The biggest news points from Giants GM Brian Sabean��TMs session with the beat writers this afternoon/evening:

-The Giants gave it their best shot on Brad Penny. They��TMre out and not looking back.

-Pablo Sandoval will be the cleanup hitter, leaving the Giants to find someone who can hit third or fifth.

-A leadoff platoon of Andres Torres/Eugenio Velez is acceptable, unless other options present themselves.

-Ryan Garko is ��oeon the bubble” to be tendered a contract.

-Brandon Medders will be tendered one, though.

Here��TMs the full report, written hastily:

The Giants had mostly internal meetings today. They arrived early, so they��TMre in a good state of readiness. A couple clubs called on the trade front ��" some old, some new, but nothing that looked promising to lead anywhere. ��oeWe��TMre under no pressure,” Sabean said. ��oeWe��TMll do business at our own pace.”

The Giants made several offers to Brad Penny in November, including a year and an option. Penny��TMs agent, Greg Genske, counteroffered with a three-year proposal with a high AAV. The Giants tried a sweetened year and an option. Genske counteroffered with a pie-in-the-sky one-year offer, all cash. The Giants��TM last attempt was a one-year offer with a bigger base and lots of incentives. Genske came back at two years for money that the Giants deemed unrealistic.

The Cards��TM deal with Penny isn��TMt finalized yet. But it��TMs believed that they didn��TMt outbid the Giants by much.

��oeWe made our best offer,” Sabean said. ��oeI want to say we weren��TMt taken as seriously as we��TMd have wanted, given the kid��TMs interest in being here. Apparently, he was offered a better situation.”

After it became apparent that Penny was off the board, the Giants held a lengthy meeting to assess their other options for a No.5 starter. Madison Bumgarner is one of those options. If the Giants go that route, they��TMll acquire a veteran reliever to bolster the staff. They expect that pool to grow after the non-tender date.

If they do sign a free-agent starter, their appetite is for a one-year contract. And they��TMd prefer to do it after they address their needs for a catcher and a middle-of-the-order hitter, each of which are more pressing needs for their available funds.

The Giants have their own tender date decisions to make. Sabean said first baseman Ryan Garko is ��oeon the bubble” because the club doesn��TMt want to pay millions to someone who could be in a bench/platoon role. ��oeWe��TMd think he��TMd have to be an everyday player,” Sabean said.

But right-hander Brandon Medders will be tendered a contract, Sabean confirmed. Along with Tim Lincecum, Brian Wilson and Jonathan Sanchez, Medders would add another arbitration case to the club��TMs docket.

So what if the Giants do not sign another starting pitcher? After Madison Bumgarner, where��TMs their rotation depth?

Sabean mentioned Joe Martinez��TMs nice showing in the Arizona Fall League. He said Kevin Pucetas maintains some value on the trade market, which they take as a positive sign that he��TMd be a productive option. And the emergence of relievers Dan Runzler and Waldis Joaquin give the club hope that they��TMre ��oeon the right path” as a staff.

Of course, it never hurts to ��oewiden the stable,” as Sabean put it, and he said they��TMve got some ideas in mind to do that.

OK, so what about payroll?

It��TMll be in the $90 million range ��" similar to last season, but perhaps the biggest purse in the NL West, if the McCourts��TM divorce proceedings really do rip a hole in the Dodgers��TM tent. Sabean has a range plugged in for Tim Lincecum, who��TMll make anywhere between $8 million and $99 kajillion dollars in arbitration.

At least there��TMs one positive with Lincecum��TMs skyrocketing salary:

��oeI can��TMt tell you the last time a team asked (about him),” Sabean said.

OK, so where��TMs the catcher coming from?

It won��TMt be Pablo Sandoval. Too risky, Sabean said. And it might be a more offensively minded guy, knowing they have to replace some of Bengie Molina��TMs offense. He can��TMt be a defensive liability, though, for obvious reasons. It��TMs not easy to catch premium stuff, and the Giants have a few of those guys, if you haven��TMt noticed.

Where��TMs the big bat coming from?

There are more possibilities in the infield than the outfield, Sabean said. He steered clear from commenting on Nick Johnson and Adrian Beltre ��" usually a sign the interest is legitimate.

It would seem that the Giants need a right-handed hitter in the worst way, but Sabean said they��TMre not showing bias against left-handed hitters.

��oeWe��TMre operating under the presumption that Pablo��TMs the 4 hitter. In a perfect world, you��TMre looking to find more of a sure thing as a third or fifth hitter and somebody who can hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

Sabean pointed to two ��oewhat-ifs” they��TMre exploring at third base. I��TMve got to think Beltre is one ��" and would remain so if, as expected, he declines the Mariners��TM arbitration offer tonight. (He��TMs Type B, so he wouldn��TMt cost the Giants any draft compensation. That��TMs a big key.)

Sabean also confirmed that the Giants are comfortable with a leadoff platoon between Eugenio Velez and Andres Torres. That could change, but at least for now, it��TMs their best way to go.

Here are some other notes:

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Angel Villalona is on MLB��TMs restricted list while he awaits murder trial in the Dominican. Sabean was very brief on the former top prospect: ��oeHe��TMs in limbo. I��TMve got no opinion.”

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John Bowker��TMs stay in Venezuela lasted two games (Nov. 15 and 17) because he had ��oequad issues,” according to Sabean. The GM was clear to express his disappointment. This is the sort of thing that could impact Bowker��TMs chances at an everyday role next season. The Giants historically don��TMt like players who aren��TMt ��oegood soldiers,” and Bowker wasn��TMt happy about going to Venezuela.

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Now we know why Emmanuel Burriss hasn��TMt played for Cibao Gigantes in the Dominican. He��TMs had a setback with his surgically repaired foot. He��TMs been rehabbing with trainer Dave Groeschner. There isn��TMt another surgery on the horizon, but a chronic foot issue would be a death knell to Burriss��TM career advancement. His speed is such a huge part of his game.

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It hasn��TMt been announced yet, but Steve Decker will be promoted to manage Triple-A Fresno and Andy Skeels to move up to Double-A Richmond. The Giants might be more loaded with major league managerial prospects than anyone else.