, I’ve got the feeling that they will move Lowry in a Crede deal. I’m not big on Lowry by any stretch but to trade him for a 1-year of Joe Crede — who’s essentially the exact same player that Feliz is — seems like a spinning-the-wheels-in-sand type of move.

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While my Ensberg dreams still run strong, you can cross Chris Shelton off the list as a possible first base candidate for the Giants. He cleared waivers today for Texas and was sent to their AAA affiliate. Shelton would most likely out-hit Ben Broussard but it looks like initially the Rangers will carry him as a bench bat, if he even makes the team.

Finally, ex-Giant David Aardsma was DFA’d by the Chicago White Sox. Aardsma, who is #1 all-time alphabetically in baseball, pitched great for the White Sox in ’07 … in April. He started the year looking un-hittable, posting an ERA of 1.72 in 15.2 innings with 23 strike-outs. In May, June, and July Aardsma never had an ERA under 9.00 and was optioned to AAA where he stayed for the rest of the year. According to his Wikipedia page, he’s also good friends with Kirsten Dunst? He’d be a interesting reclamation project because of his arm but I think he’ll get picked before the Giants get a shot at him.