Spring training site

Scottsdale, Ariz.

2009 record

88-74, third in NL West

Manager

Bruce Bochy, fourth season

New faces

OF Mark DeRosa (free agent, Cardinals), 1B Aubrey Huff (free agent, Tigers), RHP Guillermo Mota (free agent, Dodgers), RHP Todd Wellemeyer (free agent, Cardinals), LHP Horacio Ramirez (free agent, Royals)

Biggest offseason acquisition

DeRosa doesn't hit for a high average or a ton of power, but he's the kind of player who is valuable on a contender, especially in the National League with double-switches.


He'll be a decent outfielder who drives in runs, and he can also play all over the infield if needed.

Gone but not forgotten

LHP Randy Johnson (retired), IF Rich Aurilia (free agent, not signed), OF Randy Winn (free agent, to Yankees), RHP Brad Penny (free agent, to Cardinals), LHP Noah Lowry (free agent, not signed), RHP Bobby Howry (free agent, to Diamondbacks), RHP Merkin Valdez (trade, to Blue Jays), RHP Merkin Valdez (trade, to Blue Jays), 1B Ryan Garko (not tendered, to Mariners), RHP Justin Miller (free agent, to Dodgers).

Best spring training battle

Just a couple of bench roles and bullpen roles are all that has to be decided.

Projected lineup

• CF Aaron Rowand
• 2B Juan Uribe
• 3B Pablo Sandoval
• 1B Aubrey Huff
• LF Mark DeRosa
• C Bengie Molina
• RF Nate Schierholtz
• SS Edgar Renteria

Projected starting rotation

• RHP Tim Lincecum
• RHP Matt Cain
• LHP Barry Zito
• LHP Jonathan Sanchez
• LHP Madison Baumgarner

Projected bullpen

• RHP Brian Wilson (closer)
• RHP Sergio Romo
• LHP Jeremy Affeldt
• RHP Brandon Medders
• RHP Guillermo Mota

• LHP Dan Runzler
• RHP Todd Wellemeyer

Biggest strength

Lincecum and Cain are the pillars in a rotation that could be very good if Zito and Sanchez throw well. Zito is still a poster boy for free agent excess, but he quietly was decent (4.03 ERA) last season.

Glaring weakness

The everyday lineup has some decent pieces in Sandoval and a few others, but it's an older lineup, and not a speedy one. The Giants' biggest problem is likely to be scoring enough runs.