Sabean: Giants don't plan on Molina or Posey as Opening Day catcher
John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, December 4, 2009
(12-04) 13:21 PST --
Bengie Molina suiting up as the Giants' Opening Day catcher in 2010 no longer seems realistic. That goes for Buster Posey, too.
Molina is heading out the door, seemingly comfortable he'll get the multiyear contract that the Giants aren't willing to offer, and Posey, one of the majors' elite prospects, is heading for more grooming at Triple-A Fresno.
The Giants' brass met several times this week in preparation of the winter meetings, which begin Monday in Indianapolis, and the feeling was Posey's not quite ready to play everyday in the big leagues, meaning the Giants will need a buffer, someone to catch regularly until Posey emerges for good.
General manager Brian Sabean said the front office had a "raging debate" over whether Posey would be the No. 1 catcher, adding, "We came to the overall conclusion it would be a tall order to ask him to do that. He just hasn't played a lot."
Molina, who hit .278 and averaged 18 homers and 85 RBIs in his three years as a Giant, and his representatives made it clear he "doesn't have an appetite for a one-year deal. So it's pretty much a moot point," said Sabean, who would have wanted Molina with a one-year deal.
Sabean offered contracts to Brad Penny (one year) and Juan Uribe (one year with an option) but received no positive feedback. "Talks have really gone nowhere," the GM said. "I don't know if we'll revisit or not. We moved on to other ideas."
As for Pablo Sandoval, who finished seventh in the MVP voting, the brass sees his 2010 home at third base, not first base. With Freddy Sanchez staying at second, that would seem to rule out any talk a trade for Dan Uggla or a free-agent third baseman such as Adrian Beltre.
It also would mean the Giants are focusing on finding a new first baseman. Nick Johnson, Mark DeRosa and Adam LaRoche are among the free-agent options.
Posey appeared in just seven Giants games in September and got 17 at-bats, hitting .118 with no RBIs. He was promoted more out of necessity - Molina was nursing a strained quadriceps - than merit and spent much of his time as a bullpen catcher.
He signed out of college late in 2008 and played just 10 games, so 2009 was his first legitimate time in the pros. But he appeared in just 35 games for Fresno before being called up Sept. 2. After the season, he played 19 games in the Arizona Fall League and hit .225 with two homers and 12 RBIs.
Eventually, the position will be Posey's. In the meantime, "We have to come up with a viable alternative. That's the juggling act, finding someone to be a bridge, if it is that, or catch as much as possible until (Posey) is ready. That's what we're sifting through."
Free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba has been linked to the Giants, but he'd be ruled out if only because he, like Molina, is pursuing a multiyear deal. The Giants aren't high on old-timers Ivan Rodriguez, Brad Ausmus and Jason Kendall, all past their prime.
A couple of catchers with punch: Rod Barajas hit 19 homers and set career highs in games (126) and RBIs (71), and Miguel Olivo hit 23 homers with 65 RBIs. Both hit under .250. Another free agent is Jose Molina, who's no Bengie. His career average is .235, and he played 100 games just once.
A trade is possible, too.
On that front, Sabean said he doesn't imagine dealing pitcher Jonathan Sanchez if Penny leaves. Madison Bumgarner is a rotation option. But as with Posey, the Giants prefer not to rush him.
