daily news updates

Giants manager Bruce Bochy will retire after the 2019 season" Published on February 19, 2019 at 11:07AM by By Henry Schulman SCOTTDALE, Ariz. — More than 65 players, plus a gaggle of coaches and Giants executives, crammed into the home clubhouse at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday morning for a meeting that occurs 30 times a spring before each major-league team holds its first full-squad workout. Rah-rah speeches are given. Players and coaches are introduced. Perfunctory details about workouts and scheduling are disseminated. Giants players got their first clue that this meeting would be far different when Bruce Bochy walked into the room and became emotional with his first words: “This is the last time I get to do this.

Hunter Pence shares the 2 San Francisco encounters he'll never forget" Published on February 14, 2019 at 11:19PM by Katie Dowd The Giants fan favorite, who signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers last week, penned a tribute to his former club in the Players' Tribune. In it, he revealed two of his favorite San Francisco encounters, both of which are pretty darn cute.

Giants emerge as odds-on favorites to sign Bryce Harper" Published on February 12, 2019 at 05:03AM by By Al Saracevic The Giants have emerged as odds-on favorites to sign Bryce Harper, baseball’s biggest free agent this offseason. According to the online gambling service BetOnline, the Giants are now even money to land the talented Harper, a six-time All-Star and former MVP who last played for the Washington Nationals. Here’s how the line stacks up, according to a release from the betting site: “Who will sign Bryce Harper for the 2019 MLB Season? San Francisco Giants 1/1 San Diego Padres 5/2 Philadelphia Phillies 4/1 Los Angeles Dodgers 15/2 Washington Nationals 10/1” There’s certainly plenty of smoke surrounding a possible deal. Giants management confirmed they met with Harper recently in Las Vegas.

Rangers sign former Giants Hunter Pence" Published on February 08, 2019 at 09:55AM by Chronicle news services Former Giants outfielder Hunter Pence agreed to a minor-league contract with his hometown Texas Rangers and will attend major-league spring training. If added to the 40-man roster, Pence, 35, would get a one-year contract that pays a $2 million salary while in the major leagues. “Thankful for this opportunity and appreciative of where I’ve been,” Pence tweeted. The three-time All-Star played at Texas-Arlington, only a few miles from the Rangers’ home stadium. Houston took him in the second round of the 2004 amateur draft. Pence dealt with a thumb injury early last season, when he played 97 games for the Giants. He hit .226 with four homers and 24 RBIs, all career lows. Pence is a .

Peter Magowan, key leader of SF Giants and Safeway, dies" Published on January 28, 2019 at 11:02AM by By Henry Schulman and Sam Whiting Peter A. Magowan, the charismatic Safeway supermarket magnate and San Francisco Giants owner and executive who fought off relocation of the team and spearheaded construction of their waterfront ballpark, died Sunday afternoon at his home in Pacific Heights. Magowan had been ill for several years, undergoing surgeries for prostate and liver cancer, and had recently gone into hospice care. He died surrounded by family and friends, according to his wife, Debby Magowan. He was 76. Magowan was Safeway’s CEO from 1979 until April 1993, when he began a 15-year tenure as managing general partner of the Giants.

Giants invite top prospect Joey Bart to big-league camp" Published on January 25, 2019 at 07:52AM by By John Shea Catcher Joey Bart, the Giants’ top prospect, will participate in his first big-league camp, training alongside six-time All-Star Buster Posey. Bart tops the list of 18 nonroster players the Giants have invited to camp. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 12 and work out the next day. The first full squad workout is Feb. 18. The second overall pick out of Georgia Tech in June’s draft, Bart received a $7.025 million signing bonus and, after a few games in rookie league, reported to Class A Salem-Keizer, where he had his way with Northwest League pitching. He hit 13 homers and 14 doubles in 45 games. Like Posey, Bart was born in Georgia.

Giants sign pitcher Drew Pomeranz, need outfielders" Published on January 24, 2019 at 11:12AM by By John Shea Since becoming the Giants’ president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi has signed three free-agent pitchers to one-year contracts, including lefty Drew Pomeranz on Wednesday. Zaidi hasn’t filled any outfield holes yet but said after the Pomeranz deal was consummated that he remains optimistic about his options. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in three weeks, and the Giants have one projected starting outfielder, Steven Duggar. “As long as we feel there are good options out there by trade or free agency, the actual pulling of the trigger becomes a little bit less relevant as long as you feel you have some good leads, which I think we do,” Zaidi said. “You don’t want to get in a situation of urgency or even panic.

