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Saturday, November 10, 2007

Vizquel Agrees to $5.3M Deal With Giants

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[November 10, 2007] SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Omar Vizquel got his wish to return to the San Francisco Giants. The 11-time Gold Glove shortstop agreed Friday to a $5.3 million, one-year contract, a deal that includes a club option that could make it worth $10.2 million over two seasons.

"I'm pretty excited because the Giants gave me another opportunity to be with the team after the disappointing year I had," Vizquel said before playing a winter league game in his native Venezuela.

"I know I was expecting more from myself and I am getting ready for a better year. I still think I can play in the toughest division and play at the major league level. I'm glad the Giants trusted (that)," he said.

The 40-year-old Vizquel said throughout the season that he wanted to return to the Giants- and both manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Brian Sabean are big fans.

"Who couldn't love Omar?" Bochy said late in the year.

While Vizquel struggled offensively for most of the season and batted just .246, his sparkling defense still makes him among the top shortstops in the game. He has said he wants to play at least another two seasons.

"Bringing Omar back was one of our top priorities this offseason," Sabean said. "He is still one of the premier defensive shortstops in the game, and with the talent of our pitching staff, having his glove and leadership on the field is a necessity."

Vizquel gets $5 million next season, and the Giants have a $5.2 million option for 2009 with a $300,000 buyout. The option year could become guaranteed based on Vizquel's play next season.

The Giants, who have not reached the playoffs since 2003, parted ways with 43-year-old Barry Bonds and vowed to give more young players a chance - but Vizquel is an exception.

Even at his age, Vizquel is playing three weeks of winter ball this month back home as a farewell tour through Venezuela for his longtime supporters.

"You always look for your team to have solid defense up the middle, and you can't get anybody much better than Omar," Giants right fielder Randy Winn said. "There weren't any young guys immediately ready to fill the shortstop position, so bringing back Omar was a priority. You need some veteran players around to help teach the young guys, too."

Vizquel has fit in well in San Francisco, and not just as a positive clubhouse presence. The lively city suits his creative personality - he is into art, has wide-ranging fashion interests and enjoys photography.

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"We all know what he means to the ballclub on the field with his leadership abilities and more so how he plays shortstop," Sabean said. "The shortstop pickings as compared to Omar were very sub par. I really marvel at him going to Venezuela and playing. That shows you how proud he is and wants to get at-bats under his belt."

Vizquel won his 10th and 11th Gold Glove awards in his first two seasons with San Francisco in 2005 and '06, then his nine errors this past season were lowest among regular NL shortstops. His Gold Gloves are second among shortstops only to Ozzie Smith's 13.

"Somebody who's this good, you wonder if he's taken for granted or it's expected," Sabean said. "In my estimation, it's hard to believe anybody could play better than what we saw."

Still, owner Peter Magowan opted to wait until after the season to negotiate with Vizquel - though Sabean said the sides stayed in close contact without exchanging numbers.

"We were patient about it. They were patient about it," Vizquel said. "We waited for the right time to start talking and pushing the button."

Vizquel has played 19 major league seasons with 2,570 career games at shortstop - 13 behind countryman Luis Aparicio for most in the majors.

While the Giants are discussing bringing back third baseman Pedro Feliz, Sabean said that if Feliz wants a multiyear deal it might not be something the Giants pursue. Sabean acknowledged he had no discussions with the representative for Alex Rodriguez, Scott Boras, at the general managers' meetings this week in Orlando.

A-Rod recently opted out of his $252 million, 10-year contract with the New York Yankees and filed for free agency.

"The best tact for us would be to be on the outside looking in," Sabean said. "Knowing Scott's due diligence, this is going to go to or through the winter meetings, so there's still time."

[Associated Press; By JANIE McCAULEY]

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