Giants sign Matt Cain to five-year extension
Deal includes club/vesting player option for 2018
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Giants and Matt Cain have reached an agreement on a five year extension through 2017 with a club/vesting player option for 2018, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
“Ensuring that Matt remained a Giant beyond this season was a top priority for the organization. Matt is an integral part of the team whose performance on the mound will be one of the keys to our success for years to come”, said Sabean.
“The success of our franchise depends on developing and retaining homegrown talent like Matt Cain,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Larry Baer. “I want to commend Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans, Matt and his representatives for their hard work to keep Matt in the Orange and Black. This is an exciting day for Giants fans everywhere and a fantastic way to kick off the 2012 season.”
A two-time All-Star and San Francisco’s longest tenured Giant, Cain is one of the best pitchers in the game, posting a lifetime 3.35 ERA (491er, 1,317.1ip) in 204 games (203 starts) in seven seasons in a Giants uniform. The 27-year-old has crested the 30-start barrier in each of his six full seasons and has posted five-consecutive 200-inning campaigns in each of his last five seasons (2007-11). His career ERA of 3.35 ranks as the ninth-lowest among active pitchers and his 134 quality starts since 2005 are the eighth-most in the big leagues.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander helped guide San Francisco to their first World Series title in San Francisco history in 2010. Throughout the postseason he tossed 21.1 innings without allowing an earned run, the sixth-longest streak to start a postseason career in Major League history and the second-longest in Giants history.
In 2011, Cain logged a 12-11 record with a 2.88 ERA (71er, 221.2ip) in 33 starts and was named to his second career All-Star team (also an All-Star in 2009). His 2.88 ERA was the lowest figure of his career (min. of 10 starts) and ranked eighth overall in the National League. He also led the NL and was tied for third in the Majors with 26 quality starts. His .217 opponents average against was the third-lowest figure among NL pitchers behind 2011 Cy Young winner Los Angeles-NL Clayton Kershaw (.207) and Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (.214).
The 2009 “Willie Mac” Award winner went 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA (4er, 20.2ip) along with 20 strikeouts and just three walks in five Cactus League starts this spring.
The Dothan, AL native graduated from Houston (Germantown, TN) High School in 2002 and was selected by the Giants in the first round (25th overall) in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.