Bridge Ball

A.J., We Hardly Knew Ye

After getting hosed by the Angels on Steve Finley, the Giants returned the favor to the Dodgers today by inking catcher Mike Matheny to a three year deal for $9 million. What does this mean? Well, first is the volcanic catcher A.J. Pierzynski is about to get traded if not non-tendered. And secondly, A.J. most likely will go to a team for an outfielder. According to Henry Schulman, the Giants refused to pony up either Noah Lowry or Jerome Williams for Milwaukee's center fielder Scott Podsednik, who was later traded to the White Sox with Luis Vizcaino for Carlos Lee.

However, it's going to take more than an arbitration-eligible foul-mouth blow-hard who grounds into a hell of a lot of double plays and throws out baserunners and a ridiculously horrible rate to get a center fielder of any value. Sabean has been attempting to package Pierzynski and/or Edgardo Alfonzo for something, anything. It doesn't look like he's finding someone stupid enough to take on that duo. Pierzynski is probably going to be in the $4 million a year range and Alfonzo is due $13.5 million.

Matheny will help the team get stronger defensively. He has historically rated higher in throwing out baserunners and blocking balls. He also probably won't end up with the pitchers hating his guts, too.