Article:Giants Continue Their Search For A Bat

I don't think the Giants will get Manny, but seeing that Sabean is looking into other options via free agency, maybe he settles on an Adam Dunn or Pat Burrell. I hope I'm wrong as neither of those guys are near the difference maker Manny is and both would want longer-term contracts than what ManRam will get. It obviously appears as if the Giants wouldn't mind adding another outfielder as they may have something up their sleeve. I just really hope it's not Bobby Abreu. I guess Dunn wouldn't be so bad if he came on a 2-3 year deal do to the depressed market, but I just don't see him wanting to come here as this park could diminish his power numbers. Burrell though, would be a slower, little more powerful, lot less average version of Rowand. No thanks. At least Dunn will probably somehow manage to still pull off 35-40 home run seasons, even playing for SF. Barry did it, and Dunn has that kind of pop. Even Ray Durham managed to hit 26 home runs in a season while taking most of his at-bats from the left side of the plate at AT&T Park. But again, doubt he would want to come here on a discounted deal over other places that might offer a more lucrative hitters park. Whatever does go down though, I hope it doesn't cost Fred Lewis his spot on in the starting lineup or on the team. I like Lewis' upside and I want to see him play everyday somewhere. He showed so much improvement last year that I can't wait to see what he does this time around. I see him as fitting the same mold as Cleveland's Grady Sizemore. Lewis doesn't quite have the power that Sizemore has, but can hit for average, power and has the ability to steal bases while hitting at the top of the order. (12-15 home runs, .290 average, 25-30 steals per season with an .800+ OPS).

Speaking of the slow free agent market, we are 4 days into January and amazingly, their are still a load of high profile free agents left on the market. I figured that I would go ahead and take my best guess at where the top seven will end up:

1. Manny Ramirez: Dodgers/Angels (Giants have a shot too, but I think the mercurial Manny ends up in somewhere in LA) 2. Adam Dunn: Nationals (They missed out on Tex and are looking and may now turn to Dunn to help out Zimmerman in the middle of the order) 3. Ben Sheets: Rangers (Texas always needs starting pitching and Sheets could be the best they've had in a while) 4. Orlando Hudson: Dodgers (Market not there for ODog, could end up with the Dodgers, (especially if they lose out on Manny) who could use an upgrade at 2nd) 5. Derek Lowe: Mets (Seems like the Mets are the most serious about the best remaining FA starting pitcher, even though discussions haven't been fruitful thus far) 6. Pat Burrell:Dodgers/Angels (Whichever LA team misses out on Manny likely looks to Burrell as the consolation) 7. Bob Abreu: Mets (Mets need another outfielder and the solid Abreu could land on their laps. Also could end up with an LA team if the Giants or someone else land Ramirez)

Published @ The San Francisco Giants Blog