I think you play for next year since it's the last year you have Bonds.  Upgrade the bullpen, look to the minors for some bench strength, and trade the prospects in the low minors for something that can help in 2006.  Plan for 2007 to be pretty bad.

maybe put out the teams in the order they are eliminated from the playoffs?  get a sense of what the teams' weakness are from playoff play, and build from there

Go hard after Washburn and Burnett.  Off Schmidt to Florida for Carlos Delgado (and nose around to see if they'll toss in a prospect). If not throw money at Paul Konerko. Let Snow go and RIP. Pick up Winn's option but don't go overboard on a long-term extension. Simply cut Edgardo Alfonzo if you can't pay anyone else to take him.  Put Matt Cain in rotation. Resign Tomko if you can get him cheaply for a year or 2 as your #5 (otherwise try to plug in Hennessy or someone like Matt Kinney).  Sign or trade for one good OF bat who could poach all the non-starts coming from Bonds and Alou (a Kevin Mench type of player -- perhaps even the return of Jose Cruz, Jr. if very little money is involved).  Do NOT let Scott Eyre depart as FA.

Hire someone to pour over the rulebooks to see if there's anyway to annul the AJ trade (or if the Twins feel they got too much out of it and just want to give back Francisco Liriano back as a goodwill gesture, for, say, Kevin Frandsen, Todd Linden, Dan Ortmeier and Merkin Valdez).

Pray the Armando Benitez will luck into another 2004. Pray in general. Enjoy watching the money roll in as SRO crowds cheer on Barry's pursuit of Hank.

A) Sign free agents for next year (Brian Giles) and try to make one last run with Barry

B) Go the way of the indians circa 2002 and blow it up.

The problem with option B is the Giants don't have the prospects at high enough levels that could be deemed ready by 2007 or 2008.

Also, the veterans we have aren't young like Cleveland's were in 2002 so getting a top prospect is unlikely.

No matter what direction we go in I'd like to see the following things done this offseason;

1. Bring back Tomko at a similar contract he had this year
   
2. Make Hennessey your 5th starter and trade Kevin Correia for a very healthy mule.
   
3. Decrease the number of Bats for Pedro "Mr .300" Feliz, especially those in which he hits in front of Bonds
   
4. Pray Durham stays healthy and trade him at the deadline if 2006 becomes a repeat of 2005
   
5. Make a decision with Lance Niekro, either give him 500 at bats and see if he can play or trade him for a relief pitcher.  With all the depth we have at first base in the system (Ishikawa & EME) option #2 seems likely.  JT's not a great hitting option, but if his price tag stays low (around 2 mil) I don't think he's hurting the team that much.
   
6. Let Cain start the season in the rotation.  He deserves it, let's avoid a Delmon Young type problem here.

Trade Bonds to the Angels for some of their highly touted prospects. Kendrick, Wood, Weaver.

But since thats not going to happen they need to get someone to help next year and in the future. And that person is ADAM DUNN. Dunn would hit 50 HR's a year at SBC easy and would be someone to build around and keep the fans coming, plus finally give Bonds some real protection next season.

Trade Jason Schmidt, they should have done it before the trade deadline. And Alfonzo, his numbers have been consistent but not for the 7.5 Million they have paid him every year. He is a bust. Between Schmidt, Benetiz, Hawkins and Alfonzo the Giants are WASTING $25 Mil.

Use that money to sign a real closer. Is Billy Wagner still available? Shore up the Bullpen with solid guys . Then Find a good, inexpensive starter to go with the good young pitching prospects you havent traded away yet. Barry Zito??

I guess it goes without saying...The Giants are screwed, they have spent tons of money on old players, traded a ton of propspects for nothing, and will be in the same position next year and even worse in 2007.

The Indians are a perfect example, or the A's, of how to rebuild quick. Get young fast and restock your farm system with quality prospects and pitching. Luckily, the Giants have held on to a few of their pitching prospects. Personally I think the Giants need a new GM, its time for a change all around.... I would hate to be a Giants fan right now.

Go for it while you have Bonds:
To free up 06 money, I would attempt to get Alfonzo, Durham, and Bonds to defer some money [with interest] to 07 and 08. I assume they won't. As such, it looks like the Giants have about 12 million or so to spend.

1.) Left handed bats - preferably a 1B,C, and backup ss/2b.
2.) A LHRP - Eyre is not worth the money he will get from New York. Jack Taschner has performed well, and seems to have the stuff to be more thatn a LOOGY. Eyre was a LOOGY, until this year and I am rather skeptical that it is real improvement. Other than that, the bullpen should be solid. It will be a plus if the Giants yougn bullpen arms continue to develop.
3.) A Solid #2 type starting pitcher to back Schmidt
4.) An offseason of rest and rehab for Schmidt, hoping he control returns.
5.) Continued gains by Cain and Lowry.

