DALLAS — Brian Sabean established his share of patterns and preferences during his three accomplished decades in the San Francisco Giants organization, most of it while serving as the club’s chief baseball executive.
Here is one of them: When plugging a roster need through free agency, he did not hesitate to tap the supply of name-brand players on the gentle downslope of their careers.
That sounds a lot better than “over the hill.”
Several of those long-in-the-tooth signings worked out. Omar Vizquel, who joined the Giants as a 38-year-old shortstop, won two Gold Gloves in San Francisco and continued to play the position into his 40s. Moises Alou arrived as a 38-year-old, and although he averaged 110 games over his two seasons, he also delivered an OPS+ of 138 and 132. Mike Matheny won a Gold Glove as a 34-year-old frontline catcher. A 45-year-old Randy Johnson didn’t dominate in 2009, but he took a little pressure off an emerging staff, sold a few tickets and rounded out his Hall of Fame career while winning his 300th game.
Others were less successful. Steve Finley, a 41-year-old center fielder, handled the rigors of the position but not major-league velocity. Volatile closer Armando Benitez’s greatest contribution was to spark truly epic radio crosstalk between Sabean and KNBR host Ralph Barbieri. Dave Roberts drew occasional boos and didn’t have much left as an outfielder, hastening the start of his second career in which he would become the first Los Angeles Dodgers manager since Tommy Lasorda to win a World Series (and draw many more boos from Giants fans). Trading for Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen was a fine concept when the Giants tried to keep the top spinning in 2018, but the result of that gambit was a 73-89 season and a waste of future All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
The most illustrative case might be Edgar Renteria, who was a 32-year-old shortstop coming off a steeply declining 2008 season when Sabean gave him a two-year, $18.5 million contract that industry observers met with instant derision. The critics weren’t wrong. Renteria was a below-average hitter who had trouble staying on the field while his body began to break down. He also provided a model of professionalism in an otherwise rowdy clubhouse and became the first World Series MVP in the Giants’ San Francisco era.
Edgar Renteria was the MVP of the 2010 World Series. (Matt Slocum / Pool / Getty Images)
“You guys keep score, we keep score,” Sabean said following the 2009 season while responding to industry criticism of the Renteria signing. “What I can say is that a lot of times it doesn’t come down to dollars and cents but more so what they do for the club.
“We made a management decision on all levels that we needed a veteran shortstop,” Sabean continued. “No matter what the contract ended up being, if you talk to (managers) Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, you talk to anybody in baseball who had this type of player, and you listen to (manager Bruce Bochy) who witnessed what he was able to do on and off the field, including with somebody like Pablo (Sandoval), whom he took under his wing in spring training and carried that into the season … what we’ve tried to do is bring guys in here, no matter what their contract was like or how it turned out against the contract, who could make a difference.
“Have we made mistakes? Yes. But in our keeping score, we’ve made a lot of good decisions, too.”
Years later and with a World Series ring on his finger, Sabean was asked to reflect again on the Renteria signing.
“The biggest thing about baseball is that it’s a human game, and you have to have relationships, including in your decision-making,” he said.
Now Buster Posey is the Giants’ chief decision-maker. And there’s an excellent chance that he brings back some of Sabean’s team-building philosophies.
Including a reliance on the gentle downslope.
Paul Goldschmidt? Max Scherzer? Justin Verlander? The Giants sure sound willing to engage with any or all of those one-time perennial All-Stars while addressing short-term needs.
Goldschmidt would offer a right-handed alternative at first base and designated hitter, as well as an ideal spring training locker neighbor to 20-year-old top prospect Bryce Eldridge. Neither Verlander nor Scherzer will be chasing a 300th victory, but that won’t be a prerequisite to their eventual place in Cooperstown — or the respect and attention they would receive from a talented group of young and developing Giants pitchers that includes Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, Landen Roupp and Carson Whisenhunt.
Players in this senior cohort do not require draft pick compensation. They do not require a lengthy commitment. And the Giants figure to have a built-in recruiting advantage that they can exploit. It’s hard to imagine that anyone holds more respect for Posey than the star players who competed against him.
There’s little doubt that qualities like acclaim and name recognition are important to Posey, who has spoken passionately about being in the “memory-making business” and fielding a team that is entertaining as well as successful.
It’s a quality that Posey’s newly elevated general manager, Zack Minasian, appreciates, as well.
“Name value to our fan base is important,” Minasian said before departing the Winter Meetings on Wednesday. “It’s never going to be something we understate. We wouldn’t bring someone just for name value. We want to make sure they can perform on the field. But in my personal experience, I’ve been fortunate to see players revive their careers when maybe others thought they were done.”
Minasian cited an example from his time in Milwaukee when the Brewers signed Jim Edmonds and the 40-year-old center fielder posted a 125 OPS+ in 2010. Minasian witnessed many more examples of the value of veteran presence while growing up as an assistant to his father in the Texas Rangers clubhouse.
“It’s not only about the value they can still potentially bring on the field,” Minasian said. “You’re confident given their experience that they can create value in the clubhouse, as well. We not only want to create a good culture but also a chance for players to learn. I’ve been in that clubhouse on a daily basis, and you hear constant conversation about opposing pitchers, swing adjustments, maybe pitchers talking to each other about trying a new grip or pitch. There’s a lot of learning that still takes place at the big-league level. And a veteran player’s voice carries more weight.”
If the Giants are building a future around their young pitching staff, how do you quantify the value of allowing those pitchers to play catch with someone like Scherzer? Or watch someone like Verlander throw his side session? Or soak up lessons on mentality and mound presence on flights and bus rides and so many quiet moments in the dugout?
“I think there are players who would fit that mold, yeah,” Minasian said. “We’ll talk about every player that we think can bring value on the field and off the field.”
Goldschmidt, 37, is an unrestricted free agent for the first time following eight years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and six with the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-handed hitter is coming off a down year in which he struggled to make mechanical adjustments at the plate but still hit .295/.366/.473 against left-handers and posted much-improved numbers in the second half (.664 OPS before the All-Star break and .799 after it). He won the last of his four Gold Gloves in 2021 but is still considered a defensive asset.
Goldschmidt could be a roster fit even if the Giants hang on to LaMonte Wade Jr., who could be a trade fit for several teams seeking a left-handed presence and/or a first baseman. The Giants also have Wilmer Flores under contract after the right-handed-hitting infielder opted into a $3.5 million salary for 2025, but he was a shell of his former self last season because of a knee injury and is coming off surgery. Although Flores told Giants manager Bob Melvin that he is enthused with his recovery, it’ll be tough for the Giants to bank on receiving 2023-level production from him next season.
Scherzer, 40, is coming off an injury-riddled season for the Rangers, making just nine starts and posting a 3.95 ERA over 43 1/3 innings — breaking a streak of 14 seasons in which he threw at least 145 innings (excluding pandemic-shortened 2020). He has signaled his intent to pitch in what might be a last-hurrah campaign, and industry forecasts predict he will command a contract in the $16 million range.
Verlander, who will be 42 on Opening Day, should come a bit cheaper after he struggled to be effective last season while battling shoulder issues and a strained neck. He had a career-worst 5.48 ERA in 17 starts, his average fastball lagged to a career-low 93.5 mph and the Houston Astros omitted him from their playoff roster.
But there’s no denying his ability to compete. And it’s not like he’ll be asked to pitch to Sandoval.
Posey could guarantee him that much.
(Top photo of Paul Goldschmidt: Robert Edwards / Imagn Images)
