Read More: Pablo Sandoval (3B – SFG), Brandon Crawford (SS – SFG), Brandon Belt (1B – SFG), San Francisco Giants

In a conference call Tuesday with San Francisco Giants General Manager Brian Sabean, skipper Bruce Bochy, and team Vice President Bobby Evans had some offseason updates for a number of Giants players, including Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford.

Kung Fu Panda is mulling over the idea of shortening his trip to Venezuela to just about a week according Sabean and team Vice President Evans. His original plan was to play 10 games in his homeland. Pablo really wants to focus in on on his offseason conditioning program with Triple Threat Performance in Arizona, the group that helped him drop upwards of 40 pounds last Winter.

Shortstop Brandon Crawford will be a ‘spirited topic’ according to Sabean moving forward, who was impressed with his improvement in the Arizona Fall League this year. Skipper Bruce Bochy and Sabean agreed that the Giants might have to deal with Crawford’s low offensive production if they can’t improve through free agency or trades, though will not name him as the starter just yet. 

As for Brandon Belt, Sabean wouldn’t talk about his playing time next year, but had some nice things to say about his work in the Dominican winter league thus far. 

“He should be proud of his efforts,” Sabean said. “Fewer kids want to take on winter ball. He saw the value in getting more at-bats and finishing off what he wasn’t able to do because of the time he lost with the injury and somewhat (because of) the lack of performance.

Moises Alou, the GM of Belt’s Dominican team Escogido, has been sending Sabean positive reports on his progress and even saw some of him on tape as well:

“I was able to watch a couple of his games on Dominican TV and video and he made a concerted effort to make some adjustments. He was playable in the outfield, although we know his best position is first base. This was a nice step for him. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

Read More: 2011 mlb free agency, 2011 baseball winter meetings, 2011 mlb offseason, mlb offseason, Jimmy Rollins (SS – PHI), Prince Fielder (1B – MIL), Jose Reyes (SS – NYM), Carlos Beltran (RF – SFG), Matt Cain (P – SFG), Tim Lincecum (P – SFG), San Francisco Giants

Fresh off the news of getting contract extensions from the San Francisco Giants, General Manager Brian Sabean and skipper Bruce Bochy took part in a conference call Tuesday along with team Vice President Bobby Evans discussing the rest of the team’s offseason plans, noting that a ‘big splash’ is an unlikely signing for the Black and Orange this year, including Carlos Beltran. 

Sabean, along with Bochy and Evans, mentioned that most of the money left this offseason will go to their ‘gold standard’ of pitching, attempting to lock up Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for the long run instead of a player like Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, or even current Giant Carlos Beltran:

“There won’t be any big splash,” Sabean said. “Our pitching is our gold standard. We have to make sure we take care of that commodity first.”

When asked about a lower-tier star such as Jimmy Rollins to plug the hole at shortstop, Sabean wasn’t very optimistic either:

“It’s going to be a function of what’s left in the payroll and what the price point is. A sticker shock type of play, I don’t anticipate it, a household name, per se.    

Sabean said that re-signing Carlos Beltran will probably be a ‘longshot’ as well, though he did mention he would discuss the situation in an internal conference call later today. The prospect of playing for an AL club might be very appealing to him; a place where he could DH and likely be offered a longer-term contract than the Giants are willing to float:

“He is a consideration but term will be an issue with anybody we pursue,” Sabean said. “Whether it’s him or anybody else. We have a game plan with what we consider a reasonable length.”

Sabean also made it clear that Lincecum and Cain will not be his focus at the winter meetings in Dallas beginning this Sunday. He is out to improve the offense, with the outfield being the area most glaring area of need in that regard. Though he did mention that another move might simply not get made:

“I think we have developed enough choices including our young players in the mix and our arbitration eligible players as far as the price point that’s suitable,” he said. “I think we’ve created enough food for thought and flexibility.”    

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)

Brian Sabean’s office is connected to the San Francisco Giants’ clubhouse, only a matter of feet from where manager Bruce Bochy prepares for games. The close proximity makes for regular planning meetings, before first pitch and often well into the night after the final out.

