Originally posted by: TheAudit
Buster Olney's analysis:
ESPN
The Move: The Giants sign closer Armando Benitez to a three-year, $21.5 million deal, plugging a hole that probably cost them the NL West title last season. San Francisco had 28 blown saves in 74 opportunities in '04; Benitez had 47 saves in 51 chances.
The Upside: Benitez was arguably the most dominant reliever during the regular season in 2004, holding opponents to a .152 batting average and maintaining his overpowering stuff in virtually every circumstance. When Benitez pitched with one day of rest last season, he had a 0.00 ERA in 19 games, surrendering just seven hits in 19.2 innings. When he had to pitch with no rest, his ERA was 0.47, with 12 hits allowed in 19 innings. He just turned 32, so it's very possible that Benitez, with 244 saves in his career, might approach or surpass 400 before he retires.
The Downside: Detroit's signing of Troy Percival to a two-year, $12 million deal rearranged the market for closers, and the Giants probably wound up paying more than they anticipated for Benitez. There is the matter, also, of Benitez's postseason record: Six blown saves in 10 appearances. It is because of that inefficiency that Mets' fans never fully trusted Benitez as their closer.
Big Picture: The Giants have made the most dynamic offseason moves thus far among the NL West teams, signing Omar Vizquel to play shortstop and now adding Benitez. They still need a productive right fielder, but that's not something they necessarily have to settle in the winter; corner outfielders are usually plentiful before the trade deadline. With Jason Schmidt leading the rotation, Barry Bonds propping up a surprisingly productive offense, and Benitez now finishing games, the Giants would have to be the early favorites to win their division.