San Francisco Giants

Losses: OF Randy Winn, UT Ryan Garko, IF Rich Aurilia, P Brad Penny, P Randy Johnson

Gains: UT Mark DeRosa, 1B Aubrey Huff, P Todd Wellemeyer, P Guillermo Mota, Byung-Hyun Kim, Horacio Ramirez

Analysis: The Giants stuck to a few key moves over this off-season. They lost a couple of players that were acquired last summer, in Brad Penny and Ryan Garko, but the Giants are happy enough with their pitching to let Penny go (and they brought in Todd Wellemeyer to compete with Madison Bumgarner and Jonathan Sanchez for the last two spots) and Garko was replace by free agent acquisition Aubrey Huff, a power bat that the Giants have been lacking. Giant fans who had grown used to watching the splash down counter in Right Field, may again have something to cheer about if Huff can put together a good season. Aurilia doesn't have too much left to offer, as he will have trouble finding a team this season and Randy Johnson has finally bid adieu to a brilliant career. Randy Winn is still a useful player, but the Giants are giving Mark DeRosa a chance to be an everyday outfielder. Most of DeRosa's previous opportunities have come in the infield. Two of the bigger moves of the off-season moves were not technically changes. The Giants were able to re-sign Freddie Sanchez, after acquiring him from the Pirates last season. Sanchez is still a great hitter, and will be greatly appreciated in SF. The other move was re-signing Bengie Molina. Molina was associated with the Mets for so long it felt like he left SF and came back. But he returns to give a little more boost to the line-up. Molina won't have to hold down the clean-up spot this year. With the addition of Huff and DeRosa, he can slot in somewhere around 6th, which is much more suited for him. Another good move, they re-signed mid-season acquisition, Jeremy Affeldt to be a strong lefty in the pen. The Giants also bring in a few ideas with Mota, Kim and Ramirez. Of the three, at least one is bound to help solidify their bullpen. APT would actually look to Mota to be that guy.

More moves: The Giants haven't been a team to make too many moves. Perhaps a minor league contract could still come about. Maybe a second lefty to Affeldt or another pitcher for rotation depth (though Horacio Ramirez could be used that way, as well).

2010 Thoughts: The Giants keep getting a little better each year. Conversation always starts with that Rotation. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum are two of the best young pitchers in baseball. Lincecum gets a lot of the press, but Matt Cain may be an even better pitcher when their careers are over. Look for Cain to have a huge year. Barry Zito began to bounce back a little last season, as the pressure begins to wear off. I expect Zito to be back near the top of his game this season, which at this point in his career can still be in the area of a #2 starter (in this rotation he is the 3). Sanchez threw his no-hitter last season, but wasn't overly impressive aside from it. He is still young and learning to harness some solid weapons. Madison Bumgarner will get his first real taste of big league action, but the Giants see him as an effective rotation-man. The line-up is constantly improving little by little. As mentioned, SF puts a little more in the middle of the order. They can now stack Pablo Sandoval, Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa and Bengie Molina at 3-4-5-6. With Freddie Sanchez fitting best as a great #2, it'll be interesting to see how the Giants lead off if Nate Schierholtz beats out Eugenio Velez and Fred Lewis in right. Either Lewis or Velez could be used in the 1 slot, but without them, Sanchez may have to fill that hole with Edgar Renteria behind him. Renteria is still trying to regain his old form and is better suited for a bottom of the order spot, if he is not overtaken by Juan Uribe, who has shown a much greater ability to drive in runs. The bullpen will probably tell the story for the Giants. They still have Brian Wilson, a good young arm, to close. They will need Mota or Kim to help out in the middle innings with Affeldt and Sergio Romo. Henry Sosa will show what he can do coming over from the Dominican Republic and Brandon Medders had a solid season in 2009. With some help from some of the bullpen pick-ups and maybe a mid-season move, the Giants will certainly be competitive in the NL West all year.

Prediction: Aubrey Huff had a down year last year, switching teams mid-season, but I really think he can be a difference in this line-up. With the young pitching carrying this team they will certainly be in the hunt, but I have to imagine they will fall short, as they are just no there yet. I see them behind the Rockies in 3rd in the West.