Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Vogt knows what he means to the Bay Area, and the popular catcher wanted to properly say goodbye.
After he agreed to a one-year deal with a vesting option for a second year with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, the now former A and Giant said thank you to just about everyone.
“I can’t begin to thank all of my teammates, coaches, front office, clubhouse staff, trainers and FANS enough for everything this past season,” wrote Vogt, who had expressed a desire to go to a team he thought could reach the World Series. “It was a season my family and I will always remember. Words will never express the gratitude we feel for the opportunity to be a Giant. There are many things we will miss in SF and we will treasure every memory. Thank you to all the people who had a hand in that.”
Vogt fit so well with the Giants, a lefty bat who complemented Buster Posey well and a flexible fielder who played left field and first base, too. Farhan Zaidi has gone on record saying he’s interested in finding someone to back up Posey, and the options are dwindling as Yasmani Grandal (White Sox), Travis d’Arnaud (Braves), Mike Zunino (Rays) and Dustin Garneau (Astros) are off the board.
Drew Pomeranz is heading to an NL West rival, too.
The flier of a signing last offseason, who paid off when the Giants converted him to a reliever and sent him, along with Ray Black, to the Brewers in exchange for Mauricio Dubon at the trade deadline, has landed with the Padres, according to multiple reports.
Pomeranz was brilliant with Milwaukee, striking out 45 in 26 1/3 innings, and reportedly scored a four-year deal.
According to MLB.com, the Orioles are working to trade Dylan Bundy, who would make sense for the Giants. The righty starter, in the upper echelon of fastball spin and a former fourth-overall pick, has never turned the corner in Baltimore. He’s entering his second year of arbitration and is expected to make about $5.7 million next season, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
The 27-year-old is coming off another poor season in which he had a 4.79 ERA and a home run problem that hasn’t gone away. But taking him out of Camden Yards and the AL East for a pitching haven like Oracle Park might intrigue Farhan Zaidi, who needs starters.