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. The 39-year-old Yabu will receive an invite to spring training next February with hopes of gaining a promotion to the majors.

Eliezer Alfonzo and Guillermo Rodriguez are performing as if Spring Training already has begun. Likely to compete for the backup catching job when camp opens in mid-February, Alfonzo and Rodriguez have remained among the busiest Giants this offseason, playing 45 and 44 games, respectively, through this last Tuesday in the Venezuelan Winter League.

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. Ron Schueler, one of General Manager Brian Sabean's new senior advisers, attended a workout in Phoenix on Monday for free-agent starter Kris Benson. Representatives from about nine teams watched the former Pirates, Mets and Orioles' right-hander throw 60 pitches in a bid to show he is back from a shoulder operation that cost him the 2007 season.

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. "The whole group is intact, absolutely," said Staci Slaughter, the Giants' vice president of communications. The organization dismissed questions about whether Sabean's relationship with Giants' managing partner Peter Magowan might be harmed irreparably after the two men provided conflicting information to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigation into steroid use. The Mitchell report, released Thursday, included a 2002 incident in which Stan Conte, then the Giants' trainer, told Sabean that he suspected Barry Bonds' personal trainer Greg Anderson was dealing steroids in the clubhouse. Sabean took no action.

Brian Sabean refused to rule out trading Jonathan Sanchez or other young pitchers. But he did say the words that many Giants' fans have been longing to hear. "We're not listening to any offers any longer on (Matt) Cain and (Tim) Lincecum," Sabean said.

Aaron Rowand gets an $8 million signing bonus, with $4 million to be paid in 2008 and $4 million in '09. He gets salaries of $8 million in '08, $8 million in '09 and $12 million in each of the final three years of the contract. The deal includes a full no-trade provision in '08; Rowand has partial no-trade protection over the final four years. While the Giants might be criticized for buying high on Rowand, Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy said the 30-year-old has every attribute they wanted in a signature offensive player.

Scott Munter was the lone Giants' player not to be tendered a 2008 contract before Wednesday's 9 P.M. PT deadline, casting the 6-foot-6 reliever into free agency. The Giants tendered contracts to Vinnie Chulk, Kevin Correia and Brad Hennessey, all of whom are eligible for salary arbitration.

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 30-year-old Rowand is expected to bat fifth for San Francisco after spending the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is coming off his best season yet, earning his first Gold Glove award and All-Star selection while helping the Phillies to the NL East title. He batted .309 with 27 home runs and career bests of 89 RBIs, 105 runs, 189 hits, 45 doubles in 161 games. Click here to read RealGM's 'Grading the Deal' on the Rowand signing

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. The Giants are hoping to renovate their major league-worst lineup without sacrificing right-hander Tim Lincecum, who could be traded at any time to Toronto for outfielder Alex Rios. Toronto has left the Lincecum proposal on the table for more than a week and continues to await Sabean's response. Sabean did not return a call seeking comment Monday, but last week he characterized the chances of trading Lincecum as "growing less and less with each passing day."

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. This doesn't sever Feliz's ties to the Giants, the only organization he has played for in 14 professional seasons. He can continue to negotiate with them, although Giants' GM Brian Sabean has maintained that he won't grant Feliz's wish for a three-year deal.