SF Giants: Benitez Reports to Camp Early
| 8
|
by user Trecole696
The Giants pitchers and catchers aren't scheduled to have their first full squad workout until Thursday, but Armando Benitez has already been in Scottsdale a week for some much needed extra conditioning. He also is trying to prove to the Giants (and Marlins) that his knee is fully recovered from last year's injury.
Benitez's name has been floated in the sports sections as being "on the move" all winter long, but nothing ever materialized. The Giants were in talks, and still may be, about sending Benitez back to Florida, but they couldn't come to an agreement with the Marlins on which player they'd receive in exchange.
I have already said in various posts that I don't think the Giants should get rid of Benitez just for the sake of getting him off the team. He is in his contract year, and if he wants to keep earning big money, he is going to have to turn in one helluva season to cover himself for the last 2.
For this reason, I expect a determined Armando Benitez this season. Don't get me wrong, I have read the reports about how bad of a teammate he is, and how he is overweight and doesn't wants to be back in Florida, and if the Giants could get a solid young arm in return for him, then I'd deal him.
However, the Giants bullpen has so many question marks as it is, if they lose Benitez, not only will they not have a clear cut set-up man, but they also won't have a closer. So either way you look at it, Benitez is more of a value to this team than some are giving him credit for. Whether it's for their own bullpen, or for a trading chip, the Giants' need this dude healthy.
The San Francisco Giants Blog http://giantsbaseballblog.blogspot.com/
