December 8, 2008 Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports states that the Cubs would consider Rich Aurilia if they deal Mike Fontenot or Ronny Cedeno.
Our View:The utility-man would be a good fit for Chicago, as he held a .283 batting average and .332 OBP over 140 games with the Giants in 2008. He only hit 10 homers, but his power numbers would likely improve while playing his home games at Wrigley Field.
November 27, 2008 The Giants and Dodgers are reportedly interested in Rich Aurilia, according to Yahoo Sports. Aurilia would likely play the role as a super-utility player for either club. Aurilia is looking to extend his stay with the Giants, where he spent the last two seasons and began his career as well.
Our View:Aurilia hit .283 in 407 at-bats in 2008 with decent power numbers of 10 home runs and 52 RBI. He can play all four infield positions, but primarily has been a corner-infielder in recent years.
November 1, 2008 Corner infielder Rich Aurilia filed for free agency on Friday, according to MLB.com. Giants general manager Brian Sabean has indicated a willingness to re-sign Aurilia, 37, who can play all four infield spots. But Sabean said last month that if the Giants and Aurilia do reach a deal, it might not happen until late in the offseason.
Our View:Aurilia hit .283 with 10 home runs and 52 RBIs in 140 games, representing a considerable improvement over 2007, when a neck injury limited him to a .252 average, five homers and 33 RBIs in 99 games. This year, he started 50 games at first base, 49 at third and two as a designated hitter. He could be a valuable addition to a team's bench, but not likely to your fantasy squad.
August 5, 2008 Updating an earlier report, the league reports any players the Giants placed on waivers last Friday can officially be claimed by other teams Tuesday. That may include Rich Aurilia , a player likely to be immediately targeted by the Mets, according to MLB.com.
Our View:A free agent after this season, Aurilia is owed an affordable $1.5 million for the remainder of the year and currently is batting .281 with eight home runs. A source said the Mets, losers of four straight entering Tuesday night, were interested in acquiring the veteran infielder to use as a right-handed batter off the bench. That means his fanasy value could increase considering the lack of playing time offered in San Fran, but that rise is not likely to push Aurilia into the must-have category for fantasy owners. We'll keep you posted.
August 4, 2008 The New York Mets are taking a look at Rich Aurilia to fill a hole in their outfield, according to MetsBlog.com.
Our View:Aurilia has enough bat for NL-only leagues, and though his playing time has reduced in San Francisco, should he go to New York, his fantasy value would likely increase.