Giants to honor Peter Magowan on Wall of Fame" Published on January 24, 2019 at 09:12AM by By John Shea The Giants will honor Peter Magowan by adding him on their Wall of Fame, which he created in 2008 in the team’s 50th anniversary year in San Francisco, the team announced Wednesday A ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 9, the morning of the team’s FanFest, at recently renamed Oracle Park. Magowan will be the 53rd person and first non-player on the wall. Giants CEO Larry Baer said as the Giants prepare for their 20th season at the stadium, “It is only fitting that we pay tribute to the man who played a pivotal role in revitalizing our franchise and in turning San Francisco back into a baseball town.

Baseball Hall of Fame: Rivera, Halladay, Martinez, Mussina in; Bonds short" Published on January 23, 2019 at 10:01AM by By John Shea When Mariano Rivera began closing games for the Yankees in 1997, only two relievers were in the Hall of Fame, neither of whom was considered a one-inning specialist. The world has changed in two decades. Relievers are judged along with starters and hitters — even designated hitters — and not only is it acceptable for a closer to make the Hall of Fame, but one has been elected unanimously. Rivera received votes from all 425 eligible members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which announced its results Tuesday. The previous record high was Ken Griffey Jr.’s 99.3 percent. Three voters didn’t check Griffey’s box. To get elected, 75 percent is required.

Giants re-sign 2018 innings leader Derek Holland to one-year deal" Published on January 15, 2019 at 11:08AM by By Henry Schulman Derek Holland has a good sense of humor, so he might appreciate the amusing story twist that Farhan Zaidi’s first significant move as the Giants’ executive hired to make wide-scale changes was bringing back a pitcher whom predecessor Bobby Evans brought into the organization. Evans, the former general manager, hit the jackpot with Holland, getting an innings-eater and clubhouse leader for a relatively paltry $2 million last season. On Monday, the Giants re-signed Holland to a one-year, free-agent contract worth $6.5 million. With a 2020 team option that ranges from a $500,000 buyout to $7 million to $8.5 million depending on how many starts he makes in 2019, Holland could earn as much as $15 million over two years.

Twins finalize deal for reliever Blake Parker" Published on January 15, 2019 at 08:05AM by Associated Press The Twins have completed a $1.8 million, one-year contract with right-hander Blake Parker, the team’s first offseason addition to the bullpen. Parker, 33, could make $1.4 million more in bonuses for days on the active roster. The Twins have an opening for a closer after trading Fernando Rodney to the A’s on Aug. 9. Parker will be in the mix. Garcia to Rays: Avisail Garcia and Tampa Bay agreed to terms on a one-year deal that would pay the former White Sox outfielder $3.5 million next season. Garcia hit a career-high 19 homers last season but slumped to .236 with 49 RBIs in 93 games played.

Giants, closer Will Smith reach deal to avoid arbitration" Published on January 12, 2019 at 11:50AM by By Henry Schulman The Giants kept an impressive streak alive Friday when they reached a one-year contract agreement with closer Will Smith. For the 15th consecutive offseason, the Giants will not take a player into a salary-arbitration hearing. USA Today reported the deal is worth $4.225 million. Smith was the Giants’ only arbitration-eligible player still unsigned ahead of Friday’s deadline for the player and team to submit proposed salaries. If a case goes to a hearing, a three-person arbitration panel picks one figure or the other. Those hearings can get nasty, as players must sit in a conference room and listen to team officials recite all of his shortfalls in a bid to win the case.

As new banners go up, Giants fans react to Oracle Park" Published on January 10, 2019 at 11:27PM by Alyssa Pereira On Thursday morning, Giants stadium staffers took to the front plaza of the ballpark to hang up a new banner: "ORACLE PARK: Home to the San Francisco Giants."

SF Giants’ home now called Oracle Park after AT&T split" Published on January 10, 2019 at 11:15AM by By Henry Schulman Tell AT&T Park goodbye, Giants fans. Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and their mates henceforth will play ball at Oracle Park. The Giants on Thursday will announce a 20-year agreement with the Redwood City technology company to affix its name to their waterfront ballpark in San Francisco. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed, but in an interview Wednesday, Giants President and CEO Larry Baer termed it “very much in line with other recent naming-rights deals for top-tier facilities.” That could make it worth $300 million to $350 million, a significant increase over the roughly $100 million the Giants received over 23 years in the original naming-rights and marketing deal that they signed with an AT&T predecessor in 1996.

