27 Days Until Pitchers and Molinas Report

Less than a month remains until fastballs smack the leather, groundballs to short, and the Giants in Arizona to do it all over again: play some baseball. However, the team going to Scottsdale doesn't look much different than the one last year.



Usually at this point of the offseason, teams are done with big moves and finalize their rosters with fringe players. Sabean has yet to scheme up a trade, but chances are he won't find any takers.

Here's what we'll get come spring training and most likely, Opening Day:

Pitchers: No one wants Noah Lowry or Jonathan Sanchez. There were rumors of a Sanchez-Hideki Matsui swap, but that was the most intriguing deal. Sad, isn't it? Plenty of teams could use a #3-#5 starter to round out the back end of the rotation, and Sabean still can't trade for offensive help. Conspiracies:

1. The Lincecum/Cain madness during winter meetings. Sabean let the Lincecum-Rios and Cain-Inge rumors dangle for too long, so other GMs are lowballing Lowry, Sanchez, etc. Even worse: inboxes filled with trade ideas other fans actually believe will work.
   
2. The Johan Santana sweepstakes.
3. Lowry and Sanchez aren't that valuable anyways.

Catchers: The trio of Bengie Molina, Eliezer Alfonzo, and Guillermo Rodriguez again. Molina is a lock as starter and middle-lineup, so Not-gardo and G-Rod get to battle it out during ST.

Infield: Kevin Frandsen is the most ready youngster for a starting gig, but the Giants are paying Ray Durham the money. Frandsen has a shot at 3B, but with each passing day, Pedro Feliz is closer to a new 2-year deal. Dan Ortmeier faces little competition at 1B and Omar will pull off dazzling bare-handed grabs at SS. Conclusion: help!

Outfield: Roberts-Rowand-Winn might be the best defensive outfield in 2008. Rajai Davis platoons with Roberts and plays backup centerfielder. Unless Nate Schierholtz converts to a 1B, then he and Lewis will battle it out for the 5th outfielder spot. One of them is definitely going to Fresno, but it might be beneficial for both to stay in Fresno for consistent at-bats.

Bullpen: Not much going on here. Wilson should win the closer’s spot with Hennessey and Walker as late inning reliever and set-up man (and vice versa). Hennessey just received a 1-year contract for $1.6 million after filing for arbitration. Kevin Correia (who will most likely be in the starting rotation after 6 impressive starts) and Vinnie Chulk are still waiting for word on their salaries.

There are still plenty of candidates for bullpen slots: Misch, Sanchez (still not sure if he’s a reliever or starter), Kline, Taschner, Capellan, and Messenger. Granted, not much quality besides Misch and Sanchez, so the bullpen does need work. However, the bullpen is way further down the list than infield problems.

Question: Is Brian Sabean going to pull off any trade to improve the infield before Opening Day?