The Giants have reached agreement on a minors deal with lefty Fernando Abad, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). The deal will not include a MLB camp invite; Abad would earn a $800K salary in the majors.
Abad, 33, had seen big league time in eight-straight seasons before falling short in 2018. He might well have been back in the bigs at some point, but it emerged during camp that he was facing a lengthy PED suspension. Abad was ultimately hit with an 80-game ban that sidelined him for most of the year. He did not sign with a team thereafter.
Over 317 2/3 total innings at the game’s highest level, Abad carries a 3.65 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9. Historically, he has been quite a bit more effective against opposing lefty hitters (.237/.287/.383; 144:31 K/BB) than those who own the platoon advantage (.258/.338/.412; 127:82 K/BB).
If he can force his way into the competition, Abad could join a long list of competitors for pen roles. Beyond a reasonably lengthy slate of existing hurlers with at least some MLB experience, newcomers include Rule 5 pick Travis Bergen, switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, DFA trade acquisitions Jake Barrett and Trevor Gott, and minor-league signees Nick Vincent and Keyvius Sampson. There may not be many open spots up for grabs at the moment, but that could change if the club swings late deals on its best relievers.
findingnimmo
I’m going for it……that’s not “abad “ signing
DarkSide830
dang it, i thought the same thing
sufferforsnakes
Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’re abad person…..just slower.
odogfenway
Him and posey will make a good Baddery
jleve618
I came here just to see someone say that. Every time.
Cuso
A bad signing?
Ba-dum womp womp
acarneglia
Feel like the Giants are making a lot of signings but none of them are difference makers
ben w.
I feel like this a precursor to the Giants losing out on Harper, and then turning around and trading Smith, Watson, or Dyson for an outfielder. In a KNBR interview, Zaidi mentioned something about perhaps needing to switch gears if Harper didnt work out. It was a couple days after it leaked they were in Vegas.
Bagel
When does the dumpster diving end?
adshadbolt1
Never remember how the dodgers have like 40 pitchers a year play for the big league club, zaidi is doing the same thing here
Bagel
Fair enough. I use to think that was because most of their pitching staff would be injured in the first few months.
Dodgethis
No it was the Dodgers gaming the new rules. None of their pitchers were injured, they would pitch a few games and go on DL for rest or soreness.
Begamin
After spring training. a lot of MiLB deals happen every year around this time
bigkempin
Zaidi had a history of dumpster diving in LA but he always seemed to find a gem or 2.
xXabial
doesnt hurt to look for lost gold most of zaidi signs fools
gold though
Chicks Dig the Longball
How does he know Harper?
DarkSide830
they were teammates in 2013
Z-A 2
waiting for someone to make abad joke…
Keywords for MLBTR in no particular order Giants, Harper, Abad, Signing
RiverCatsFilms
Wasn’t this reported by @giantsprospects yesterday?
SFGiantsfan28
The dumpster diving continues
Solar Flare
Fernando made abad decision last year.
Monkey’s Uncle
Luckily for him, the suspension doesn’t appear to have given him Abad reputation since he was able to find work.
pustule bosey
that along with all the others is just abad pun.
BlueJayFan1515
This is going to be such Abad team next year.
commentinggenius
lol. how bad will the Jays be? Probably similar
washington_bonercats
Probably worse…
shane
At least there’s reason to be optimistic.
That’s what they keep telling us anyway.
BlueJayFan1515
Probably putrid. Who cares though, it’s not relevant to the joke…
commentinggenius
my abad
nuschler22
So is his suspension considered complete?
Monkey’s Uncle
I think so although the article doesn’t make that completely clear. I don’t think that a player has to be under contract to serve a suspension.
luckyh
He was Abad for the Red Sox, maybe he will be abetter for them.
biffpocoroba
Jeff already touched on this, but these moves are consistent with Zaidi’s model, and also make sense if you’re about to trade away your valuable lefty bullpen pieces (Smith, Watson) to contenders for valuable prospects at the end of Spring Training.
Of course, you’d only do this once it became clear that you’re not getting Harper and won’t be expected to seriously contend. If they get Harper, you wouldn’t expect to see Smith and Watson sent anywhere.
Rickey O'Sunnyvale
My dad used to have a Smith and Watson revolver.
Mrtwotone
That was horrible but I laughed anyway
Hondo_Lane
Faidi may be the new guy, but he seems to think 30 is the new 20 like the guy he replaced.
commentinggenius
Zaidi**** and not really since these are MINOR league contracts.
Hondo_Lane
Oh well then signing 30 somethings doesn’t count if its minor leagues
commentinggenius
do you understand how a rebuild works?
Hondo_Lane
Is a rebuild when the GM trades valuable veterans for young prospects, or is it signing 30+ year olds up for the minor league system?
pustule bosey
yeah why isn’t zaidi signing prospects to minor league deals #nothowitworks
gmenfan
Sorry to break this to you, but the Giants have only two valuable veterans (Bum, Smith) that could be traded for prospects of note. And the return on either would probably not be worth the return given the market.
Hondo_Lane
I like Raidi. Inspires confidence in a difficult position. Ex-doodger guy too. He wont get fired.
commentinggenius
I wouldnt be surprised to see him make some trades after ST when needs start to arise. He could be waiting out the market to get the best return. Most players hitting the free agent market are 30+
ABStract
Yeah, all these signings will look good during the season whether they’re good and actually helping the Giants to a decent record, or if the record isn’t good, they can trade away good performers for prospects…that’s what teams in a kinda rebuild have to do
Hondo_Lane
There was a whole room full of biased doodger fans hosting MLB Network Radio last night paranoid the Giants might get Harper and win another World Series while doodgers continue to come up short.
Their opinion was if the doodgers equal whatever it is the Giants offer there is no way Harper goes to the deteriorating ice berg that is San Francisco.
And warm blooded Vegas boy Harper would never want to play in the arctic climate of San Francisco. lol
TrusttheprocessSF
How can this day get any better . A hot women touched my shoulder, and the giants signed Abad !!!! Love it
Lefty Grove’s right hand
Giants made a couple of nice minor league signing for their bullpen today. Vincent and Abad can be nice serviceable relief arms.
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Signing Fernando is AGood.
Central Valley
I have used trash cans if the Giants want them for their outfield in 2019? They’ll look good on that brand new scoreboard in that paid off ballpark.
Seriously though, the Giants are going to be riddled with injuries this year. All these old guys will not hold up, never mind being productive.
gmenfan
“All these old guys wont hold up.”
Then go on to criticize depth moves.
Gotcha.
digimike
Heeeeeyyy Abad!
Who’s on first?
Wade Herbers
Few years back he was lights out for the Twins up til the break..then they traded him for a bucket of bubble gum to Boston if memory is correct.
Monkey’s Uncle
In their defense, it was really tasty bubble gum.