Former Hanshin Tigers' right-hander Keiichi Yabu, who played for the Oakland Athletics in 2005, has agreed on a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants his management office said Tuesday.

Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Rodriguez are performing as if Spring Training already has begun.

As the Giants continue their search for a third baseman and middle-of-the-order hitter, they are not closing their eyes to other spots on the diamond.

Brian Sabean has no intention of stepping down as the Giants' General Manager, and the club fully supports moving forward with him, a club spokesperson said Friday.

Brian Sabean refused to rule out trading Jonathan Sanchez or other young pitchers.

Aaron Rowand gets an $8 million signing bonus, with $4 million to be paid in 2008 and $4 million in '09.

Scott Munter was the lone Giants' player not to be tendered a 2008 contract before Wednesday's 9 P.

Aaron Rowand agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, giving the club the starting center fielder it sought this winter.

The Giants are far along in discussions for free-agent outfielder Aaron Rowand, having spoken to his representative several times since last week's Winter Meetings.

As expected, third baseman Pedro Feliz elected to make the most of free agency by declining the Giants' offer of salary arbitration on Friday night.

Hideki Matsui is reported to be of interest to the San Francisco Giants, and the Yankees aren't shooting it down.

A source says the Giants did call the Yankees about Hideki Matsui.

The Giants turned down Delmon Young for Tim Lincecum before the Rays sent Young to the Twins, one source said, and they could have kept Young for five years, while they would control Alex Rios for only three.

The proposed trade of outfielder Alex Rios for either San Francisco's Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum rests with the Giants' decision-makers, according to major-league sources.

The Blue Jays are willing to trade outfielder Alex Rios in a deal for a premium starting pitcher and have talked to the Giants about Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

The Brewers, Dodgers, Rangers and Giants are teams considering Scott Rolen, who is known to have a tumultuous relationship with Cardinals' Manager Tony La Russa.

Free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz is one option for the Cardinals if they trade Scott Rolen.

Miguel Tejada is being considered by a few clubs, such as the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants, as a quality fallback plan if they can't land Miguel Cabrera.

The Giants announced late Saturday night that they offered salary arbitration to third baseman Pedro Feliz, although this hardly assured that the free agent would return to the club in 2008.