Giles re-ups with Padres

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

More good news for everyone but MFY fans:

Padres, Giles agree to deal

By Bill Center
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

7:07 p.m. November 30, 2005

The Padres and free agent Brian Giles have agreed to a new contract that will guarantee the outfielder $30 million and could be worth $36 million over the next four years, the Union-Tribune has learned.

Giles, who will turn 35 before the start of the 2006 season, will make $9 million each of the next three seasons. Plus, the club holds an option for the 2009 season at another $9 million against a $3 million buyout.

The Padres have tentatively scheduled a press conference for Petco Park Thursday to announce the deal, which was struck late Wednesday afternoon.

The Padres' original offer to Giles was $25.5 million for three seasons. The Granite Hills High graduate had been talking to several other teams, including the New York Yankees, Toronto, Cleveland and the Dodgers.

Giles was voted the Padres' Most Valuable Player in 2005. He hit .301 with 15 homers and 83 RBI. He also led the major leagues with 119 walks, giving him a .423 on-base percentage.

Giles led the Padres in a number of offensive categories, including batting average, runs scored (92), hits (164), doubles (38), RBI, walks, total bases and slugging percentage (.483).

Padres General Manager Kevin Towers had said he believed the New York Yankees were sincerely interested in Giles, perhaps for more than $30 million, but some major league execs had said Giles' Yankees option could vanish soon.

The Dodgers also showed interest in Giles, and four years ago received preferential treatment from the Southern Californian, a Poway resident whose parents live in San Diego County.

When agent Joe Bick brokered the most recent contract for Giles, which paid him an average of $7.25 million in his two full seasons with the Padres, Giles listed L.A. among the six clubs - along with San Diego, Arizona, Colorado, Atlanta and San Francisco - to which he could be traded without his consent.

[metirish]

................................." Brilliant".....................................

[Guest Edgy DC]

I thought he looked like a pretty bad choice to play center at Yankee Stadium.

I might be suspiciously suspicious that there may be something to the idea of moving Jeter.

Could they be looking at Soriano for center?

[metirish]

I just can't see Jeter playing CF, who would be the SS, do they have a ringer in the minors?, the intrique is killing me, Bubba Crosby wouldn't be the worst choice, he can catch the ball at least.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The ringer is the guy at third, who may be damn close to being the greatest shortstop in baseball history.

[nymr83]

they have a ringer over at 3B who, despite what MFY fans might think, is the best defensive SS on the team.

i'd have loved to see Giles in RF at Shea but oh well.

[metirish]

Duh...LOL....of course, how did I forget Rodriguez......

[Frayed Knot]

FWIW;

- Cashman claimed the Yanx were never looking at Giles as a CFer (thinking of trading Sheffield perhaps?)

- Both he and Torre deny that that they were ever contemplating moving one of their SSs to CF ... of course some reporter claims he quoted Torre as saying just that.
I can't see it happening though. Rarely do guys become CFers once hitting 30 (OK, Yount did) plus they'd then have to find a 3rd baseman.

[nymr83]

not that i think they ARE moving a SS to CF...but if they did they could get a 3Bman easier than a CF....i'm sure guys like Joe randa are available. theres also the (now ugly looking) Beltre contract which might be available and can't Aubrey Huff play 3rd? the D-Rays wouldnt shy away from dealing him i dont think.

[Guest Edgy DC]

To clarify, I don't think they are, either. I just think it's, you know, more likely today than it was yesterday. I'd also enjoy seeing it. The guys who have made the move relatively late in their careers, of course, are coming from the middle infield positions, so it's still been a step or two down on the defensive spectrum.

[nymr83]

from 2B to CF is a step down? i'd consider 2B an easier position...

[Guest Edgy DC]

Bill James looks at it this way:

[ - - 1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS - C - - ]

It's certainly still up for debate.

Jeter still has good speed but is believed by some to be set back by being somewhat slow off the mark on his initial reactions --- which is part of the reason why some believe that A-Rod at third may still be the better defensive alignment than Jeter over there, even as they acknowledge that Rodriguez is clearly the superior shortie.

Anyhow, center at this point may be a better match for Jeter's athletic skills (like it was for Dunston during the later stages of his careeer). There's got to be some reason that so many of Jeter's highlights have him running around the outfield.

Plus, it's still enough of a high-profile glamourous position that the Yankees can still feel that he's being showcased. Derek's not being demoted, Derek's filling a need. Stepping into the breach like a captain should.

[smg58]

I'd have been willing to offer Giles more than that, but it looks like San Diego was his first choice all along.

Perhaps the Yankees really will give Crosby the chance. I could see a small deal for Jason Michaels as a platoon, and reserving their resources for a bat at DH and the pen.

I just can't see Jeter in center.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

IIRC, Giles is orignially from San Diego, and he gets a box at Petco as part of his contract. I remember the Giles family letting Mrs. Wigginton use the box when Ty was still a Met and the Mets were in San Diego - Mrs. Wigginton used to babysit the Giles boys when they were growing up.

Anyway, good for Brian if he gave the Padres a home team discount. I always like hearing about guys who get to play for the teams they rooted for when they were growing up.

[Guest Rotblatt]

metirish wrote: Duh...LOL....of course, how did I forget Rodriguez......

Because he dissapears after September. (badda bum bum ching!)