The Giants have announced a new one-year deal with catcher Nick Hundley, as Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area was among those to tweet. He receives a $2.5MM guarantee in the pact, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on Twitter.
Hundey, 34, has spent the bulk of his career in the NL West. The ten-year MLB veteran will return for a second run with the Giants. With the move, San Francisco has lined up its reserve for star backstop Buster Posey.
Though he has rarely received anything approaching everyday playing time, Hundley has long been a heavily utilized piece. He has averaged nearly 300 plate appearances annually, with a lifetime .249/.300/.406 batting line.
For the most part, it was a typical season for Hundley in 2017. He strode to the plate 303 times and ended with a .244/.272/.418 output that was shy, but within range of, his career mean.
San Francisco will hope for a bit more bat, though palatable offensive output is only a part of the value of the respected veteran. Hundley is valued for his presence in the clubhouse and with the pitching staff. While he has never fared well in framing ratings, he does otherwise grade as a sturdy option behind the dish.
pustule bosey
personally I would think it makes more sense to save the money and bring up garcia but maybe they don’t see him as ready yet?
ck420
Huntley is a solid back up, be happy.
casey
He isn’t ready. Maybe will be in a year.Hundley is solid.
Matt Pilatzke
1. This isn’t the NFL. You can’t bring along a rookie catcher by sitting 3 out of every 4 days.
2.. If you really think he’s the long term answer at catcher, you wait to start his clock until Posey is ready to play first full time.
3. He can a lot more out of playing 3 out of 4 at AAA.
4. 89 ABs at Double AA is not enough for MLB at the plate or behind it.
Dodgethis
So never then? Posey is a hall of fame catcher, he’s not moving to 1b. I would of thought belts deal made that clear.
gmenfan
Belt will not finish out his deal in SF.
sacball
Garcia’s had 89 at bats at AA and by all accounts his bat is ahead of his glove, I wouldn’t expect to see him until the middle of 2019.
g55s
Good signing. Now get us a CF and 3B!!
amendoza1539
The have a 3rd base man… THE PANDA!!!
outinleftfield
How about a trade that sends Panik and a couple of prospects to the Marlins for Yelich, Prado, Zeigler, and Castro?
Dodgethis
Because that’s terrible for the giants. Outside of yelich they don’t want any of those guys.
Frank kemble
Hundley was actually one of my higher free agent bargains. When I looked at what he has brought, when he’s actually got the at bats and got to play, he has been a great backup. Hits left handed…honestly could have been a starter for many years and been more productive with more at bats. Steal for the Giants – I thought he would have made a good fit in Denver before they brought back Iannetta.
pustule bosey
left handed = not great for the giants
sddew
He’s not left-handed…or are you trying to say he hits left-handed pitching?
pustule bosey
“Hits left handed…honestly could have been a starter for many years”
left handed power doesn’t play to AT&T
timyanks
hit right handed, according to the espn story on his struggles against kenley jensen
RiverCatsFilms
Sweet!
terry g
Good re signing for the Giants. It’s not an exciting signing but it is a needed signing all the same.
Francys01
Good to see him back with the Giants. He expressed desire to return to the San Francisco Giants because he felt comfortable playing there. Good signing.
kaskro
Hundley is alright, but what about Trevor Brown?
vpolite
Trevor regressed at AAA last season.
Deke
Yeah. I think he saw less playing time too. Weird he looked okay when he was up playing for the giants. Not sure what happened there?
sacball
concussion issues
vpolite
Concussion issues will do that.
Deke
Oh wow. Thanks for the info. Poor guy. Hope he bounces back!
sfg415sfc
So no more Eli? Oh I’ve got to stop living in the past.
giantsnut57
OPEN UP MY EEEEAGER EYEEES…. I’M ELI WHITESIDE
vpolite
Elis coming hide your heart girl.
lanceparrish
This puts us over the top!
Solaris601
With the $15-17M the Giants still have to play with I think they could add Todd Frazier at 3B, Howie Kendrick in the OF, and MAYBE Brian Duensing or Craig Stammen in the pen. Might be difficult to do all that for under $17M, but all the guys I mentioned are very likely to be bargains left on the market in the coming weeks.
outinleftfield
Sign Dyson in CF then trade Belt for Bradley and sign Adams.
The Oregonian
The Sox resigned Moreland, that ship has sailed.
lowtalker1
Just needs to latch on the dbacks
brat922
Terrific bargain and great guy all around. Now let’s keep shopping!!
greg 14
they’ll hold him all winter, hoping that someone who doesn’t get what they like in the FA market will see Kemp as a not horrible part time DH. Then they’ll buy down the contract and throw in a prospect to move him. Or they’ll just cut him. no way he ever puts on a LAD uni again.
shelteredsoxfan
Stanton was just a smokescreen… hundleys the real big bat the giants need
williemaysfield
He won the williemac award last year. That says a lot about his character in the clubhouse. Decent role player.
Now get a plus defensive cf.
jonnyblah
Nice! I really hoped he’d come back. A good backup catcher and a quality clubhouse guy.
TNE
This ‘clubhouse presence’ thing here feels like giving some half-wit kindergartner an A for effort because he finally spelled cat correctly after a few years of work.
vpolite
My, my… Somebody is constipated today. Why do d-bags always feel the need to comment.
malbuff
Good isolated power for a low OBP guy and by all accounts a good guy to have on your side. Nice signing, no fuss. Now let’s get someone to play CF. At least!
vpolite
So, you commented 3 times today.