by Sports Xchange

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Giants, last in the NL in walks and on-base percentage, 15th in homers and 14th in slugging percentage, need a major boost offensively. An improved 3-4-5 alignment -- the season ended with Pablo Sandoval, Bengie Molina and Juan Uribe, all free-swingers -- is necessary. The Giants' situational hitting was sub-par, and many hitters didn't get bunt signs because they couldn't be relied on to put one down.

FREE AGENTS: C Bengie Molina, INF Juan Uribe, INF Rich Aurilia, OF Randy Winn, LHP Randy Johnson, RHP Brad Penny, RHP Bobby Howry, RHP Justin Miller, LHP Noah Lowry.

The biggest decision is whether to bring back Molina, the cleanup hitter the past three years. He's 35, and the Giants have C Buster Posey waiting in the wings. It might work out if Molina agrees to a one-year deal. Uribe, who arrived last winter on a minor league contract, was a valuable addition and will cost more than his $1 million salary to be retained. The Giants say they're interested in Penny, but it's questionable whether they'll pony up. Aurilia and Johnson might retire. Miller and Lowry became free agents after being outrighted off the 40-man roster.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: 1B Ryan Garko, RHP Tim Lincecum, RHP Brandon Medders, LHP Jonathan Sanchez, RHP Brian Wilson.

Lincecum is due a major raise, perhaps breaking Jonathan Pabelbon's record for highest salary for a pitcher eligible for arbitration for the first time ($6.25 million). The record for a hitter was Ryan Howard's $10 million. The Giants might prefer to negotiate a long-term deal while trying to keep the 2010 salary down. The Giants want to keep Wilson and Sanchez, though Sanchez might be trade bait.

IN LIMBO: As the Giants pursue a hitter or two, they'll likely dangle pitching, including LHP Jonathan Sanchez. Teams might prefer RHP Matt Cain, which would be a blockbuster, but the Giants are hesitant to break up the top end of their rotation.

MEDICAL WATCH:

2B Freddy Sanchez (arthroscopic left knee surgery in September 2009) is expected to be fully recovered by spring training.

RHP Brandon Medders (arthroscopic left knee surgery in October 2009) is expected to be fully recovered by spring training.