The San Francisco Giants have been relatively quiet despite a large number of rumors involving Johnny Damon, Mark DeRosa, Nick Johnson and Dan Uggla.  There hasn’t been anything to it other than being a rumor.  Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports wrote about the Giants taking a different approach to the market this off season.  According to  Rosenthal, General manager Brian Sabean has told rival executives that he acted too quickly last off-season when he signed relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry and shortstop Edgar Renteria.  This year Sabean will wait for the price to drop before he signs a few players.

This is a double edged sword.  The GM’s job is to build a team.  They have a budget, and they want to maximize it.  Ownership wants to a GM stretch every single penny.  GM’s hope to wait it out and get a bargain price as players drop their demands.  However, each GM has their own price point, and they’ll pounce on a player once they reach a realistic number.  If you wait too long as a GM, before you know it only the leftover will be on the table.  If you miss your player, it could cost you your job.