--LHP Jack Taschner signed a one-year, $835,000 contract to avoid salary arbitration. The lone remaining Giant who was arbitration-eligible, Taschner went 3-2 last year with a 4.88 ERA in a career-high 67 games. His salary was bumped from $400,500. The Giants liked the fact Taschner posted a 2.04 ERA in 26 outings vs. NL West teams.
--LHP Jonathan Sanchez hopes to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic during spring training, but INF Pablo Sandoval (Venezuela) is having reservations. If the Giants had their druthers, both would stay in training camp, Sanchez to reaffirm a spot in the rotation and Sandoval to show he could be the everyday third baseman. C Bengie Molina (Puerto Rico) also is a WBC candidate. --LHP Randy Johnson is penciled in as the No. 2 starter, according to manager Bruce Bochy's latest configuration. That way, the top four pitchers would go right-left-right-left: RHP Tim Lincecum, Johnson, RHP Matt Cain and LHP Barry Zito. No. 5 figures to be one of two lefties, Jonathan Sanchez or Noah Lowry.
--SS Omar Vizquel, who had "zero" chance of returning to the Giants for a fourth year, according to GM Brian Sabean, is back in the AL, hoping to win a big-league job with the Rangers. Vizquel signed a minor league deal and could pocket $1 million if he makes Texas' roster. Largely, he'll be in training camp to help young SS Elvis Andrus, who's expected to replace Michael Young, who's moving to third base.
--Former 2B Jeff Kent, who played more years in San Francisco (six) than any other city and had his most success (an MVP award) as a Giant, will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in five years, and it would be up to Hall officials to determine which team he'd represent. Likely it would be the Giants, the team on which he had the most impact. In a San Francisco Chronicle poll of more than 2,500 readers who were asked if Kent deserves to be a Hall of Famer, 43 percent answered, "Yes, but not on the first ballot," 34 percent answered, "Absolutely -- first ballot," and 24 percent answered, "No."
BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Consecutive losing seasons at home for the Giants, who were 37-44 on the shores of McCovey Cove in 2008. Still, the Giants own the third-highest home winning percentage in the NL since 2000, trailing the Cardinals and Braves.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "For six years, I think we complemented each other, motivated each other. I loved and respected the competition within the clubhouse. We always talk about Barry, but we had other great players." -- Retired 2B Jeff Kent, talking about teaming with Barry Bonds during his six years with the Giants.
