DEPARTURES: SS Omar Vizquel (free agent, signed minor league deal with Rangers), RHP Kevin Correia (free agent, signed with Padres), RHP Brad Hennessey (free agent, signed minor league deal with Orioles), RHP Tyler Walker (free agent, signed with Mariners), 1B/OF Daniel Ortmeier (free agent, signed minor league deal with Rockies), OF Dave Roberts (released).

SPRING FOCUS: Manager Bruce Bochy will be looking at a new infield. It's anyone's guess if Travis Ishikawa will be a splash at first base or who'll win the job at second (candidates: Kevin Frandsen, Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez), or if SS Edgar Renteria will have a bounce-back year, or if 3B Pablo Sandoval can keep up the hitting while playing a fairly foreign position. On the health front, LHP Noah Lowry (forearm, elbow) and LF Fred Lewis (foot) want to prove they're good to go following surgeries.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Tim Lincecum

2. LHP Randy Johnson

3. RHP Matt Cain

4. LHP Barry Zito

5. LHP Jonathan Sanchez or LHP Noah Lowry

The top of the rotation is solid with Lincecum, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, and Cain, who was 15-30 the past two seasons while posting workable ERAs of 3.65 and 3.78. The Giants wanted to add a veteran to the mix, and they landed the Big Unit on a one-year deal.

Zito's string of two consecutive Opening Day starts for the Giants will end after two straight disappointing seasons, and the hope is that the $126 million man will put up better numbers while buried in the back end of the rotation. Sanchez is favored to be the final starter, but Lowry could make noise if he's healthy.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Brian Wilson (closer)

RHP Bobby Howry

LHP Jeremy Affeldt

LHP Alex Hinshaw

LHP Jack Taschner

RHP Sergio Romo

RHP Keiichi Yabu

The bullpen was a major weakness in 2008 other than Wilson, an All-Star who earned 41 saves, second most in the NL. So in come Howry and Affeldt to help put out the fire. Howry, who was raised in the Giants organization before his July 1997 trade to the White Sox, has pitched 70-plus innings four straight years, but his 2008 ERA (5.35) was a blemish. Affeldt had a 3.33 ERA for the Reds with 80 strikeouts and only 25 walks in 78 1/3 innings.

Young relievers Hinshaw and Romo were impressive and will be given a chance to make the Opening Day roster. The surprising Yabu, 40, needs to earn a roster spot as he did last spring.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. RF Randy Winn

2. SS Edgar Renteria

3. 3B Pablo Sandoval

4. C Bengie Molina

5. LF Fred Lewis

6. CF Aaron Rowand

7. 1B Travis Ishikawa

8. 2B Kevin Frandsen, Emmanuel Burriss or Eugenio Velez

Until further notice, Sandoval, Molina and Lewis are the heart of the order, and that's not necessarily scary for other teams. Manager Bruce Bochy likes Sandoval because he's a free-swinging switch hitter, and Bochy defends Molina as a cleanup hitter because of his success in clutch situations. He wants Lewis hitting fifth (instead of leadoff) so he won't try to be excessively patient at the plate.

As for the battle at second, Velez is the longshot. He could be valuable as a pinch hitter and pinch runner. If Frandsen wins the job, Burriss could be sent to the minors for more seasoning.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

INF Juan Uribe

INF/OF Eugenio Velez

OF Nate Schierholtz

C Steve Holm

INF Kevin Frandsen or Emmanuel Burriss or Rich Aurilia

Uribe may fill any number of roles, including backing up at third and short or platooning at third -- with Pablo Sandoval moving to first (and Travis Ishikawa going to the bench) when the opposing starting pitcher is a lefty.

Schierholtz, after a stint in the Olympics, is still looking for a starting job in the majors, but he's penciled in as the fourth outfielder.

TOP ROOKIES: Travis Ishikawa is penciled in as the first baseman and could get the same chance Daniel Ortmeier got in 2008, but Ortmeier tossed away his opportunity and is now signed as a Rockies minor-leaguer. Unlike Ortmeier, who converted from the outfield, Ishikawa is a natural first baseman and a good one defensively. The Giants could bring up some other rookies late in the season, including C Buster Posey (the star of the Giants' 2008 draft) and LHP Madison Bumgarner (the star of the 2007 draft).

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Noah Lowry (left forearm surgery in March 2008, left elbow surgery in September 2008) got off to a slow start in spring training with elbow pain and tightness behind his shoulder. It's unlikely he'll be on the Opening Day roster.

INF Kevin Frandsen (left Achilles tendon surgery in March 2008) is fully recovered. He's competing for the second base job.

LF Fred Lewis (bunion surgery, right foot) will be closely monitored, especially with his running program, but he is expected to be available for the season.

RHP Merkin Valdez (right forearm surgery in December 2008) was to take at least eight weeks to recover.

RHP Sergio Romo (sprained right elbow) was slowed early in spring training, but he might be ready for Opening Day.

OF Nate Schierholtz (bulging disk in lower back) was slowed early in spring training, but the ailment wasn't considered serious.