Pedro Feliz, a San Francisco Giants’ third baseman who spent 14 years donning those nasty orange and grey threads, decided the Bay area wasn’t suitable for him anymore ($$$). Did Barry Bond’s steroids taint the training facility’s water? On the next Machochip: True Tales Of Things We Made Up. Anyway, Feliz, who made $5.1 million this year, was looking for an extension on his contract, but was greeted instead with an ultimatum: either take a pay cut or, um, take a pay cut and sign by a certain date.

Feliz was said to be upset with the way the Giants treated him in negotiations after he spent 14 years in the organization, including a two-year offer that he deemed insufficient and a deadline the Giants imposed for Feliz to accept it. His annual salary would have been less than the $5.1 million he earned in 2007. Those close to Feliz believe he will benefit from a change of scenery and by moving to a team that won the National League East last season.

This is a brilliant move. Anyone who plays in San Francisco post apocolypse (1989 World Series earthquake) is crazy. And the Giants aren’t going to win a pennant in the near future because the baseball gods are punishing them. The only thing we’ve got: what took Feliz so damn long?

Feliz heading to Philadelphia [SF Chronicle]
Image [AP]