Fassero hopes to make teams take notice by throwing in the Mexican Pacific League. He last pitched for a major league team in May 2006, when the Giants cut him.

"I have not heard anything from the Yankees and my agent," Matsui told Sankei Sports. "I cannot comment about any reports or rumors. I am going to think about (whether to waive the no-trade clause) only when the team or my agent calls me." Reports out of Japan suggest that the Yankees have also discussed Matsui with the Indians and White Sox.

An unnamed executive said Thursday that here was "no doubt" in his mind Bonds would land in Oakland. "I'm not going to justify something that somebody wants to make up because they talked to somebody who thinks they know what we're doing," Beane said. "It's a complete waste of my time." That's not exactly a denial.

The Braves will get a supplemental first-round pick when Mahay signs elsewhere. The Yankees, Royals, Rays, Giants and Astros are believe to have submitted bids.

Let's get it over with. "We're all kind of desensitized," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "There will be a reaction, but I think that's really kind of always short-lived and you've got to pick up and move on."

There's a good chance Tejada wouldn't have wanted to move to third base for a non-contender anyway. The Giants haven't ruled out going with Kevin Frandsen at third and Ray Durham at second next season. They'll know tonight whether Pedro Feliz is going to accept their offer of arbitation.

Bonds was in court for the first time since his Nov. 15 indictment. If he's convicted of all five charges brought against him, he could spend more than two years in prison.

The Giants should be looking in a different direction, but it that's really the way talks have proceeded, than a Matsui acquisition wouldn't set the franchise back a lot further. Tim Lincecum apparently won't be on the table in a Matsui deal. If something is worked out, Matsui could still veto it with his no-trade clause. However, some believe he wouldn't, mostly out of deference to the Yankees.

The newspaper reports that Bonds and the A's were negotiating a contract last month before he was indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. "I'm speaking with American League clubs as well as National League clubs," agent Jeff Borris said. While the A's have long been linked to Bonds, it remains unclear where he'd get playing time given the presence of Jack Cust, Nick Swisher and Travis Buck, although the A's could create a spot for him by playing Swisher in center field and allowing their overall outfield defense to be pretty suspect.

Kinney, who spent much of 2002 and 2003 in the majors with the Twins and pitched briefly for the Giants in 2005, went 12-10 with a 4.02 ERA for Triple-A Fresno last season.

If the Giants trade for Matsui, it'd be because they care more about getting a few additional fannies into seats in 2008 than putting together a contender. Matsui remains a fine player, but he's had just one great season in five years in the majors, he's below average defensively and he's entering his age-34 season. He's exactly the player the Giants should be avoiding. Instead of giving up talent and then paying Matsui $13 million per season for the next two years, it'd make far more sense to make a big run at Kosuke Fukudome. They also could have beaten the Dodgers' bid for Andruw Jones.

If true, he's eliminated the Rays, Giants and Astros as possibilities.

There probably isn't much to this, though if the Yankees did end up trading Melky Cabrera, it could make sense to also part with Matsui and sign Aaron Rowand to play center, with Johnny Damon going to left. Matsui has a full no-trade clause, and we don't see why he'd want to go from the Yankees to the Giants.

Capellan, 21, spent last season in short-season ball, finishing with a 3.69 ERA and a 71/11 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 innings over 14 starts. He's an intriguing prospect, but he's a very long way from being major league-ready, and even in a rebuilding year, it seems like a long shot that the Giants will cary him.

The information apparently came in response to a question about the team potentially moving Tim Lincecum to the bullpen. At this point Wilson's biggest competition is Tyler Walker and Brad Hennessey, so he should be able to claim the job unless the Giants pick up a veteran reliever.

The San Francisco Chronicle speculates that Iguchi could play third base in 2008 and then slide back to second base in 2009 once Ray Durham's contract is up. Offering himself up as both a second and third baseman appears to have increased the market for Iguchi quite a bit.

It's being considered, but no further discussions are scheduled at this time, meaning that if it happens, it will probably take place after the winter meetings. It's clear the Giants would much rather use Noah Lowry to get a young bat, but there hasn't been much interest after his late-season elbow woes.

"He's training currently and he'd like to come back in 2008 to put a World Series ring on his finger," Borris said. "Barry definitely wants to continue playing. So I'm actively pursuing jobs for him from teams that are committed to winning." There don't appear to be any teams desperate enough to gamble on him right now. Perhaps that will change depending on his court case proceeds. Bonds is expected to plead not guilty on Friday at his arraignment in San Francisco. "Barry's legal situation should not conflict with the 2008 baseball season," Borris said.

The White Sox shouldn't need Gonzalez after picking up Carlos Quentin, and the Giants should be trying to go younger. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, most of the contenders are going to want to superior players for their outfield vacancies.

The Jays would prefer Matt Cain, but it appears they'll accept Lincecum, leaving it up to the Giants to decide. Contrary to what ESPN reported earlier, Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi has no intention of leaving Nashville tonight. The Globe and Mail also says that the Jays haven't discussed Troy Glaus with the Giants or anyone else.