SAN FRANCISCO -- Edgar Renteria is back in the National
League, where he thinks he belongs.
Renteria became the second free agent to join the San Francisco
Giants in two days, receiving an $18.5 million, two-year contract
Thursday to replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel.
A five-time NL All-Star, Renteria has spent 11 of his 13 major
league seasons in the National League. He won a World Series ring
with the 1997 Florida Marlins and a pennant in 2004 with St. Louis,
but struggled during a pair of one-season stints in the AL, with
Boston in 2005 and Detroit this year.
"I played good in the National League. I feel real
comfortable," Renteria said on a conference call. "Maybe I know
more of the game in the National League. It's my type of league. I
like to play the game. The American League is different - you have
to go for the home run and wait for hitting. That's no excuse for
what happened in the American League, but it might be why I'm so
excited to get back to the National League."
Renteria receives a $2 million signing bonus, $7 million next year and $9 million in 2010. The Giants have a $9.5 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean has had a busy week, signing
right-handed reliever Bobby Howry to a one-year contract Wednesday
and following that up by securing Renteria. The sides had all but
finalized a deal during a meeting Wednesday.
Renteria, a career .290 hitter, was back in Miami on Thursday
after a quick visit to San Francisco.
"We really appreciate his interest and look forward to a
relationship that's going to be fruitful on both sides. I don't
think Edgar needs any introduction," Sabean said. "We're just
thrilled to put him in our No. 2 spot in the lineup and at
shortstop and move on to other business."
The Tigers declined to offer Renteria salary arbitration Monday.
While he was being pursued by three or four teams, Renteria said
the Giants' strong interest meant a lot to him in making the
decision.
"I want to go where the people want me to go. I don't go where
they don't want me," he said. "The Giants were interested in
signing me. That's a great city to play baseball."
Renteria will be looking to have a better year in 2009. He
batted .270 with 10 homers and 55 RBIs this season for the Tigers,
who afterward declined their $11 million option and gave him a $3
million buyout.
Sabean isn't concerned about Renteria, especially considering he
had a better second half.
"We have no reservations of him being a shortstop and what he's
going to do for our offense," the GM said. "It's an upgrade."
The Giants haven't reached the playoffs since 2003 and were in a
rebuilding phase last season, going 72-90 while using many young
players in key roles. Having a veteran shortstop will be a big help
considering Vizquel provided that kind of stability during his four
years with the club.
"To get somebody with his resume is huge for our ballclub. He's
a winner," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's versatile as far as
hitting in the batting order. He helps solidify our defense up the
middle. This is a very great sign for us and I couldn't be more
excited to have a player of his caliber."
Sabean said after the 2008 season there was "zero" chance the
Giants would bring back the 41-year-old Vizquel despite his
popularity and still-reliable defense in the middle of the infield.
"Everybody knows Omar is one of the best shortstops in the
game," said the Colombian-born Renteria. "Two Latin guys,
All-Stars. To replace Omar, for me that's an honor."
San Francisco also had been interested in Rafael Furcal, but the
33-year-old Renteria certainly became less of a medical risk
considering Furcal -- also being courted by the Oakland Athletics --
was sidelined for all but 36 games last season with the Los Angeles
Dodgers because of back problems that required surgery.
With the acquisition of Renteria, Sabean now might look to trade
talented prospect Emmanuel Burriss -- or give Burriss more time to
develop and perhaps even use him at second base. The 23-year-old
Burriss, selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2006
draft, played 95 games last season as a rookie.
Sabean said he and his staff would discuss not only Burriss but
also infielders Kevin Frandsen and Eugenio Velez during next week's
winter meetings in Las Vegas.