CEO Larry Baer is committed to maintaining that continuity with his club, and took a step Tuesday by giving both the general manager and manager contract extensions taking them through the 2013 season with club options for 2014.

”They work exceptionally well together. That’s a key relationship,” Baer said. ”I strongly believe Brian and Bruce are the best at their craft in the game, and their track record shows that.”

The 55-year-old Sabean is the longest-tenured GM in baseball and has said he would like to stay put in San Francisco for the rest of his career. He became the Giants’ GM in 1996 after three years in player personnel. He was in the Yankees organization from 1985-92 as a scout, scouting director and player development director.

Sabean has a busy stretch ahead before spring training begins in February. On Wednesday, his wife, Amanda, is scheduled to give birth to the couple’s second son – the sixth son for Sabean. Then, baseball’s winter meetings begin next week in Dallas.

The top priority is upgrading the offense while leaving enough payroll flexibility to lock up star pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for what Sabean hopes is the long haul.

”Anything we’re going to do has to fit into a certain price point and give us enough flexibility to do other things,” Sabean said. ”Pitching is our gold standard and we’ll do all that we can to take care of that commodity first.”

Bobby Evans, the team’s vice president of baseball operations and Sabean’s right-hand man, said there have been preliminary conversations with the pitchers’ representatives that he categorized as ”an exchange of ideas and numbers.” Evans said he expects Lincecum, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, to be open to a long-term deal beyond two years.

”I don’t know how productive it is to get into specifics,” Evans said. ”I don’t thinks he’s closed off to anything short or long, per se. I think he’s very comfortable with short, but don’t think he’s closed off to anything long. I think he’s still open to that.”

Sabean hired the 56-year-old Bochy away from the rival San Diego Padres in 2007 to replace Felipe Alou.

”I think we have a mutual respect. We listen to each other, Brian for me is always available,” Bochy said. ”We communicate so much during the course of the season. We stay in the same building. There’s never any kind of distance or separation.”

Yet there wasn’t immediate success when Bochy arrived, and both men received harsh criticism along the way for moves they made and those they didn’t.

That all changed when they led the club to an improbable World Series championship in 2010 with a band of ”castoffs and misfits” as Bochy called them.

Baer had expected to get deals done during the offseason to keep both men around for the near future. Sabean and Bochy were instrumental in the team’s World Series title, the first for the franchise since moving West in 1958.

”I don’t take anything for granted. I’m thankful for their renewed commitment,” Bochy said.

The Giants went 86-76 for second place in the NL West and missed the playoffs this year, when they dealt with devastating season-ending injuries to 2010 NL Rookie of the Year catcher Buster Posey and second baseman Freddy Sanchez.

Baer recently assumed top decision-making duties from outgoing managing partner Bill Neukom, saying, ”Brian has seen the operation through all sorts of environments.”

That included the challenging days with home run king Barry Bonds and the move from Candlestick Park to the waterfront spot at 12-year-old AT&T Park.

”I don’t take the extension lightly,” Sabean said. ”Baseball’s a tough game to succeed in. I’m really thankful that I’m one of the original employees of the ownership group and as the ownership group changed or morphed, they recognized our commitment and hard work.”

All-Star slugger Pablo Sandoval is still deciding whether to spend a short stint in his native Venezuela, where Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was abducted earlier this month and then rescued. Sandoval is training for a second straight offseason in Arizona after losing close to 40 pounds last winter.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Brian Sabean’s office is connected to the San Francisco
Giants’ clubhouse, only a matter of feet from where manager Bruce Bochy prepares
for games. The close proximity makes for regular planning meetings, before first
pitch and often well into the night after the final out.

CEO Larry Baer is committed to maintaining that continuity with his club,
and took a step Tuesday by giving both the general manager and manager contract
extensions taking them through the 2013 season with club options for 2014.

“They work exceptionally well together. That’s a key relationship,” Baer
said. “I strongly believe Brian and Bruce are the best at their craft in the
game, and their track record shows that.”

The 55-year-old Sabean is the longest-tenured GM in baseball and has said he
would like to stay put in San Francisco for the rest of his career. He became
the Giants’ GM in 1996 after three years in player personnel. He was in the
Yankees organization from 1985-92 as a scout, scouting director and player
development director.

