Giants Tender Fontenot, Dump Keppinger, Whiteside

Nothing particularly shocking here, but the Giants decided on Monday night to dump Jeff Keppinger and Eli Whiteside and tender Mike Fontenot.

reported that Keppinger and Whiteside were non-tendered, and that Fontenot was offered a one-year deal.

The logic on why the Giants did this? Cost and positional flexibility -- Fontenot is cheaper than Keppinger, and he can play multiple positions in the infield.

“I think the role that is available is going to involve a fair amount of time backing up at short with [Emmanuel] Burriss and Crawford," Giants VP Bobby Evans told Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury-News. " Kep hasn’t played as much short since 2008 so there was a lean towards Fontenot with his experience the last couple years, particularly last year, and the satisfaction for what he can do defensively there.

"Keppinger is a utility player who can play first, second and third but our thought was our need will be at short.”

At first base, the Giants have Brandon Belt, Aubrey Huff, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval -- it's not hard to find someone who can backup first base.

There's no real concern about offensive production at third or first either; second and shortstop are potential problems depending on Freddy Sanchez' health, Brandon Crawford's bat and Manny Burriss' ability to step in and

Crawford wasn't exactly an offensive monster in 2011 and if he struggles, the Giants want the option of at least having an option to plug someone in at short that doesn't involve Miguel Tejada and a pile of cash.

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