| Authored by Christopher Reina - 4th December, 2008 - 3:18 pm
 Giants' shortstops were second worst (ahead of just Baltimore) in hitting during the 2008 season and with the first major signing of a position player this winter, they have agreed to a two-year, $18.5 million contract with Edgar Renteria.
Since 2002, Renteria has the fourth best OPS (.782) among shortstops behind Miguel Tejada, Derek Jeter, and Michael Young but ahead of Jimmy Rollins, Jhonny Peralta, Jose Reyes, and Rafael Furcal.
But Renteria is 33 and represents the same strategy Brian Sabean has employed throughout the majority of his tenure; sign past their prime household name position players to short term contracts.
This is the M.O. that brought in Moises Alou, Ellis Burks, Edgardo Alfonzo, Ryan Klesko, and Benito Santiago. Some of them, like Burks and Santiago, have worked out nicely for the Giants, but it has acted mostly as a deterrent for the fact that they still have not developed a position player that has even flirted with becoming an All-Star since Matt Williams. His rookie season was 21 years ago.
Emmanuel Burriss is unlikely to ever become an All-Star and will be a far better defensive player at second base than shortstop.
I've always liked Renteria, and so my reservation with the signing is a complaint that has nothing to do with him.
Although he's fourth cumulatively among shortstops in OPS since 2002, he was 15th in 2008, but third in 2007. He is a National League kind of player, and his two worst seasons came in one-off stints in the AL with the Red Sox in 2005 (.720 OPS) and the Tigers in 2008 (.699). His slugging percentage dropped to .382 with Detroit, but he did hit .296/.343/.469 in the second half.
Renteria has always hit lefties much better than righties, but his split in 2008 (1.004/.598) was even more pronounced.
He was ranked 386th in season FIC and 'deserved' to make just $1.3M, giving him a Reina Value of -88%. Renteria was ranked 192nd in 2007 and 'deserved' to make $4.5M.
In just over 100 plate appearances at AT&T Park, Renteria has a .903 OPS with three homers. His numbers at the other four parks of the NL West are decidedly more modest.
Defensively, Renteria has won Gold Gloves, but he has been in the bottom half at the position over the past few years, and that is being generous. His range and efficiency have dramatically declined and is a definite downgrade from Omar Vizquel.
I do like that the Giants were aggressive players for Renteria and filled their hole at shortstop ahead of the signings of other free agents at the position such as Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera. For a second tier market team like the Giants, they will consistently sign players to more reasonable contracts by using this early bird strategy.
Furcal is the higher ceiling option, but he is also the bigger gamble. He has a history of back problems and is searching for a four-year contract. In a reversal of the typical, the A's appear more financially willing to assume that risk.
I also like that the Giants hold the option on the third year with an affordable half million dollar buyout.
Even though I would prefer the Giants to draft a Troy Tulowitzki, signing Renteria to a reasonably priced contract is better than dealing a young pitcher away for J.J. Hardy.
Grade for the Giants: B- |