Sabean has a busy stretch ahead before spring training begins in February.
On Wednesday, his wife, Amanda, is scheduled to give birth to the couple’s
second son—the sixth son for Sabean. Then, baseball’s winter meetings begin
next week in Dallas.

The top priority is upgrading the offense while leaving enough payroll
flexibility to lock up star pitchers Tim Lincecum(notes) and Matt Cain(notes) for what Sabean
hopes is the long haul.

“Anything we’re going to do has to fit into a certain price point and give
us enough flexibility to do other things,” Sabean said. “Pitching is our gold
standard and we’ll do all that we can to take care of that commodity first.”

Bobby Evans, the team’s vice president of baseball operations and Sabean’s
right-hand man, said there have been preliminary conversations with the
pitchers’ representatives that he categorized as “an exchange of ideas and
numbers.” Evans said he expects Lincecum, the two-time NL Cy Young Award
winner, to be open to a long-term deal beyond two years.

“I don’t know how productive it is to get into specifics,” Evans said. “I
don’t thinks he’s closed off to anything short or long, per se. I think he’s
very comfortable with short, but don’t think he’s closed off to anything long. I
think he’s still open to that.”

Sabean hired the 56-year-old Bochy away from the rival San Diego Padres in
2007 to replace Felipe Alou.

“I think we have a mutual respect. We listen to each other, Brian for me is
always available,” Bochy said. “We communicate so much during the course of
the season. We stay in the same building. There’s never any kind of distance or
separation.”

Yet there wasn’t immediate success when Bochy arrived, and both men received
harsh criticism along the way for moves they made and those they didn’t.

That all changed when they led the club to an improbable World Series
championship in 2010 with a band of “castoffs and misfits” as Bochy called
them.

Baer had expected to get deals done during the offseason to keep both men
around for the near future. Sabean and Bochy were instrumental in the team’s
World Series title, the first for the franchise since moving West in 1958.

“I don’t take anything for granted. I’m thankful for their renewed
commitment,” Bochy said.

The Giants went 86-76 for second place in the NL West and missed the
playoffs this year, when they dealt with devastating season-ending injuries to
2010 NL Rookie of the Year catcher Buster Posey(notes) and second baseman Freddy
Sanchez(notes).

Baer recently assumed top decision-making duties from outgoing managing
partner Bill Neukom, saying, “Brian has seen the operation through all sorts of
environments.”

That included the challenging days with home run king Barry Bonds and the
move from Candlestick Park to the waterfront spot at 12-year-old AT&T Park.

“I don’t take the extension lightly,” Sabean said. “Baseball’s a tough
game to succeed in. I’m really thankful that I’m one of the original employees
of the ownership group and as the ownership group changed or morphed, they
recognized our commitment and hard work.”

All-Star slugger Pablo Sandoval(notes) is still deciding whether to spend a short
stint in his native Venezuela, where Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos(notes) was abducted
earlier this month and then rescued. Sandoval is training for a second straight
offseason in Arizona after losing close to 40 pounds last winter.

Published: Nov. 29, 2011 at 1:40 PM

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29 (UPI) — Manager Bruce Bochy and General Manager Brian Sabean have agreed to contract extensions with the San Francisco Giants, the team said Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deals weren’t released, but the agreements will keep Bochy and Sabean under contract with the Giants through the 2013 season. The team has an option for 2014.

“Brian and Bruce are certainly two of the finest professionals at their respective positions in all of baseball,” Giants President Larry Baer said in a statement. “They have effectively built and fostered a winning tradition at all levels of our organization.

“I have no doubt that they will achieve continued success for the Giants in the coming years and beyond.”

Sabean has been with the Giants since 1996, making him the longest-tenured general manager in baseball. In 2010, San Francisco was voted the Baseball America Organization of the Year.

Bochy just completed his fifth season as the Giants’ manager. He is 409-401 in that span and won the World Series in 2010. He previously managed the San Diego Padres for 12 seasons. His overall managerial record is 1,360-1,376.