RIP Peter Magowan

The man who saved Giants baseball passed away today at the age of 76. Apparently he had cancer. I remember coming out of the men's room at MoMo's once and a guy in a pink shirt was coming in at the same time and brushed past me. I realized a second later it was Peter Magowan! Another time I was going down an escalator at the ballpark and saw him going up on the other side. I tried to holler "hey Peter, thanks for everything!" but it all happened too fast and I never got the chance to get it out. But if I could have talked to the man, even for the briefest moment, I would have said those very words: thanks for everything. Magowan put the Giants back on the map after they nearly fell off forever. He put together the ownership group to keep the team in San Francisco. He signed Barry Bonds to the biggest contract in baseball and presided over a resurgent club that competed for the playoffs. He put together the money and the political will to build the new park. He also hired all the guys who later built the championship teams. That's quite a legacy and this fan won't forget. My thoughts go out to his friends and family.

Requiescat in pacem, Mr. Magowan.

--M.C.

Giants Take the Fifth

In the 2010 June draft the first player taken was Bryce Harper. The third pick was Manny Machado. The Giants don't figure to be in on either of those marquee free agents so they went with the next best thing: the fifth pick in that same draft. That fellow is lefty Drew Pomeranz. In both 2016 and 2017 Pomeranz was a 3-WAR pitcher (with the Padres and the Red Sox). His 2018 season was a forgettable one as he battled injuries and was ultimately let go. The 30-year old is guaranteed only $1.5M but incentives can make the deal worth up to $5M. This is a low-risk move that can potentially add another intriguing rotation piece and/or mid-season trade chip. MLBTR has the details.

--M.C.

Dutch_Oven45

Giants re-sign Derek Holland. Holland was roughly a 2-WAR player last season and the lefty led the team with 171-1/3 IP. The deal, if the option for next season is picked up and all the performance incentives are met, maxes out at $15M. Figure they are on the hook for about $8M, not a bad risk for one year. He gives the team a predictable rotation piece as well as a potential mid-season trade chip.

--M.C.

NYSE: ORCL

PhoneCo is no mo--Giants tap Big O. 

In the I'm-not-sure-it-matters-much Department, our ballpark will be getting a new name, its fourth. PacBell Park morphed into SBC Park and then into AT&T Park. Next up: Oracle Park. Time for a nickname contest!

--M.C.