Winter Meetings...........EVE

Hello ladies and gentleman, boys and girls I would like to welcome you all to the Winter Meetings Las Vegas edition. This year I expect a flurry of trades and early signing that will blow open the quiet market. This year the most active team thus far has been your very own San Francisco Giants whom have already signed 3 free agents and are actively discussing many other avenues. (Cantu, Blalock, Encarnacion, Hermidia and last but not least C.C Sabathia)

I will go on record and say this will be the most important week of the offseason for the 09 San Francisco Giants and possibly the most important week of Brian Sabean's career becuase, if he flops this year he's gone. The winter meetings are so exciting and important for a variety of reasons. First off if anything substantial is going to happen the remainder of this offseason it will happen here. Though there may be no announced trade or signing the paramters of the deal will be discussed at these meetings. Remember Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain for Alexis Rios anyone?

For once the Giants go into these meetings with an abundance of buzz. Because the Giants have already signed 3 free agents and are discussing many potential trades they will have many eyes upon them come tommorow. I expect the Giants to move swiftly as well I wholeheartedly believe that if Sabean and his posse feel a deal is right senor Sanchez will be pitching in a different zip code come next season. A dealing of Emmanuel Burrris would also not surprise me for a number of reasons. It seems the Giants never saw Burris as the heir apparent to SS and with Frandsen and Velez there who has a very similar tool set Burris is as expendable as ever and his value may never be higher. Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, not becuase I want to see Burris leave the Orange and Black but because I see a fit: The Minnesota Twins are in search of a young cheap SS whom they can control for a very long time. The Giants are looking to hoard talent at practically any position and have stated they would like more power production from their corner OF bats. Delmon Young has been made very avaible by Twins General Manager Bill Smith. With a Minnesota OF that consists of Denard Span, Carlos Gomez and Micheal Cuddyer Twins Manager Rod Gardenhire has made it known that Young, is seemingly the odd man out. What baffles me is that for only being 22 Young has been very productive he has averaged a .292 average with 12 hr and 81 rbi's in his first two seasons and can realistically turn into a .300/.360/.540 30 hr 120 rbi monster in right field. He has more potential than potentially that whole OF save perhaps the speedy Gomez. The most two similar players  through age 22 are Carl Yastremski and Tris Speaker both hall of famers.( I'm not saying Young is going to be a hall of famer I just think it's of note) 

All of this sounds just peachy but before we purchase our trade for Delmon shirts let's take a step back. The Twins are going to ask for more than Burris without a question it would be silly not to but he is a good starting point. Second the Giants have an already crowded OF with Winn, Lewis, Rowand, Roberts and Shierhotlz in the wings. At the same time I believe the Giants will move two of the outfielders potentially if their inquiring about the avaiabillity of the Marlins Jeremy Hermidia. Another problem being is that before we give Delmon the keys to patrol RF at AT&T shouldn't we give Nate ample oppurtunities? Yes, we should given that his upside is considerable to and he has proven he doesn't belong in the minors anymore for two seasons in a row. If it were up to me we would have a Lewis, Winn, Delmon/ Nate OF with the RF taking a seat when their not playing or letting Lewis or Winn catch a breather or take over RF when one establishes themselves. Boys get ready Christmas is finally here.