Winter meetings notes: Giants on verge of losing Penny, Neukom on the loose in Indy, (non-) update on Villalona, etc.
Posted by Andrew Baggarl


We'll meet with Brian Sabean in the Giants suite at 2:15 p.m. PST, so check back for the latest after that session. For now, here's a morning/early afternoon summary of Giants notes from Indianapolis:


The market for starting pitching could be coming into focus earlier than some others. I tweeted earlier that Brad Penny and the Cardinals were getting close on a contract, which now looks to be an incentive-filled one-year deal with a bigger guaranteed base than what the Giants would offer.

Brett Myers is another starter who could begin to narrow down his suitors soon. The Giants would have interest on a one-year contract, but Myers is holding out for a two-year deal.

Assuming Penny doesnt hit a snag in his physical with the Cardinals, losing him would be a mild disappointment for the Giants. They wanted him back, but they expected his strong finish in the NL would price him beyond their comfort zone.

Unless the Giants sign a free-agent starting pitcher, and probably more than one, I dont see any way they can include any upper-level rotation arms in trade talks. Especially after they dealt Tim Alderson and Scott Barnes last summer. And FYI: the Florida Marlins (who are shopping Dan Uggla) usually ask for starting pitching in trades.

Giants big boss Bill Neukom is at these meetings, but that doesnt portend any big splashes. He's chiefly here to meet with affiliates, including the new camp from Double-A Richmond. (Flying Squirrels gear now for sale!)

Neukom is expected to fly back to the West Coast on Tuesday.

Talked to Felipe Alou for a few minutes in the lobby, who kindly introduced me to Tony Perez. Alou said he hasn't been to the Dominican in two months and he didn't know what was happening with the Angel Villalona situation.

There is little to update thus far on Villalona, who is free on bond. The Giants are being tight-lipped, and besides, they really don't know much. The process must run its course, but even if Villalona isn't convicted of murder, those rumors of a payoff to the victim's family make it hard to envision him ever rejoining the organization.

Asked an exec from another club to assess the trade value of the Giants three pre-arbitration lefty-hitting outfielders:

Fred Lewis?

None.”

Nate Schierholtz?

Not much. Pretty much none.”

John Bowker?

Some.”

It should be noted, though, that Schierholtz is having a very solid showing in the Puerto Rican winter league.

Two minor league names that have drawn trade inquiries from multiple teams: Left-hander Dan Runzler (no surprise there) and OF Francisco Peguero.

Randy Winn would be a great fit with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He's got a .987 career OPS at Chase Field.

The Giants really liked teenage Cuban defector Noel Arguelles when he had a private throwing session for their scouts, but they weren't willing to approach the $7 million deal he got from Kansas City.

Scouting director John Barr told me back in September that the money was going to get crazy” on Arguelles and fellow defector Jose Iglesias. He was right.


The Giants have scouted the two highest profile arms expected to come over this offseason from Japan, Yomiuri left-hander Hisanori Takahashi and Yakult right-hander Ryota Igarashi, but they aren't targeting either pitcher yet.

Igarashi is a closer with some arm strength and Takahashi could be a fifth starter/swingman type. If the Giants trade some upper-level pitching for a bat, they could look at Takahashi as someone who could cover some innings.


Spotted in the lobby: Orlando Cabrera, looking for a job.

Noah Lowry is throwing regularly but hasn��TMt reached the point where he��TMll work off a mound for interested clubs. I��TMd be surprised if he signs before then, but clubs are interested in him. The Reds and Rockies have been rumored, but the A��TMs look like a pretty good fit, too.

The door isn't officially closed on either side that Lowry could return to the Giants, but there might as well be barbed wire, a crocodile-infested moat and a lake of fire in front of that door.


Pretty good setup this year for the meetings. The lobby is compact, the media workroom is a three-minute stroll away, there's a Subway and Starbucks within a few steps there aren't any labyrinthine passageways to negotiate.

I think search parties finally gave up trying to find reporters still lost in the Opryland complex from the meetings two years ago.