Bonds, Schmidt, Durham, Correia, Benitez, Alou, and Munter all have serious health concerns. Alou, Bonds, and Durham have been great when healthy, but clearly need quality backups and consistent rest. Benetiz and Schmidt have serious stuff problems at the moment, but look to benefit from an offseason.  Correia has a shoulder problem [almost certainly the cause of his lousy last two starts] and Munter an elbow problem - both could be use/fatigue related.

Absent something strange happening, the Giants probably don't have the cash to add a Konerko, Burnett, Washburn, Millwood, Wagner, Damon, or Delgado.

Alfonzo should be gone, along with Snow. They provide little help as backups, and hurt you as starters. I have a hard time believing anyone would take Alfonzo w/out the Giants picking up the tab. Snow has slightly more use, in that he can platoon w/ Niekro.

I would target Estrada and Laroche from the Braves to bolster the hitting. Wilkerson is also a good target.

Dunn's name gets floated around, but I suspect the only way the Giants could get him is by accepting Milton as well.

I would try and get creative - sign a Japanese pitcher if a good one is available.

Feliz is ok as a starting third baseman, but he would make a great utility guy if the found a LH 3B and 1B.

Hank Blalock - what would it take to get him? Probably more than the Giants would be willing to give, but Blalock definitely struggled this year and the Rangers need pitching and OF.

Again, where would they play him? Can you get Dunn and say, by the way, you'll only be starting 3 times a week.  Alou's not going to sit Alou down, so it's just injuries and offdays that Dunn gets in there, and then he's not backing Bonds up, he's replacing him.

I agree with fat frank, it's not a great time to be a Giants fan (with the exception of watching one of the greatest hitters to ever live) because they've locked themselves into a lot of players and don't have the flexibility they need.  I also agree that trading Schmidt would be a masterstroke.  13 wins and 4 ERA isn't worth $10 mil, and it's much more in line with his career than 2003 and 2004 were.  This is their one chance to turn him into gold because he FA after this.

Any hopes of getting payroll relief from Fonzie are misplaced.  He's worth nothing. People talk about the Mets taking him, but they can't play him at 3rd and he's no longer capable of playing 2nd every day. If they get rid of him they'll have to pay the tab themselves and/or pick up someone else's bad contract.

Given his age and recent leg problems, shouldn't the Giants consider moving Bonds to 1B?

The Giants have at least $82M allocated already based on current contracts and expected young players but Magowan said that $85M is the budget target:  so you can forget about signing any big free agent unless they have a change of heart and do what they said they might do, which is increase the budget, or somehow unload Alfonzo and/or Durham for salary relief.

I think their main needs are another starter and a power hitting 1B.  Schmidt, Lowry, and Cain make a good three-some; trading any of them would be suicide for 2006 unless you get a better pitcher back.  Lowry has been as erratic if not more so than Schmidt.  Cain has proven that he is ready for the spotlight, Lowry got a starting spot at the start of 2005 with less performance highlights in the previous season.  

About the last two rotation spots, Hennessey/Correia will battle for the 5th spot, leaving a free agent for the 4 spot in the rotation; I expect Hennessey to get the spot, he has been Dr. Hennessey and Mr. Hyde both this season and last, so he has to be given the shot in case he can harness it consistently because when he is good, he has been dominating.  Matt Kinney will probably get a shot as well but unless he's lights out in spring training, I would rather go with Hennessey and give him more experience in the majors.

Positionally, we have players signed (or with options that will be picked up) for every position except 1B.  We have enough minor leaguers to take backup positions on the bench plus Feliz as uber-utility guy.

Random comments on things said above:

I don't see the Giants cutting Alfonzo and his $8M contract but he could be traded for some other team's contract mistake.  

Durham has been great... when not injured and he's been injured too much, resulting in a poorer offense when his replacement is in.  I can see the Giants trading him for salary relief only, the either move Alfonzo to 2B (if he isn't traded) or perhaps let Frandsen get a chance there.

Vizquel's late season fade has hurt their offense since he has batted 2nd all season.  But he was outstanding in the first half, so it must be age or the cold SF weather (or both) getting to him late in the season.  Or it could be the depressing circumstances that the team has been in until lately (when it turned to just being glum :^).

