Although the Giants had made overtures to Ramirez and agent Scott Boras, Ramirez ultimately returned to the Dodgers. He agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal on March 4.

A day later, the Giants severed ties with Roberts, who was Ramirez's teammate on the 2004 Red Sox squad that won the World Series. Roberts became a Boston folk hero by stealing a base that sparked the Red Sox's comeback against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series.

Roberts had few impact moments with the Giants. He played just 166 games for San Francisco in the first two years of his three-year, $18 million contract, as injuries sidelined him repeatedly. GM Brian Sabean said he was unable to trade Roberts in the offseason, leading to the decision to cut him loose even though Roberts has more than $6 million remaining on his deal.

Roberts had been slated for the fifth outfield job, behind Fred Lewis, Randy Winn, Aaron Rowand and Nate Schierholtz. That role probably will fall to infielder/outfielder Eugenio Velez.

Velez is known for his speed (14 steals in 98 games last season), but his fielding is considered subpar.