San Francisco Giants Wiretap

Fassero Re-Signs With Giants

Left-hander Jeff Fassero re-signed with the Giants, agreeing to a one-year deal.

Fassero, who will turn 44 in January, went 4-7 with a 4.05 ERA last season, his second with San Francisco. He made six starts and appeared as a long reliever, yielding just a .194 batting average to left-handed hitters.

Via ESPN

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Giants Spend $33 Million To Retain Veteran Core

At a cost of nearly $33 million, the Giants retained the services of five key players Thursday when they exercised club options on Jason Schmidt and Randy Winn while Ray Durham, Moises Alou and LaTroy Hawkins activated the 2006 player options in their contracts.

Schmidt, 32, will get paid $10.5 million in 2006 while Winn, 31, cost the Giants $5 million. Durham, 33, will be paid $7 million; Alou, 39, will get $6 million and Hawkins, 33, will be paid $4.35 million.

The moves keep intact a large part of the veteran core around Barry Bonds.

With Bonds out of the lineup because of knee problems until September, the Giants went 75-87 and finished third in the NL West.

Schmidt went 12-7 with a 4.40 ERA last season while struggling with a groin injury. He's 67-28 since joining the Giants in July 2001, becoming a two-time All-Star and winning 47 games over the last three seasons.

Winn, a Bay Area native acquired in a trade with Seattle on July 30, was one of the team's best players after joining the Giants. The center fielder batted .359 with 22 doubles, five triples, 14 homers, 26 RBIs and a .680 slugging percentage in just 58 games with San Francisco.

Alou was the Giants' only All-Star, batting .321 with 19 homers and 63 RBIs.

Durham batted .290 with 33 doubles, 12 home runs and 62 RBIs, excelling in the season's final weeks despite his usual litany of injuries. Hawkins, acquired from the Cubs on May 28, went 1-4 with a 4.10 ERA in San Francisco, but the veteran reliever became a dependable member of the bullpen.

Although it was widely assumed the Giants would exercise Schmidt's $10.5 million option for next year, general manager Brian Sabean said late in the season that decision had not been made. However, he admitted then that he saw few alternatives in the free-agent or trade markets.

Alou left little doubt he wanted to come back, stating near the end of the season that playing another season in San Francisco made the most sense.

"Where else am I going to go?'' he said. "Unless something out of the ordinary happened to make me change my mind, I don't see myself going anywhere. I'm getting tired of switching places. Everywhere I go, I never want to leave. Unfortunately, because of the business side of the game, I'm always the odd man out everywhere I go. Here, I'm in a different situation, I think."

In September, Durham also stated his intention was to return to the Giants.

"I told them I want to come back," Durham told The Chronicle. "I like the guys here. I like the organization and I like everything about San Francisco.''

Via SF Chronicle

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Krueuger Strikes Back, Serves KNBR With Lawsuit

During and after the controversy that followed his remarks that certain members of the Giants are "brain-dead Caribbean hitters hacking at slop nightly" -- comments that ultimately led to his firing -- former KNBR talk-show host Larry Krueger remained silent.

Until now. Krueger has fired back with a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against KNBR. The complaint, filed Friday in San Francisco Superior Court, accuses the radio station of breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and defamation. A trial date is expected to be set in March.

"This is about my reputation, and my reputation is worth fighting for," Krueger told the Times on Monday. "I'm looking to clear my name and clear my reputation. KNBR has harmed my reputation. I enjoyed working for KNBR for eight years, and I loved all the people I worked with, but I have a family to provide for and protect. I believe that's worth fighting for."

Via Contra Costa Times

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Giants And Winn Discuss Longterm Deal

The San Francisco Giants hold a $5 million option to bring back center fielder Randy Winn next season, but both sides are looking a little further down the road.

Giants assistant general manager Ned Colletti informally met with Winn's agent, Craig Landis, before Game 2 of the World Series on Sunday night in Chicago and expressed interest in signing Winn to a multiyear extension. Landis said he expects to begin discussions in earnest within a few weeks.

"Randy did like it there," Landis said. "He liked the coaching staff, the players and, of course, the town."

Winn, a Danville native and San Ramon Valley High graduate, tore up the National League after the Giants acquired him from Seattle on July 30 for Jesse Foppert and Yorvit Torrealba. In 58 games, he hit .359 with 14 home runs, scored 39 times and had 26 RBIs.

Via Oakland Tribune

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Conte Gets Four Months Prison For Distribution Of Performance Drugs

Victor Conte was sentenced to four months in prison and four months' home confinement Tuesday for his role as the mastermind in a scheme to provide pro athletes with undetectable banned drugs.

"I've decided to direct my knowledge, experience and determination toward making sports more honorable for the athletes and fans," Conte said.

Conte, who negotiated a plea deal with federal prosecutors, started the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. The lab, according to court records, counted dozens of prominent athletes among its clients, including baseball's Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi and Olympic track and field star Marion Jones.

Via ESPN

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