Morning Hits

A few things gleaned from the reason I'll be late to work...

• The Florida Marlins may be interested in Armando Benitez. Fantastic. The more the merrier. I don’t think the Giants will end up with Mike Jacobs out of it, but getting young talent for Benitez may be worth $5 million of Mando’s contract at this point.
  

• From Andrew Baggarly, on the consequences of signing Ted Lilly or Jeff Suppan.:
  
  

  Even if they are able to back-load a deal, any of those upper-level starters would exhaust at least half of the $20 million or so the Giants have left to spend under their anticipated $85 million payroll.
  
  And if the Giants give in to Bonds' demands to be paid a figure similar to the $18 million he made last season, they would already be over budget with other needs to fill.

  
  This seems to make a trade more likely, though where it’s going to come from at this point is anyone’s guess.

• Busting out the Baggarly, two-times quick:
  
  

  The Giants are expected to sign Ryan Klesko as a left-handed bench player and part-time outfielder, a source said. Klesko also was talking with Orioles officials, but those discussions have cooled.

  
  I’m starting to warm to the idea of Klesko as a platoon player. Last year’s injury scares me, but in 2005 he put up a .262/.373/.464 against right-handers. Last year Giants first-baseman put up a total-line of .257/.307/.410, so any help would be appreciated. Last year’s shoulder surgery is still a concern, but if it lowers the price enough he could be better than what we have and a steal for this offseason.