26-year old lefty swinging Nate Schierholtz is likely the leader in the competition for the starting job in RF for the Giants in 2010. Schierholtz played in 116 games for the Giants last season and he was 76 of 285 (.267 avg, .702 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers, 29 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. They will need him to up the power a bit if he is going to start in RF in 2010. Schierholtz made 2 errors in 86 games in RF last season while showing above average range. He also has a cannon for a arm as he had 10 assists in 86 games in RF last season for the Giants.

26-year old lefty swinging John Bowker could give Schierholtz some competition for RF as he has more power than he does. Bowker played in 5 error-free games in RF last season for the Giants while showing below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: C-

32-year old righty swinging Aaron Rowand’s name came up in a lot of trade rumors last season but he will be back starting in CF in 2010 for the Giants. Rowand played in 144 games for the Giants last season and he was 130 of 499 (.261 avg, .738 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 15 homers, 64 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Rowand made 3 errors in 137 games in CF last season while showing below average range. He did have 5 assists out of CF last season showing off a pretty good throwing arm. Look for Rowand to put up similar numbers in 2010 for the Giants.

32-year old switch hitting Andres Torres played really well for the Giants last season and they hope he can keep up the good work for them in 2010. Torres played in 75 games for the Giants last season and he was 41 of 152 (.270 avg, .876 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 6 homers, 23 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Torres didn’t make any errors in 37 games in CF last season while showing outstanding range. He also had 1 assist while playing CF last season.

27-year old switch hitting Eugenio Velez played in 12 games in CF for the Giants last season and he made 1 error while showing pretty poor range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: C

The Giants signed 35-year old righty swinging Mark DeRosa to start in LF in 2010 and provide some punch to the lineup. DeRosa played in 139 games for the Cardinals & Indians last season in which he was 129 of 515 (.250 avg, .752 OPS) with 78 runs scored, 23 homers, 78 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Giants are banking on DeRosa improving his batting average in 2010 as he is a .275 hitter in his 1,032 career games in the majors. DeRosa played in 18 error-free games in LF last season while showing slightly below average range. He did have 1 assist in LF last season and he has a strong throwing arm after playing most of last year at 3B. DeRosa will be a asset to the Giants in 2010.

27-year old switch hitting Eugenio Velez will likely be the Giants’ #4 outfielder in 2010. He played in 84 games for the Giants last season and he was 76 of 285 (.267 avg, .708 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 5 homers, 31 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Velez played in 42 games in LF last season for the Giants and he made 2 errors while showing poor range. But, he did have 2 assists when in LF showing a strong throwing arm there.

29-year old lefty swinging Fred Lewis will still be around in 2010 for the Giants. He played in 122 games for the Giants last season and he was 76 of 295 (.258 avg, .738 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 4 homers, 20 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Lewis has a huge problem with whiffing as he K’d 84 times last season which is way too many for a hitter like him. Lewis made 3 errors in 83 games in LF for the Giants last season while showing average range. He also had 3 assists from LF as he often shows a strong throwing arm.

26-year old lefty swinging John Bowker could also get some P.T. at some point for the Giants in 2010. He played in 31 games for the Giants last season and he was 13 of 67 (.194 avg, .620 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs. Bowker also played in 104 games in AAA-ball last season in which he was 125 of 366 (.342 avg, 1.047 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 21 homers, 83 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Bowker didn’t make any errors in 13 games in LF last season while showing good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: B

23-year old switch hitting Pablo Sandoval will finally have a home at 3B in 2010 for the Giants. He played in 153 games for the Giants last season and he was 189 for 572 (.330 avg, .943 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 25 homers, 90 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Look for Sandoval to improve his production numbers in 2010 as the Giants have put together a better lineup for this year around him. Sandoval also slimmed down over the winter which should help his defense. He made 11 errors in 120 games for the Giants at 3B last season while showing poor range.

30-year old Juan Uribe will backup Sandoval at 3B again in 2010. He played in 44 games at 3B for the Giants last season and he made 4 errors while showing slightly above average range. 34-year old right swinging Mark DeRosa will be the starting LF for the Giants but he could play 3B if the need arises in 2010. DeRosa played in 105 games for the Indians and Cardinals last season and he made 8 errors while showing slightly below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: A

The Giants thought a return to the National League would spark 34-year old shortstop Edgar Renteria’s bat but it didn’t. Renteria played in 124 games for the Giants last season and he was 115 for 460 (.250 avg, .635 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 5 homers, 48 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Giants need Renteria to hit to his career norms of a .288 batting average with a .746 OPS or Juan Uribe will be getting a lot of P.T. at shortstop in 2010. Renteria made 14 errors in 123 games at shortstop last season while showing pretty poor range. The bottom line is that Renteria has to hit well to make up for his defense which is slipping badly.

30-year old righty swinging Juan Uribe comes into spring training as the Giants’ top utility man but he could push Renteria for his starting job. Uribe played in 122 games for the Giants last season and he was 115 for 398 (.289 avg, .824 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 16 homers, 55 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Uribe made 4 errors in 41 games at SS for the Giants last season while showing average range. Uribe will get a lot of playing time for the Giants even if he doesn’t win a starting job due to his bat.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2010: C+