Giants release Roberts in youth movement Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer

(Lance Iversen / The Chronicle)

Giants release Roberts in youth movement
Henry Schulman, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, March 6, 2009


(03-06) 04:00 PST Scottsdale, Ariz. -- The Giants released outfielder Dave Roberts on Thursday because they believe Eugenio Velez or John Bowker might be a better extra outfielder. That the Giants will pay Roberts more than $6 million not to play for them suggests their commitment to youth is not merely an empty slogan.

Roberts' $6.5 million contract is believed to be the largest the Giants have swallowed in releasing a player. When general manager Brian Sabean was asked how hard that was to do, he said, "It's tough to answer because this is what we do for a living, and I was honest with him. I told him we're on a path to get younger and healthier. Right now, that's not on his resume.

"I think the longer we went not doing something would have been an injustice to finding out about our own kids."

By releasing Roberts now, the Giants also give the 36-year-old a better chance to find another big-league job before teams set their rosters. The Giants tried and failed to trade him, but once he clears release waivers any team can sign him for the major-league minimum of $400,000. The Giants would be on the hook for the rest.

Roberts was informed of the move before Thursday's 4-2 loss to Oakland and called it a "surprising blow."

The Giants signed Roberts to a three-year, $18 million contract before the 2007 season when they were short of outfielders. The price was steep, but Roberts had a similar offer from Milwaukee. Roberts had a decent first year in San Francisco, stealing 31 bases and playing a competent center field. He was supposed to move to left field as Barry Bonds' replacement last year but needed knee surgery in spring training.

He has not been the same since, and continuing knee issues contributed to the Giants' decision to cut him. Roberts said he was grateful the Giants did it now.

"They could have strung me along. It's just hard for me battling my knee injury. I couldn't be close to as productive as I wanted to be for this organization. That's a tough pill for me to swallow.

Briefly: The Giants also optioned 40-year-old Keiichi Yabu, a mainstay from last year's bullpen, to Triple-A Fresno. As with Roberts, Sabean said, the Giants have younger options and will try to trade Yabu. ... Pablo Sandoval was scratched from Thursday's game with a tight hamstring and will not play today either.