--LF Manny Ramirez and the Giants have been linked in contract talks, according to the Denver Post, which reported the Giants are "quietly making an aggressive play" for the free agent. The Giants, who have downplayed any interest in Ramirez previously, have not confirmed the report nor a report by San Francisco's KPIX-TV that the team offered a multiyear deal to Ramirez.
--3B Joe Crede remains on the Giants' radar. During the winter meetings in Las Vegas, agent Scott Boras said Crede is healthy and sent his medical records to the Giants for review. The Giants were interested in Crede before signing 3B Jose Castillo (a bust) last spring. Crede didn't finish the season with the White Sox because of back problems, and he was limited to 97 games, hitting .248 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs. --LHP Randy Johnson will make the Bay Area his baseball home for the first time since his childhood. "It's exciting to come back," said Johnson, who graduated in 1982 from nearby Livermore High School, less than an hour from the Giants' park. He played in the Granada Little League and spent much of his time as a kid on the mounds at Baer Park, located near Mendenhall School in Livermore.
--LHP Barry Zito welcomes another lefty Cy Young Award winner. LHP Randy Johnson is a five-time winner. Zito, who won one, said, "I'm eager to play with arguably the greatest left-handed pitcher of all time. I have enjoyed watching Randy from the opposing dugout for years and am excited to be around him on a daily basis. I always wanted to play with a multi-Cy Young Award winner, and now that has happened."
--INF Jesus Guzman, who signed with the Giants after winning last year's Texas League batting crown in the A's organization, collected 67 RBIs in the Venezuelan Winter League, breaking the league's 35-year-old record. The previous mark of 65 was set in 1973-74 by Pete Koegel. Guzman hit .349 in 61 games for Caracas. Guzman was invited to the Giants' training camp as a non-roster player.
--Former Giants LF Barry Bonds, who played his last game in the majors on Sept. 26, 2007, is still looking to play again. He recently had hip surgery with the purpose of playing in 2009, though the procedure could be an extra strike against him in his pursuit. The 44-year-old got no offers in 2008 and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on March 2 to face charges of lying to the grand jury about steroid use and obstruction of justice.
BY THE NUMBERS: .983 -- The Giants' fielding percentage in 2008, ranking ninth in the NL. They committed 96 errors.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The NL West has not ever been labeled one of the strongest divisions. For that reason, joining the San Francisco Giants with what they already have on the roster leads me to believe it should be an exciting year in the NL West. I don't think anybody right now can pick who's going to win based on their roster, but the Giants are as deep and have as much potential as any team." -- LHP Randy Johnson, after signing a one-year, $8 million contract with the Giants.