And while I want a new 1B, I want to say that Snow's overall power has been severely hurt by SBC so if we get a lefthanded power hitter, he could be neutralized too.  His road HR rate has been consistently in the 25-30 AB/HR rate during his years at PBP/SBC until this season, with one blip during one bad season, in 2002.  Not too bad, about 20-25 HR season at that rate.  For his career though, his SBC HR rate is 50.5 AB/HR, cutting his power in half.  

Bonds and Alou are old; luckily Winn is young enough and fast enough to cover a little for them in CF.  Also, Linden and Ellison should make good backups for them plus Feliz will usually take over LF when Bonds get a rest.

Tomko is looking for a payday like Kent Benson, $7M/year, he essentially said so in the past offseason, refering to those contracts and saying that he knows he is being underpaid in 2005.  I expect him to be like Aurilia, asking for big money and settling for scraps when no one bites.  

Eyre has said that he wants to return (though David Bell said the same as well) and, unlike other relievers, have talked very positively about his experiences with Alou.  I expect him to sign before he officially becomes a free agent, both sides have indicated they wanted the other.  He has not been used as a middle reliever or LOOGY as much this season, he has been one of the main set-up relievers, with Hawkins, since the early parts of the season, once Brower and Herges flopped and were dropped.

Bonds has said that he wants to return for 2007 and pursue Aaron.  I expect the Giants to restructure his contract via an extension in order to free up budget in 2006, but it won't free up enough for a top or good free agent starter or 1B unless the Giants also push the budget to $90M.  At $18M in 2006, Bonds will probably want something in the $10M range for 2007 (Aaron and all), resulting in $14M each year, saving only $4M.  Can't even get Tomko for that.  :^)

I think the bullpen will be good enough overall.  Benitez will have his good moments, more than most closers, once he is fully recovered from his injury in 2006.  Hawkins, I believe, was affected by the racism he experienced in Chicago and the arm problem he had early in the season.  He had been lights out in July and August with only recent difficulties.  Eyre should be re-signed and with Munter and Hawkins round out the set-up men roles.  Fassero (another re-sign) plus minor leaguers, probably Accardo and Taschner, will probably fill out the rest of the bullpen, unless Kinney takes such a role.  He could be in the rotation if they cannot sign a better one for a reasonable salary.

If everyone had been healthy and performing to career norms and excluding Bonds, the Giants offense should have been good enough with our pitching to stay close enough to the division leader until Bonds returned in 2005.  But all the injuries and poor performances, both hitting and pitching, took a toll.  

Luckily, the other West teams have also been hit by significant injuries.  Columnists have been mocking the West but the Dodgers lost Drew, Gagne, and Bradley for long stretches of time, the Padres lost Greene, Hernandez, some starting pitchers, Loretta, for long stretches of time, plus Burroughs disappointed them, plus the Giants injuries too.  Another blog said that St. Louis lost Rolen and Walker and did OK, but they have a strong lineup up and down, most teams don't have that lineup depth to lose a couple of key hitters and survive, let alone do well, and they didn't lose anyone significant in the pitching corps, unlike any of the NL West contenders.

The comment was made above that the team is old and inconsistent - it was that in 2003 and 2004 as well but did well.  The key, obviously, is Barry Lamar Bonds.  If he is there, the team will be fine, if he is not there, they will struggle.  If they would've signed Vlad like I was writing about back then, then they wouldn't be in this pickle, but they didn't and are.

On trades, obviously players in the farm system will be trade bait as usual.  Alfonzo and Durham are probably the top players the Giants are looking to trade to free up budget space; Alfonzo could be gone, as I noted above, for some other team's mistake, I don't think Durham has done bad enough for the Giants to do that, they will probably bring up Frandsen to take his place if he does DL.  But he could go to get budget relief.

The farm system is better than advertised.  There were several players who came up from the minors (or didn't have a full season experience) and contribute significantly to the team:  Lowry, Munter, Taschner, Accardo, Cain, Hennessey, Correia, Ellison, Niekro, Linden.  Plus some farm products were traded for other players who will contribute in 2006:  Jerome Williams, David Aardsma, Jesse Foppert.  

Judging from comments that I read on the Giants farm system, they had a lousy farm system.  But a lousy farm system would not have had so many prospects come up and play key roles and perform good as well.  Only Lowry and Cain of that bunch were given much hope of contributing significantly, plus some thought Aardsma or Valdez might be able to contribute as well.  

I think the Giants also have a number of players getting ready to come up in the 2006-2008 timeframe:  Kevin Frandsen, Fred Lewis, Dan Ortmeier, Brian Burres, Pat Misch, Merkin Valdez, Alfredo Simon, Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Nate Schierholtz, Travis Ishikawa, Clay Timpner, Mike Mooney, Marcus Sanders.  I also like Joe Bateman for some reason.  Not all of them as starters, and certainly some of them took a step back this year, but a number of them should be good enough to be at least a supporting player in the near future.  I particularly like Frandsen, Ortmeier, EME, Schierholtz, Ishikawa, and Sanders for greater roles in the future.

