The San Francisco Giants bring back both Bruce Bochy and Hunter Pence to the fold. It's a familiar pattern for management--Felipe Alou was retained after his replacement and Dusty Baker returned after his falling out. The front office is littered with former coaches and players. That's a good thing. I like organizations that conserve resources. People are the resource. If you put that much faith in someone, even if you part ways or change the relationship, they still have "the stuff" that made you believe in them in the first place! I'm glad Boch isn't going to another organization. He has a lot of baseball wisdom. Some of these so-called old school guys are human calculators. Boch knew all the odds. The saber-istas use a run expectancy matrix and linear weights and whatnot but ol' Bruce had all that in his gigantic head already. He'd been collecting the data and analyzing it for years. I'll bet he asks the best questions in the meetings with the analytics gang. Plus, he's known for his character and personality, and you can never have too much of that.
Hunter Pence figured out how to have a second act in baseball. That is no mean feat. I hope he can keep it rolling. In a part-time role, especially against lefties, there's a good chance he will. Expect a lot of platooning and creative lineups this season.
I said in the comments that I think FNG Gabe Kapler sees a kindred spirit in Pence. Kapler lacks Pence's charm but he has the same relentlessly positive outlook. The new skipper's intensity will be a good thing for the many young players in camp, and Pence will embody the ethos enthusiastically. I think it's a good mix.
--M.C.
p.s. I neglected to mention that Boch is returning as a "special adviser" which is the best job title ever.
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With the injury to Aramis Garcia the Giants added another catcher to camp, 20-year old Ricardo Genovese (turns 21 in May). He was signed as an amateur in Venezuela when he was 17 and was in A-ball last season. He's not going to make the big club. I believe he will be subject to the Rule 5 draft this year. He gets a chance to learn from the big boys.
Giants grab southpaw Jarlin Garcia off waivers and DFA righty Burch Smith. Jarlin is a groundball type and was a 0.5-1.0 WAR reliever for the Marlins in 50 IP last year.
García appears poised to compete with fellow lefties Wandy Peralta, Andrew Suárez and non-roster invitee Jerry Blevins for a spot in the Giants’ bullpen this spring. He is out of options, meaning that if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, the Giants will not be able to send him to the Minors without first exposing him to waivers.
I took this from the website article.
Giants need lefties. I note the author (Guardado) did not mention Sam Selman. I suppose he's projected to start the season in AAA.
Giants sign Trevor Cahill to a minors deal.
He'll be in camp to compete for a spot. He has been a starter mostly but has relief experience. You can never have enough pitchers, right?
The Flores deal is official. 2 years $6+M with option for a third. He hits lefties and plays all over the diamond. It is the first multi-year deal of the FZ/Harris regime.
Switch-hitting Yolmer Sanchez is also in camp but on a minors deal. He is supposedly a great glove at 2B but his bat is suspect. He'll have to hit well to make the roster.
It seems the Wilmer Flores signing was delayed because today is the first day you can put a guy on the 60-man IL. So Reyes Moronta goes there to clear a roster spot for Flores.
Pillar a Red Sox player now.
MLBTR says 1 yr $4M.
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