Giants add Big Unit, can contend in NL West with another big bat

December 27, 11:30 AMMLB ExaminerTony DeMarco

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Piece by aging piece, the San Francisco Giants are reworking their roster. (You didn't really think that youth-movement thing was going to stick, did you?)

And with a lot of help from the rest of an accommodating National League West, it's not that hard to imagine Bruce Bochy's team staying in the division race next season.

One more major addition is needed -- a middle-of-the-order bat, likely one who plays a corner infield position.

But the Giants have put themselves in position to trade for that desperately needed bat by signing Randy Johnson to a one-year, $8-million-guaranteed deal.

This one won't go down as the biggest move of the MLB off-season, but it could be one of the best bang-for-the-buck signings. For $8 million guaranteed and up to $2.5 million incentives, the Giants should get the following:

* The positive vibe and attendance boost from a local product (Walnut Creek) coming home to get the final five wins he needs to reach 300 in a certain Hall of Fame career.

* Even at 45, a still-hard-throwing left-hander with big strikeout capability, and one who should benefit nicely from the change in home parks from hitter-friendly Chase Field to roomy AT&T Park, especially since he has become a bit homer-prone lately. (He is 3-2 with 2.14 ERA at AT&T Park in his career).

The injury risk obviously is there, but 10-12 wins and 180 innings pitched certainly seem attainable given how well Johnson held up in 2008, coming off back surgery. And against NL West teams, Johnson is 50-27 with a 2.68 ERA in his career.

* A deepened rotation that also will include Cy Present (Tim Lincecum), two Cy Pasts (Johnson and Barry Zito) and a potential Cy Future (Matt Cain) -- increasing the possibility Jonathan Sanchez will be put in a package for a quality bat. And for Giants fans' sake, let's hope it's something more than the talked-about Jorge Cantu deal.

Or, they could keep the potentially powerful rotation intact, and sign a free-agent bat from among a group that includes Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Milton Bradley and others.

The rest of GM Brian Sabean's winter hasn't been as well-received, but the additions of shortstop Edgar Renteria, 33,  and relievers Bob Howry, 35, and Jeremy Affeldt, 29, have to at least be considered upgrades.

There is legitimate reason to question giving Renteria $18.5 million over two years, as he gained weight while his production decreased last season. Howry also is coming off a bad season (5.35 ERA) with the Cubs.

But the bigger question mark is in the middle of the lineup, and what Sabean comes up with will go a long way to determining whether or not the Giants can come back from a 72-90 finish to be a factor in the 2009 NL West race.