I don't know how this compares with other teams, but it is probably as good a bunch of prospects, even without the players who are currently playing for the Giants now but were prospects at the start of the season, that the Giants has had in the past 15 years and one of the best since I've been following them, almost 35 years now.

I was actually thinking Dunn could play 1B mostly and spell Bonds in LF on his days off...

I agree that you do have to go for it while you have Bonds.  

OF is pretty set with Bonds, Winn and Alou.  Middle IF is also set, but as others noted, Niekro, Snow and Feliz are not ideal first basemen.  I wouldn't pursue any of the weaker FA's/players who can be traded, like Millar, Hatteberg, et al.  I'd go hard for Aubrey Huff, personally.  

Huff would give you a nice emergency OF and 3B, and be a good everyday 1B.  Slide Feliz over to 3B and make Fonzie a backup or at least platoon them somehow.  But God knows what it would take to get Huff in a trade.    

Pitching really is the issue, and if teams are smart, they'll give Millwood some good money this offseason - certainly not 8 million a year, but good cash.  I think Millood is going to end up too expensive for the Giants if they take on a hefty 1B contract - i.e trade for Delgado, sign Konerko long term.

Huff and Millwood together would be at least 10-11 million (Huff is due a little less than 5 I think), and I think that's really not too bad if the Giants are trying to contend next year.

Schmidt is troublesome, but I do like the young arms.  At this point, you do have to hope Armando fully recovers.  I'd go to the Jays and see if any of their young starters are on the market - the Jays are going to spend big this offseason, and there's a chance they'd also be willing to trade a young pitcher or two.  If Ted Lilly is all they'll give you . . . eh.  He's at least not expensive.  

As others have already noted, there are more injury issues in this lineup than you can shake a stick at.  The Giants don't have the minor league depth to bring up rookies if their veterans falter, like the Braves did this year.  

It's a huge risk to go for it next year, only if the lineup is already old, and Bonds' contract is a killer.  But Bonds is Bonds, and as long as the Giants think they can get contributions from Bonds and Schmidt for the majority of the season, they should go for it.

Paying 7.5 Mil for a guy to sit the Bench? THAT IS THE GIANTS WHOLE PROBLEM! Thats why they dont have any money! Thats why they arent good!

With the emergence of Howard, the Phils will be trying to shed Thome's final three years. I've read where they might be willing to pay up to half his salary in order to move him.

A deal that included them taking Fonzie to off-set the first year, then throwing in some cash for the second year is something I could see Sabean doing. Maybe the Giants throw in a prospect or two.

It would be a risk, but a healthy Thome hitting with Bonds and Alou could be a huge reward. Let's face it, the only way Snow is a Giant next year is if the Giants signed a premier RHH 1B (Konerko), and Snow was strictly a LHH backup. They will not endure another year of a slow, slap-hitting defensive specialist as their primary 1B.

A deal like this would also be relatively cheap for next year, enabling them to get a solid SP. I would prefer Morris in this category. I think with Burnnett and Millwood on the market, maybe you can make an early offer (Sabean special) to Morris and get him at a decent price. (4/36).

So here's my roster.. (assuming Thome is proven healthy)

Winn - CF
Durham - 2B
Alou - RF
Teh Lord - LF
Thome - 1B
Feliz - 3B
Vizquel - SS
Matheny - C

#1 - Schmidty (Hopefully rested and ready)
#2 - Morris
#3 - Lowry
#4 - Cain
#5 - Hennessy/Kinney/Correia

Benitez
Hawkins
Eyre - (2 year/ $6M)
Walker
Taschner
Munter
Accardo

Bench - Linden
Bench - Ellison
Bench - Knoedler
Bench - Niekro
Bench - FA middle IF

Obviously you go for it while Bonds is around. That's a no-brainer. The first thing to do is assess the state of his knee at the end of the season, and see how it's responded to the play so far. Then you can talk about moving him to first. Personally, I believe he will be moved there.

Rotation-wise, Schmidt, Lowry and Cain are there. If possible, resign Tomko cheaply as the fifth starter. That still leaves one pitcher needed.

I have been kicking around in my head the idea of trading for Manny Ramirez - something like Alfonso + Durham + EME for Manny + (something). Then you give the last rotation spot to Hennessey, and make up for the weak pitching staff with the formidable 3-4-5 of Manny, Bonds, Alou.