--LHP Jack Taschner is returning to the bullpen after the Giants offered him salary arbitration. He had a 4.88 ERA in 67 games, and the Giants hope not to use him in the late innings, which was his role last season. Now the Giants have LHP Jeremy Affeldt to handle those duties. "He just needs to pitch in a spot in the pecking order where he can relax and have some success," GM Brian Sabean said. "He has been overexposed a little bit."
--SS Omar Vizquel, 41, a Giant the past three seasons, is being considered by the Padres, who need a replacement for SS Khalil Greene. The Padres also are looking at two other veterans for middle-infield spots, David Eckstein and Mark Grudzielanek. On Vizquel, San Diego GM Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "I always admired the way he played the game. Not a lot with the stick, but he still can pick it. Super guy, too." --3B Joe Crede's agent, Scott Boras, is trying to make a connection with the Giants, who considered Crede last season but settled for 3B Jose Castillo for the first four months. Crede had back issues, but Boras called him healthy and said he forwarded the medical records to the Giants for their review. For now, Pablo Sandoval is penciled in as the third baseman. 3B Ty Wigginton became a free agent after the Astros declined to offer him a contract, but he could be asking for a deal that would be too long for the Giants' desires. Wigginton hit .285 with 23 homers this year.
--INF Rich Aurilia remains a possibility to return in 2009. Before the winter meetings, GM Brian Sabean said it was unlikely Aurilia would be back. But upon further review, the Giants are considering re-signing him for infield depth. Aurilia hit .283 in 140 games.
--LHP Randy Johnson remains a target for the Giants, who want the free agent for one season to join three young starters, RHPs Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and LHP Jonathan Sanchez, along with veteran LHP Barry Zito. Johnson, a graduate of nearby Livermore (Calif.) High School, went 11-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts for the Diamondbacks. He's five wins shy of 300.
BY THE NUMBERS: 434-330 -- Combined record of the Giants' minor league teams. The .568 winning percentage was second highest in baseball, behind the Yankees' .582.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Randy's really interested (in the Giants). We made a checklist of everything that's important, and San Francisco checks off on every box. They're in the National League. They'll be competitive. They train in Arizona. San Francisco has a lot of appeal." -- Barry Meister, agent for free agent LHP Randy Johnson.
