Giants agree to deals with Adrianza, Gearrin
This browser does not support the video element.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants tendered contracts to four salary arbitration-eligible players Friday and agreed to one-year deals with two others, right-hander Cory Gearrin and infielder Ehire Adrianza.
These were largely procedural steps as the Giants approach baseball's Winter Meetings, which begin Monday. MLB.com and MLB Network will have wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 Winter Meetings from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center outside Washington, D.C. Fans can watch live streaming of all news conferences and manager availability on MLB.com, including the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday at 6 a.m. PT.
• Hot Stove Tracker
Ballclubs often decline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players who, in the organization's judgment, aren't worth the salary increase that the arbitration process virtually guarantees. The Giants obviously had no such concern about their players in this category. Gearrin, who made $550,000 last season, and Adrianza, whose salary was $508,000, were expected to command modest pay increases.
This browser does not support the video element.
San Francisco's four remaining arbitration-eligibles are right-hander George Kontos, infielder Conor Gillaspie, third baseman Eduardo Núñez and left-hander Will Smith.
Kontos (3-2, 2.53 ERA, .219 opponents' batting average in 57 games during 2016) and Gearrin (3-2, 4.28 in 56 games) are candidates to help provide the depth that San Francisco's bullpen seeks. Smith (.212 opponents' average, 48 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings) is a proven veteran. Nunez (.288/.325/.432) is a projected regular, though he'll have to compete for playing time with Gillaspie (.262 in 101 games) who excelled in the postseason. Adrianza (.254 in 40 games), when healthy, functions as a handy utility player.
The six Giants avoided joining the list of 35 Major Leaguers who were cast into free agency by not being tendered contracts. That list included some intriguing names, including Welington Castillo, Rubby De La Rosa, Chris Withrow, Alexi Amarista, Tyson Ross, Seth Maness, Ben Revere and former Giants backup catcher Héctor Sánchez.