**The Official SF Giants Off-Season Thread**
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Winn off to NY
AP source: Yankees, Winn reach $2 million deal
The New York Yankees and free agent outfielder Randy Winn(notes) agreed Wednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Winn hit .262 with two homers and 51 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants last year, but his on-base percentage was just .318. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 2002, when he batted .298 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs for Tampa Bay.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...88R9MF?slug=ap-yankees-winn&prov=ap&type=lgns
AP source: Yankees, Winn reach $2 million deal
The New York Yankees and free agent outfielder Randy Winn(notes) agreed Wednesday to a $2 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Winn hit .262 with two homers and 51 RBIs for the San Francisco Giants last year, but his on-base percentage was just .318. The 35-year-old was an All-Star in 2002, when he batted .298 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs for Tampa Bay.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...88R9MF?slug=ap-yankees-winn&prov=ap&type=lgns
Giants Done Shopping; No Calero, No Byrnes
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 28 at 4:04pm CST]
Two high-ranking Giants officials told Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com that the club is done shopping. As Urban notes via Twitter, the Giants' decision not to hand out more major league contracts means we shouldn't expect a Kiko Calero signing. The door appears shut on the Eric Byrnes front and Johnny Damon appears to be an unlikely fit, also.
The Marlins and Cubs are interested in Calero, one of the winter's more intriguing free agent relievers. Meanwhile, the Giants have already signed Bengie Molina, Freddy Sanchez, Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa this offseason
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 28 at 4:04pm CST]
Two high-ranking Giants officials told Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com that the club is done shopping. As Urban notes via Twitter, the Giants' decision not to hand out more major league contracts means we shouldn't expect a Kiko Calero signing. The door appears shut on the Eric Byrnes front and Johnny Damon appears to be an unlikely fit, also.
The Marlins and Cubs are interested in Calero, one of the winter's more intriguing free agent relievers. Meanwhile, the Giants have already signed Bengie Molina, Freddy Sanchez, Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa this offseason
Former closer Kim, Giants agree to deal
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By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com
Archive
Former Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim has come out of retirement and agreed to terms on a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, said his agent, Paul Cobbe. He will try to win a job in the team's bullpen in spring training.
Kim, 31, has a 54-60 record with a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. His best season came in 2002, when he went 8-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 36 saves for the Diamondbacks.
Kim is probably best remembered for two nightmarish outings in the 2001 World Series, when he allowed late home runs to Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter and Scott Brosius in back-to-back losses to the Yankees. Arizona came back to win the Series in seven games.
Kim, a sidearmer, went to spring training with Pittsburgh in 2008, but hasn't pitched in affiliated ball for two years. Cobbe said he spent much of his time "re-charging'' in his native South Korea.
"He's evaluated coming out of retirement for a while, but now he feels like he's in a position physically to be successful,'' Cobbe said.
Jerry Crasnick is a senior writer for ESPN.com
Comment Email Print Share
By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com
Archive
Former Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim has come out of retirement and agreed to terms on a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, said his agent, Paul Cobbe. He will try to win a job in the team's bullpen in spring training.
Kim, 31, has a 54-60 record with a 4.42 ERA and 86 saves in nine seasons with Arizona, Boston, Colorado and Florida. His best season came in 2002, when he went 8-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 36 saves for the Diamondbacks.
Kim is probably best remembered for two nightmarish outings in the 2001 World Series, when he allowed late home runs to Tino Martinez, Derek Jeter and Scott Brosius in back-to-back losses to the Yankees. Arizona came back to win the Series in seven games.
Kim, a sidearmer, went to spring training with Pittsburgh in 2008, but hasn't pitched in affiliated ball for two years. Cobbe said he spent much of his time "re-charging'' in his native South Korea.
"He's evaluated coming out of retirement for a while, but now he feels like he's in a position physically to be successful,'' Cobbe said.
Jerry Crasnick is a senior writer for ESPN.com
^^^damn that guy sucks.
Giants signed catcher Justin Knoedler to a minor league contract.
He was also invited to spring training. The 29-year-old will need an injury to crack San Francisco's major league roster -- the club has a crowded catching depth chart.
Giants signed LHP Horacio Ramirez to a minor league contract.
Ramirez hasn't even been passable since going 12-4 with a 4.00 ERA as a rookie for the Braves in 2003. Now 30, Ramirez has posted a 6.32 ERA in the majors since 2007. He has only an outside change of cracking San Francisco's bullpen.
also Garko signed with the mariners
Giants signed catcher Justin Knoedler to a minor league contract.
He was also invited to spring training. The 29-year-old will need an injury to crack San Francisco's major league roster -- the club has a crowded catching depth chart.
Giants signed LHP Horacio Ramirez to a minor league contract.
Ramirez hasn't even been passable since going 12-4 with a 4.00 ERA as a rookie for the Braves in 2003. Now 30, Ramirez has posted a 6.32 ERA in the majors since 2007. He has only an outside change of cracking San Francisco's bullpen.
also Garko signed with the mariners
The Giants signed RHP Guillermo Mota to a minor league contract, according to the San Jose Mercury News' Andrew Baggarly.
He also receives an invite to spring training. Mota posted a 3.44 ERA in 61 games for the Dodgers last season. The Giants are hoping he can come close to replicating that success; if he does, he'd be a fine replacement for Bob Howry, who signed with Arizona.
Rich Aurilia hopes to play with the Mets or Yankees this season, reports Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
"We know nothing is imminent, but hopefully we keep in contact with them," said the Brooklyn-native and St. John's graduate. "It’s just been preliminary, but they said there could be some interest down the road. So I’m concentrating more on just making sure my body is ready. I still have the desire to compete and play. I can contribute. I’ve been throwing, swinging the bat and actually feel pretty good." The 38-year-old infielder was limited to just 60 games last season due to an ankle injury, batting .213/.256/.279 with two homers and 16 RBI in 122 at-bats. An invite to Spring Training isn't out of the question for either team, but he's unlikely to add much usefulness at this stage of his career.
He also receives an invite to spring training. Mota posted a 3.44 ERA in 61 games for the Dodgers last season. The Giants are hoping he can come close to replicating that success; if he does, he'd be a fine replacement for Bob Howry, who signed with Arizona.
Rich Aurilia hopes to play with the Mets or Yankees this season, reports Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
"We know nothing is imminent, but hopefully we keep in contact with them," said the Brooklyn-native and St. John's graduate. "It’s just been preliminary, but they said there could be some interest down the road. So I’m concentrating more on just making sure my body is ready. I still have the desire to compete and play. I can contribute. I’ve been throwing, swinging the bat and actually feel pretty good." The 38-year-old infielder was limited to just 60 games last season due to an ankle injury, batting .213/.256/.279 with two homers and 16 RBI in 122 at-bats. An invite to Spring Training isn't out of the question for either team, but he's unlikely to add much usefulness at this stage of his career.