Giants acquire utility man Breyvic Valera" Published on January 06, 2019 at 07:47AM by By John Shea The Giants added versatility to their 40-man roster on Saturday by acquiring infielder-outfielder Breyvic Valera from the Orioles for cash considerations. Valera, who turns 27 on Tuesday, could be given a chance to win a utility job. The Venezuelan has played mostly second base in pro ball but has been used at most positions. He began last season with the Dodgers, so he’ll be reunited with Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ new president of baseball operations. Zaidi’s first free-agent signing, ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte, also played for the Dodgers last season. The switch-hitting Valera played 20 games for the Dodgers and hit .172 before being dealt to Baltimore in July as part of the Manny Machado trade. With the Orioles, Valera hit .

Giants sign switch-pitcher Pat Venditte" Published on December 22, 2018 at 08:52AM by By John Shea Pat Venditte often is asked by fans and media about his unique talent to pitch both right-handed and left-handed, and he doesn’t get tired of it. It got him to the big leagues, after all, and it’s why the Giants signed him to a one-year contract on Friday. “It comes with the territory of being different in a game where a lot of things are the same,” Venditte said. “People have curiosities. I don’t mind speaking about it at all.” Venditte, who has pitched for four big-league teams but has just one year and 84 days of service time, signed a major-league deal for $585,000. He’s the first free agent signed by Farhan Zaidi, the new president of baseball operations. The switch-pitcher, who posted a 2.

Giants expected to sign switch-pitcher Pat Venditte" Published on December 20, 2018 at 08:57AM by By John Shea Farhan Zaidi hasn’t filled any holes in the lineup or rotation since becoming the Giants’ president of baseball operations, but he has conducted enough business for fans to realize a direction he’s heading. It’s safe to say Zaidi likes versatile players who provide depth, a trademark with the A’s and Dodgers when he worked in those organizations, and versatility figures to be a Giants attribute in the wake of their 187 losses the past two years. Not involving just hitters, but pitchers as well. Not many pitchers have shown more versatility than Pat Venditte, a right-handed and left-handed reliever who takes right-left splits to another level and is expected to sign a contract with the Giants this week.

Giants add lefty reliever and versatile outfielder in Rule 5 draft" Published on December 14, 2018 at 09:39AM by By Henry Schulman LAS VEGAS — Fourteen players changed teams in the major-league portion of Thursday’s Rule 5 draft, the final event of the 2018 winter meetings. The Giants selected two of the 14, which is unprecedented. The Giants rarely select more than one minor-leaguer in the Rule 5 if they participate at all. In past years, they would come to the meetings with their 40-man roster already full, or close to it. They purged their 40-man roster this fall and had six openings as the meetings began, a sign that new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi believed he could get several prospects from other teams better than the ones the Giants already had.

Giants not focused on Bryce Harper now, but could that change?" Published on December 13, 2018 at 10:33AM by By Henry Schulman LAS VEGAS — As Giants executives old and new sit around the large conference table in their winter-meetings suite, they discuss all manner of pitchers and hitters who can help them. Few if any words are expended on outfielder Bryce Harper, according to those in the room. Does that mean the Giants are out? It’s hard to say because of the way agent Scott Boras operates when he has a client expected to sign for what could be 10 years and close to $300 million. Ownership gets involved, minds get changed and Boras is not shy about waiting until spring training or later to engage or re-engage owners of teams that might not feel good about their chances.

Farhan Zaidi explains why he cut ties with Gorkys Hernandez, Hunter Strickland" Published on December 12, 2018 at 06:12AM by By Henry Schulman LAS VEGAS — Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was asked Monday why he did not tender a contract to outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, who hit 15 home runs last year. Zaidi’s answer underscored the difference between the old and new administrations. “One area we want to look at is improving the offense from a plate-discipline standpoint, even something as basic as walk-strikeout ratio,” Zaidi said, adding that “an ideal combination of on-base percentage and power in the outfield is kind of the ideal.” The Giants non-tendered Hernandez and reliever Hunter Strickland. Both were out of minor-league options, potentially limiting the team’s flexibility during the season, which played into the decisions.