Pablo Sandoval is Giants' only concern, for now (w/video)

SAN FRANCISCO - Giants president Larry Baer, general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy met with the media for nearly 30 minutes Thursday afternoon. The session could be summed up by one sentence.

“I’m not going to address anybody at this time other than Pablo (Sandoval), because that’s the player we’re engaged with,” Sabean said.

Sandoval is one of the few big-name position players on the market, and at 28 years old and coming off a spectacular postseason, he’s in position to ask the Giants and any other suitors for just about whatever he wants. The Giants have spoken to Sandoval’s side this week, and all other business is on hold until they figure out what they’re doing at third base.

Asked about left field, Sabean said the Giants won’t “understand the landscape more until Pablo is resolved.” When asked about Jake Peavy, Sabean said, “We’ve told both Peavy and (Ryan) Vogelsong that we need some time to sort things out.”

“Again, it goes back to Pablo,” Sabean continued. “Pablo is the only one we’ve engaged as far as an offer and moving forward in that fashion. The four other free agents know where we stand.”

The others are Peavy, Vogelsong, Michael Morse and Sergio Romo. Despite the importance of the Sandoval decision, Sabean said he doesn’t expect a quick resolution. Marquee free agents typically do not sign until closer to the winter meetings, held this year from Dec. 8-11. If Sandoval signs elsewhere, the Giants will have to scramble at third base.

“We don’t have a solution in house,” Sabean said. “It would have to come from the outside.”

Also during the news conference, Bochy said he expects Tim Lincecum to be in the rotation next spring.

“We have a need there, I think that’s fair to say,” he said. “Vogey is a free agent, Peavy is a free agent. Matt Cain - he’s doing well and we expect him to be ready to go in spring training, so that’s good news on that side.”

Lincecum was pulled from the rotation in August and made only one postseason appearance, but Bochy remains confident.

“At times he was very good this year,” Bochy said. “He went through a streak there where he was throwing the ball as well as anybody. Toward the end, we made a change there for the postseason and put him in the bullpen, but it’s all about trying to get better and improve as a player and a pitcher and that’s what Timmy is going to do.

“We’ll keep in touch with him, and our conditioning guy will go up there as he does with all players,” Bochy added. “As far as a drastic (change), no I don’t see him doing that.

“Our hope is he bounces back and throws the ball the way he did for about six, seven weeks there. He was really good. I think he’ll come to spring training very determined to get back on track and be the pitcher he is and we know.”