Giants hope to shore up weakness, invest in bullpen

November 18, 3:06 PMSan Francisco Giants ExaminerTheo Fightmaster

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The Giants are hoping to sweat the late innings a little less with the addition of Affeldt to the pen. Photo: Paul Beaty, AP.

Jeremy Affeldt, not CC Sabathia or Manny Ramirez was the first of the 171 free agents to be signed this off season. The Giants closed a deal for the 29 year old left hander for two years worth approximately $8 million. 

 Fightmaster's Fodder:

With Dustin Pedroia being named the American League MVP on Tuesday all of the significant postseason hardware has found a home.  For the record my picks were spot on up until the MVP's were named this week, leaving me with a 6 out of eight mark.  That being said the only two chances I took were in the MVP category.  Not to belabor the point, but there could have been just as easily a Kevin Youkilis MVP and no one, in Boston at least, would have argued.  The CC Sabathia for NL MVP was a bit more adventurous, but he did lead his team to the post season and it's surprising he didn't get any first place votes. 

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How much of a premium does starting pitching carry? Ryan Dempster is worth $13 million a year to the Chicago Cubs. For comparison sake the Giants had eight pitchers start at least one game last season.  The grand total of salaries for all eight of them was roughly $19.7 million, and that accounts for the $14.5 million Zito took home.  But in the Cub's defense they did just lock up a pitcher with a career record almost at .500, 76-81 with a 4.55 ERA.  Wait until Scott Boras shows the Yankees that deal.  That $140 million offer the made to CC may look a little light now.