The Giants signed Todd Wellemeyer to a minor league deal, reports Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the deal will be worth at least $1MM if he makes the team, plus performance bonuses. The Giants had been named as the favorite by Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post on Friday.
Wellemeyer, 31, had a decent 2008 season for the Cardinals despite middling peripheral stats. A big innings jump in '08 may have contributed to an elbow injury last year. Wellemeyer's numbers worsened across the board in his '09 walk year, leading to a 5.89 ERA in 122.3 innings. Still, there's nothing to lose for the Giants by signing him to a minor league deal. The Rockies, Mets, Phillies, and D'Backs were also linked to Wellemeyer this winter.
All those left handed batters that he faces will fly out to Eugenio. Until Bummy is ready, good signing.
Mets fans, be happy that this guy did not sign on your team.
Best of wishes to you Todd! I believe he will do well in SF considering he’s a fly ball pitcher. I still think he would’ve fit best with the Mets, but this is another good fit.
San Francisco Giants: Just Finish in Third Place, Baby
Sorry that was supposed to be in reply to the Raiders comment below.
I believe he will do well, perhaps an ERA under 4.00 even.. for Fresno.
Sabean continues his modified Raiders philosophy “Commitment to Mediocrity”
Brian Sabean, Omar Minaya, and Jim Hendry are 28-30 in worst off-seasons this off-season.
Wouldn’t that be 1-3 instead of 28-30? Ok, I know what you’re getting at. Pretty easy to make an argument for either of the 3 for the top spot, but this signing is really a non-issue. It’s not a four-year deal or anything.
yeah I meant 1-3
Not a great move, but not necessarily a bad move, either.
One big thing though is between 2008 and 2009 is his WHIP jumped from 1.25 (which isn’t awful) to 1.77 which is bad.
His GB% went down and his FB% went up (which may not be bad in AT&T Park, but his HR/9 went up too). He did have injury last year, so here’s hoping he can shape up and be a not so bad 5th starter.
I want brad penny back!
He will have a mediocre-but-not-terrible spring, Sabean/Bochy will say he displayed impressive veteran grit, he will bump Bumgarner back to the minors, and Sabean’s plan of preventing any prospect to get a chance next year will be complete.
Anybody else wonder what the Giants are gonna do with a guy that Dave Duncan couldn’t keep under control?
Employ the guy who helped Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez?
Good response, I was just under the impression that Dave Duncan was considered the Gandalf among pitching coaches?
this will probably work out as awesomely as the matt morris deal did.
Wellemeyer to a Minor League deal is no comparison to Matt Morris 3 yr 27 mill
I had this memory removed by a psychiatrist…
Giant’s fans… there is nothing good about this. I know it’s only a minor-league deal, but Wellemeyer is a train wreck. I know he actually won a few games last year, but even those games were painful to watch. Each game he pitched was one of those waiting games, just waiting until he started leaving the ball up or walking every batter.
Your organization would be smart to give him a fake contract scribbled in crayon.
pretty sure that bumgarner going to make the fifth starter if anything wellemeyer will be used in long relief or a slight chance he split starts with bumgarner to minimize the innings and exposure for him
Reallly? Who cares? He signed to a minor league contract. There is no risk in this. Bumgarner is 20 years old, there is no need to rush him. If he does his thing in Fresno, he will be up soon enough and Wellemeyer will not be standing in his way, that’s is Wellemeyer even starts for the Giants.
This is not a bad signing. Bumgarner might not be ready yet. The Giants really don’t have anyone else that can hold down the 5th spot is Bumbarner doesn’t cut it.
Thank you, finally some people who actually make sense, instead of just complaining about every move that is made. The Deal is around the million, if his services are even used, and it is not any kind of long time commitment. just a minor league contract.
Low risk/potentially high reward. Competes for 5th job with Bumgarner. I kinda wanted him to come in to hopefully replace Buckner in AZ but we will see how much Todd can do without Dave Duncan.
this deal sucks. Bumgarner is our #5 guy. I’m tired of our organization always waiting on next year. it’s always “next year”. How much longer do you wanna stress out our starting rotation? They’re not gonna be there forever Giants, lets go!
Goooooo Timmmmyyyy !!!! lol glad they got it squared away.. he will be even better this year