According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the San Francisco Giants are telling teams that they’re shopping infielders Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot. Several teams have expressed interest in acquiring infielders this spring, and Stark said the Giants duo could be a fit for the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies need for infielders has been well documented. Philadelphia is set to open the regular season with second baseman Chase Utley, first baseman Ryan Howard and utility infielder Michael Martinez on the disabled list. Veteran third baseman Placido Polanco has also nursed an injury this spring.
Philadelphia has said it’s comfortable entering the season with rookie Freddy Galvis as their starting second baseman, but some feel the Phillies will look to acquire a veteran starter that would push Galvis into a reserve role. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that he is inclined to acquire an infielder this spring.
Yesterday afternoon Stark tweeted that the Braves are also looking for infield depth. Chipper Jones is set to start the season on the disabled list, and Jack Wilson has been dealing with an injury this spring. While Wilson is expected to return before the start of the season, the Braves appear to be on the hunt for additional infielders and outfielders.
Fontenot and Theriot have the ability to play all over the infield, though Theriot has mainly been used at second base and shortstop. Each player will be 32 years old this season, and both are set to make a little over $1 million in 2012. Fontenot has hit for more power over his career (.406 career slugging percentage), while Theriot has hit for a higher average (.282) and on base percentage (.344) and offers teams more on the base paths (108 career steals).
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