Giants Spring Training update

Spring training is in full swing for the Giants. Thus far the team has made one move, trading INF Conor Gillaspie to Chicago for minor league pitcher Jeff Soptic (2/22/13).

Gillaspie was out of options and unlikely to break camp with the big team. The Giants opened a spot now on the 40-man roster, down to 39.

The Giants seem to have 22 of the 25 big leauge spots locked up, with only the final relief pitcher, back up infielder and extra bench player to be determined. A quick look:

Pitchers:
Cain
Bumgarner
Lincecum
Zito
Vogelsong

Romo (closer)
Lopez
Affeldt
Casilla
Kontos
Mijares
7th spot (Runzler, Otero, Rosario, Edlefsen, Gaudin, Proctor, Hembree, Loux, Ramon Ramirez)

Catchers:
Posey
Sanchez

Infielders:
Belt (1B)
Scutaro (2B)
Crawford (SS)
Sandoval (3B)
Arias
6th infielder (Tanaka, Abreu, W. Valdez)

Outfield:
Blanco (LF)
Pagan (CF)
Pence (RF)
Torres
5th outfielder (Gillespie, Peguero, Kieschnick, Brown)

Analysis: lots of spots open for that last reliever spot. All but Hembree have big leauge experience.
It's doubtful the team will break with eight relievers, but who knows.

As far as the 6th infielder, only Tony Abreu is on the 40-man roster, and according to sources, has no options remaining.

As far as predicting the Grizzlies roster, pitchers figure to be:
Petit
Loux
Surkamp
Bonser
Runzler
Otero
Edlefsen
Hembree
Lively
Sadowski
Yourkin

Catchers:
Jackson Williams
Tyler LaTorre

Infielders:
Pill (1B)
Bond
Noonan
Tanaka
Linden

Outfielders:
Kieschnick
Brown
Peguero
Gillespie

Analysis: The outfield seems pretty stocked. It will be interesting to see how many veteran players (Linden, Bonser, Proctor, etc.) they will keep if they don't make the big team. Also interesting to see who advances from AA Richmond to Fresno.

Non-Roster Invitees

This list from Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area:

Pitchers (17): Brett Bochy, Boof Bonser, Fabio Castillo, Edward Concepcion, Steve Edlefsen, Justin Fitzgerald, Chad Gaudin, Heath Hembree, Mitch Lively, Shane Loux, Josh Osich, Scott Proctor, Ramon Ramirez, Ryan Sadowski, Michael Kickham, Mason Tobin, Jose Valdez.

Catchers (5): Tyler LaTorre, Johnny Monell, Guillermo Quiroz, Andrew Susac, Jackson Williams.

Infielders (6): Brock Bond, Adam Duvall, Ricky Oropesa, Joe Panik, Kensuke Tanake, Wilson Valdez.

Outfielders (2): Gary Brown, Cole Gillespie.

Off Season Catch Up

Spring training is around the corner. Football season is over, and time to focus back on the Giants. A few transactions to catch up on:

Singed to minor league contracts:
P Mason Tobin (1/02/13)
2B Kensuke Tanaka (1/11/13)
P Matt Yourkin (resigned, 1/15/13)
OF/1B Todd Linden (resigned, 1/17/13)

Also reported, but not officially announced is P Ramon Ramirez.

The team also released P Eric Hacker (1/11/13) from the minor league roster.

The team claimed 2B Tony Abreu off waivers from KC, adding him to the 40-man roster. The team now has 39 men on the 40-man roster (as of 2/10/13).

Rumors are also abound that INF Angel Villalona has had his visa approved and can travel to Arizona for spring training. Villalona has been on the restricted is for all of last season. If he is eligible, he would rejoin the 40-man roster.

Also, the team came to terms with P Sergio Romo, the last man left on the arbitration eligible list. Of the nine eligible at the end of the season, six came to agreements (Romo, OF Hunter Pence, P Santiago Casilla, P Jose Mijares, C Buster Posey and INF Joaquin Arias). The other three were either non-tendered (P Brian Wilson) or waived (P Clay Hensley and C Eli Whiteside).