The Giants have agreed to a contract with right-hander Nick Vincent, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic tweets. Vincent will join the MLB side of camp, but on a minor-league deal, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).
Vincent, 32, owns a sparkling 3.17 ERA over his 332 total MLB innings, so the track record of outcomes is certainly an appealing one. He ended the 2018 campaign with a personal-worst 3.99 ERA, though, and ended up being non-tendered when the Mariners decided not to pay a projected $3.5MM salary.
Given the outcome of his foray onto the open market, MLB teams aren’t terribly optimistic as to Vincent’s ability to keep up his career earned run average. The signing seems like quite a nice move from the Giants’ perspective, though, as Vincent has not only managed to find success over a long stretch but has been supported (at times, at least) by a closer examination.
Vincent, in fact, is something of a darling of certain ERA estimators, though that’s due more to his earlier-career combination of excellent K/BB rates and low home run tallies. More recently, Vincent has proven less than immune to the long ball. Still, metrics have generally valued him as a useful pitcher — including both last year (3.75 FIP, 4.51 xFIP, 3.72 SIERA) and over his full career to date (3.09 FIP, 3.85 xFIP, 3.27 SIERA).
Statcast, likewise, gives cause for optimism. Vincent has been among the league’s best at limiting exit velocity over the past two seasons. During the Statcast era, opposing hitters have managed only a .283 wOBA against Vincent. And that’s actually just a shade higher than the .279 xwOBA that the computers would have anticipated.
cleribe
It’s the year of MiLB deals.
Begamin
eh, i figure there are as many MiLB deals as every other year
canocorn
Expect tidal waivers too
TrusttheprocessSF
Yes !!! Just give us the trophy already. Signing nick made us instant champions!
basebaIl1600
Dodger troll disguised as a giants account
Yelsnit
But But But……it’s an odd year!
basebaIl1600
Farhan a couple days ago: “We are done adding depth. We will now focus on our primary targets” Farhan today: “Nick Vincent sounds like a good idea”
Comrade Tipsy McStagger
Ask him if he can hit.
Solar Flare
More like ask him if he can play in the outfield. I do get what you say, though, because their offense is garbage.
nutbunnies
I am so sick of players having an OK to bad year after years of good production and all they get is a minor league deal. MLB has to answer for what it is doing to the market.
Begamin
I think the answer is “supply and demand”
Chicks Dig the Longball
You better get use to it. This seems to be the new norm. Why guarantee money when it can be all based on what you provide?
Deke
I agree. It’s like a player could hit .280 for a few years, have one good year where they hit .320 but follow that up with .280 and they are suddenly considered washed up. Yet if the player just consistently hit .280 they would be considered “solid”. Any player can have a rough year, doesn’t mean they should be relegated to a minors deal.
Begamin
can you give a case example for the player you described in the scenario?
thecoffinnail
Vincent getting a minor league deal has less to do with his past results and more to do with teams using the AAA shuttle more and more for their middle relief pitchers. Vincent is not and never was a high leverage backend bullpen pitcher. Why should teams give him a couple of million guaranteed when they can get similar production from league minimum AAA guys?
Sadler
-coffin
I expect by the next CBA, the 10 day DL is gone and they’re back to the 15 day (or even the old 21 day) DL to reduce this sort of thing.
clepto
wow, please tell us your views on economics too! please!
-patiently waiting for this fine anti-capitalistic gem
sfjackcoke
Actually the issue here is the MLBPA has done a terrible job serving rank & file union members, minimum wage for yr 1-3 players is $550K and as a result they are cannibalizing MLB middle class free agents.
MLBPA has always tried to get stars paid with the idea that rising tides lifts all boats…. turns out it doesn’t
ABStract
I think it’s funny that the guy defending capitalism is named “Clepto”…ironic
clepto
not defending anything, just waiting for a high quality lecture on economics from einstein
Chicks Dig the Longball
There goes the Harper money
gmenfan
Can he bat cleanup ?
thecoffinnail
Sure he can. He is a true 3 outcome hitter. He will either K, pop up, or ground out every time.
pustule bosey
seems like a good guy for at&t…. er oracle.
HBan22
Surprised this guy couldn’t get a major league deal. He’s been rock solid for years.
Hondo_Lane
Is Vincent the piece of the puzzle that gets the Giants into the postseason? Probably not. Might need a time machine for that?
biffpocoroba
He’s exactly the kind of guy you’d add if Dyson was likely to be traded before they break camp.
Tony the man
I assume with all these relief pitchers were going trade one or two of them for a outfielder.I hope lol