BY ANDREW BAGGARLY
DECEMBER 5TH

In past years at the winter meetings, Brian Sabean and his assistants, usually Ned Colleti, would wager on the first question asked during the media availability in the GM’s suite. So every year, we make sure the opening query is a cliche of the first order.

I led off the session with this: “Anything percolating?”

Sabean’s reponse: “I know what’s not percolating. We did not bid on the Japanese shortstop. Did not. N-O-T. Enough said.”

Wow. Sabean took the one juicy Giants rumor of the day — that they submitted a bid for Seibu’s Hiroyuki Nakajima — and sat on it.

Ok, so … what about players in this country?

“Oh, we’ve had a few bids in this country,” Sabean said. “That’s not going too good.”

Both Sabean and Manager Bruce Bochy stated the desire for a right-handed reserve infielder who could spell Brandon Crawford against left-handed pitching. Sabean said Crawford has not shown an ability to hit lefties at any level thus far. But Clint Barmes and Willie Bloomquist got two years. Jerry Hairston Jr. got two years today from the Dodgers (which is good for the rivalry, incidentally, since he’s sneered at in Giants circles as being a “chirper” from the dugout.) Michael Cuddyer is asking for three years and $30 million, and he might get it.

Not surprisingly…

“We could be leaning to the trade route,” Sabean said.

You could argue that Sabean should have a larger budget than $130 million, after the Giants sold out every game last season. You might be right. But it’s Sabean’s job to work with the resources provided for him and he made it clear there is very little wiggle room under that number.

“The window could be closing on a lot of opportunities,” said Sabean, responding to a question about re-signing Carlos Beltran. “Without getting into specific dollars, we only have so much to spread. … You have to make do with what the blueprint presents itself to be financially. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to be creative within that. Again, we only have so much money to spread, and you have to play with 25 guys.”

This shouldn’t suggest that Sabean is comfortable standing pat, though.

“Until we get a team on the field and start the season and score more runs, you’re never comfortable with the offense we have, given what our low water mark was last year,” Sabean said.

Other quick hits:

–The Giants will need a strong fourth outfielder with Aubrey Huff slated to play a lot in left field. It could be Andres Torres. It could be someone else. Yes, it could still be Cody Ross, but “the window is probably closing, given what their needs are,” Sabean said.

–It was reported today that Ross wants three years. I heard earlier this offseason that he is hoping for a two-year deal. Even if he doesn’t get it, he’ll want to go somewhere in 2012 where he can put up numbers and hope to enter free agency in a better position next winter. And AT&T Park, while not as deathly as you might think, is strongly perceived to be a pitcher’s paradise. Translation: It looks like Ross the Boss is out the door.

–Giants VP Bobby Evans had a quick conversation with Tim Lincecum’s camp, but it was more of a “touching base” courtesy by both parties. No substantive talks on an extension will come here in Dallas.

–Even if the Lincecum talks reach an impasse and the two sides go to an arbitration hearing, Sabean would not entertain the thought of trading his two-time Cy Young Award winner. “There’s no reason to think that way,” Sabean said. “We control him for two years.”

–The Matt Cain extension talks might be more pressing, Sabean acknowledged, because he’s a free agent after next season. But unlike Lincecum, he’s already under contract for 2012. So Lincecum’s arbitration case comes first and the Giants will engage Cain as soon as he’s comfortable. “It could go into spring training,” said Sabean, adding extensions usually get done in those more relaxed days in Scottsdale.

–First base could be a mix-and-match between Huff, Brett Pill and Brandon Belt. “It could play out in spring training,” Sabean said.

–If the Giants cannot sign a right-handed hitting infielder or trade for one like Red Sox switch-hitter Jed Lowrie, then the Giants will go internal. Sabean mentioned that Emmanuel Burriss probably will be on next year’s team in some capacity, and Mike Fontenot will get due consideration because he has shown the ability to hit lefties. I’m guessing the Giants will tender Fontenot a contract by the Dec. 12 deadline but either trade or non-tender Jeff Keppinger.

–My understanding is that the Giants’ trade talks today were mostly firming up possibilities that had been discussed in the days and weeks before the meetings began. The Giants would trade for an impending free agent like B.J. Upton if the price were right. As of this moment, no deals were imminent and no surprises are expected tonight.

–It’s also my understanding that the Giants didn’t “shop” Jeremy Affeldt in a true sense. They got so many inquiries about him that they sent out an email to gauge their best offer. Realistically, though, the Giants are committed to the pitching formula and they recognize how many close games involve Affeldt’s contributions. They are far more likely to visit trading right-hander Ramon Ramirez, who is viewed as more replaceable. (Heath Hembree, hello.)

–The Giants and Mark DeRosa have been in contact about a return. DeRosa prefers to play nearer to his home in Atlanta, though.

–Hector Sanchez “is going to hit,” Sabean said. At minimum, he’ll start at Triple-A, but we like him as a prospect.