'A total disrespect': Renteria on Giants' $1 million offer (UPDATE: AGENT SAYS EDGAR HAS NO PROBLEM WITH GIANTS)

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Here's an update from John Shea on the Renteria saga. Spoke with Giants assistant GM Bobby Evans, who received a text from agent Barry Meister, who suggested his client has no problem with the Giants and that the "total disrespect" line might not have been an accurate characterization.

Evans said the Giants still are looking at all options for a backup shortstop, and that means the team hasn't given up on a Renteria reunion.

At the same time, Renteria's quotes were quite clear, so there's a major inconsistency coming from his camp, and it's not as if the Giants have wiggle room to move much from their $1 million proposal, which was offered before the winter meetings.

"Something doesn't add up when you read Renteria's quotes and yet the agent insists that Edgar has no problem with the Giants," Evans said.

Renteria might not have many options. The Marlins haven't even brought up Renteria's name, according to the Palm Beach Post.

THE ORIGINAL POST

What to make of Edgar Renteria's comments?

Fans' last images of the long-time shortstop: hitting a seventh-inning home run off Cliff Lee to clinch the Giants' first World Series title since 1954; hoisting the Series MVP trophy; waving to hundreds of thousands of fans in the victory parade; and declining to be honored in his native Colombia, suggesting the money for the celebration go to victims of recent flooding.

That's a whole bunch of good will.

Now his regrettable comments to ESPN Deportes:

"That offer from the Giants was a lack of respect. A total disrespect," Renteria said.

"To play for a million dollars, I'd rather stay with my private business and share more time with my family. Thank God I'm well off financially and my money is well invested."

The million-dollar offer from the Giants, reported in The Chronicle during the winter meetings, sounds right for a backup shortstop who played 72 games last season. Granted, he made legendary contributions to the Giants' championship run, but everyone knows he's no longer an everyday shortstop and shouldn't be paid like one.

The Giants welcomed him back in a utility role, to spell shortstop Miguel Tejada and also be available at second and third. The contract offer was similar to what Pat Burrell accepted to return to the champs.

Like Renteria, who was coming off a much-criticized two-year, $18.5 million deal, Burrell was coming off a similar two-year deal (for $16 million) with the Rays.

According to baseballreference.com, Renteria has made $82.974 million in his career. Like he said, he's well off. But not so wise to publicly suggest a million bucks is an insult.

If those comments are accurate and if Renteria doesn't publicly backtrack, don't be surprised if the Giants withdraw that offer. Other players might be OK being a backup shortstop for a million bucks.

We asked on Twitter last night, and we'll ask again. What's tougher to take for fans: Renteria's choice of words or Juan Uribe's choice of teams?

Follow on Twitter @JohnSheaHey

Posted By: John Shea (Email, Twitter) | December 17 2010 at 05:10 PM