Having read the Giants thread on the Webzone, Mccovey Chronicles, MLB Trade Rumors, and blogs like Extra Baggs, I have read fans who think we should trade Jonathon Sanchez, and fans who think we should lock him long term. However, I don’t believe doing either is a good idea.
What do I propose? Don’t trade Sanchez, tender him a contract for the 2012 season, once he hits the open market after the 2012 season let some other team be the team who pays him the 4-5 year 40-75 Million dollar contract.
First here is why we shouldn’t trade him: The reason we shouldn’t is the lack of depth we currently have in the starting rotation. If we trade Jonathan Sanchez who do you replace him with? Unfortunately I don’t have a good answer to this question and I hope it won’t Barry Zito. Unless you have someone who can take Jonathan Sanchez’s place in the rotation, it would be a bad idea to trade him.
Now I am going to explain why we shouldn’t sign Jonathon Sanchez long term. This includes not using the excuse Barry Zito is due $18 Million in 2013 and Lincecum and Cain will making $15-20 Million as well.
My reason is you never know what you are going to get in Jonathon Sanchez. When it comes playoff time Lincecum can match up with anyone, you can strategically align the starts where Cain gets the bulk of his starts at home, and Bumgarner and get the majority of his starts on the road. Then you just need a #4 pitcher who would pitch one game per series where you need that pitcher to be able to pitch 5 innings without allowing more than four runs. Not pretty but good enough to keep the team in the ballgame and hand over the game to the bullpen from the sixth inning on.
In essence after 2012 the three big money pitchers would be Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner.
My question would be do we need to try to sign an inconsistent pitcher to a 4-5 year contract worth $40-75 Million, when at best he would the #4 Starter in 2013 going forward. I believe the answer is no. The free agent market will be decent for starting pitching after 2012, and I believe the Giants could easily sign a reliable # 4 starting pitcher who is capable of making one start per post season series going 5 innings while not allowing more than four runs to a much shorter contract and much less money per year. This money could be allocated to upgrading the offense.
Also there is a good chance this #4 starter could be Zach Wheeler as he is expected to arrive in the big leagues sometime during the 2013 season
P.S. Note to Mod check the Parking Lot section and read the thread 49ers Webzone