Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Looking back at the 2019 Giants, with an eye toward the future. Previously: Stephen Vogt, Madison Bumgarner, Will Smith, Pablo Sandoval. Abad is the final free agent.
With so many players shuffling in and out, a few poor weeks leading to one flier being dumped and another added, the goal of the 2019 Giants became more about discovery than winning. They tried to find guys who either had not been given the chance elsewhere or could not capitalize on the chance elsewhere, becoming an equal-opportunity outfit: If you could perform, you stayed. It was less about giving youth a chance and more about giving potential talent a chance.
And that’s where Fernando Abad fit.
The lefty reliever did not get his first crack in the majors with the Giants until Aug. 15, but do not mistake him with a rookie finally breaking in. The 33-year-old has done and seen plenty, bouncing in and out of the league over the past few seasons after debuting all the way back in 2010. He had a solid 2017 season with Boston and then was suspended the following season for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. He pitched in Independent ball trying to navigate his way back to the Show.
He became another Farhan Zaidi why-not, signed in February and putting up impressive numbers with Triple-A Sacramento until his call-up. And while it’s a small sample size — 21 big-league games and 13 innings — the veteran free agent made a quiet case that he should be brought back and in the mix for a wide-open bullpen next season.
When Abad posted a 3.30 ERA in 43 2/3 innings for the ’17 Red Sox, he relied on a fastball that averaged 91.5 mph. This season, at 33, the velocity spiked to a career-high 93.3. The Giants used him in slightly more limited situations — in 21 appearances, he came on for one batter eight times, and perhaps he could rear back a bit more. Either way, he was effective.
In all, he allowed six runs in 13 innings (4.15 ERA), but got better as the season wound down, surrendering a single run in his last eight games and 4 1/3 innings. He became more of a lefty specialist than single-inning eater, a niche job he would probably be better qualified for next season. This year, he was effective against batters from both sides of the plate but deathly against lefties, who slashed .172/.200/.276 against him. In 29 plate appearances, opposing lefties struck out eight times. Abad K’d just one right-handed batter in 19 plate appearances.
While opponents’ 40.5 percent hard-hit rate is concerning, the fact they smacked so many of them into the ground (62.2 percent) is encouraging. The harder four-seamer, with good sinking action, created a ton of groundouts.
In his brief comeback season, Abad raised his value to the point he likely will have a major league job to begin 2020 and won’t be stuck at Triple-A again. Will that next chance come in San Francisco?
There are so many uncertainties with the Giants’ bullpen, which reinvented itself (in small thanks to Abad) following the trade deadline and will have to find itself again to start next year. Will Smith is likely to receive a qualifying offer and is a decent bet to return. Tony Watson is an unknown with an opt-out. Apart from that, under contract are Sam Coonrod, Jandel Gustave, Tyler Rogers, Burch Smith, Andy Suarez, Kyle Barraclough, Sam Selman, Wandy Peralta and Enderson Franco. Of that group, Suarez, Selman and Peralta are southpaws (as as Smith and Watson).
In his brief time in the majors, Abad made a nice case for a 2020 role — but probably can find a more assured one elsewhere.