Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
What was a deadline doubled as a starting line.
The Giants had work to do in deciding by Wednesday’s 5 p.m. cutoff which arbitration-eligible players to tender contracts to. Their choices were less eye-opening than the roster-cleanup they did simultaneously.
When the smoke cleared, starting pitcher Tyler Anderson and infielder Daniel Robertson were nontendered. But also in that class were fireballing prospect Melvin Adon, righty reliever Rico Garcia and depth catcher Chadwick Tromp, creating five slots in what was a maxed-out 40-man roster on a day upwards of 60 players around MLB were nontendered.
The Giants have been quiet in free agency, only re-signing Kevin Gausman and scooping up third baseman Jason Vosler on major league deals this offseason. That should change soon, with a sea of players (outfielders David Dahl or Kyle Schwarber?) available for affordable contracts that reflect the pandemic’s effect on 2020 revenues.
But first, the players still on the club’s roster: Outfielders Darin Ruf, Alex Dickerson and Austin Slater, lefties Jarlin Garcia and Wandy Peralta and righty Trevor Gott all were retained on one-year pacts that help both sides avoid arbitration.
It is possible the Giants go to arbitration with infielder Donovan Solano and righty Reyes Moronta, who were tendered contracts but did not sign. Both sides have room and time to haggle before the last-ditch that is an independent arbitrator.
Perhaps the players who did sign could have made more in arbitration, but at a time when so many around the game are worried about financial and job security, there were six agreements made with the club.
Ruf, who was a coin-toss decision because rosters are believed to be shrinking next season and the DH may not return to the National League, was held on to for $1.275 million, a source said. The 34-year-old will bring his big bat back to San Francisco, as he wanted, and hopes to re-form a platoon in left with the similarly tendered Dickerson. In the Giants’ announcement, Ruf was listed as an outfielder and not first baseman.
Dickerson agreed to terms for a reported $2.1 million after the 30-year-old slashed .298/.371/.576 in 52 games — significant for a slugger dogged by injury concerns — and showed the club that his offensive prowess is for real.
Slater, who made a case that he was turning into an All-Star before injuries swallowed his season, also will return on a reported $1.15 million pact.
On the pitching side, Jarlin Garcia’s deal is for a reported $950,000, Gott’s for $700,000 and Peralta’s for $925,000. Garcia was nearly flawless, Gott showed flashes but blowups, too, and Peralta was trusted by Gabe Kapler in the fifth and sixth innings. Gott is the biggest surprise of the bunch after his struggles, but the Giants have always liked his stuff.
Anderson was the lone arbitration-eligible starter and hits the market after a just-fine season in which he pitched to a 4.37 ERA and struck out 40 in 59 2/3 innings. He was recovering from knee surgery and showed solid, if inconsistent, stuff, but there are many starter fliers available in free agency. After Drew Smyly left, Anderson was the only southpaw on the staff, so Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris will be busy.
Robertson, the pickup from the Rays, played well in his 13 games last season but is another righty bat in an infield chock full of them (Solano, Wilmer Flores, Mauricio Dubon, Evan Longoria).
Where this leaves the Giants is possibly negotiating with the nontendered. Anderson was re-signed (for less than he would have received in arbitration) after his nontender last year; they liked Robertson and his defensive flexibility in his brief stint; perhaps Tromp, Adon and Rico Garcia can be brought back on minor league deals.
Where this leaves the Giants is, they hope, hammering out deals for Solano (who won a Silver Slugger) and Moronta, coming off shoulder surgery.
And where this leaves the Giants is sifting through a loaded righty relief class and a list of intriguing outfielders who could call Oracle Park home.