The Giants have officially struck a one-year deal with catcher Nick Hundley, as Andrew Baggarly of the Bay Area News Group first reported (via Twitter). The contract is believed to include a $2MM guarantee. per Baggarly.
Hundley, 33, certainly seems destined to function as the backup to star catcher Buster Posey. San Francisco would otherwise have likely held a spring competition for that role, with incumbent Trevor Brown joined by minor-league signees Tim Federowicz and Josmil Pinto in the mix. Instead, the organization will take a rather well-stocked group of receivers into the spring’s activities.
[Related: Updated Giants Depth Chart]
The veteran Hundley has at times shown an approximately league-average bat, but he wasn’t quite to that standard last year by measure of park-adjusted metrics like OPS+ (88) and wRC+ (82). Over the past two seasons, which he spent with the Rockies, he slashed a combined .282/.330/.455 while adding 18 home runs over 615 plate appearances. Though Coors Field obviously inflated those figures, Hundley certainly produced at a solid rate for his position.
Teams weighing a bigger commitment to Hundley were, perhaps, less enthused of his defense. Accurately valuing the tools of ignorance remains a difficult task — particularly in areas such as game preparation, pitcher motivation, and pitch-calling — but he hasn’t rated well in the more measurable areas. Hundley threw out just nine of the 66 baserunners who attempted to steal against him last year (14 percent) and drew poor reviews for his framing (see Baseball Prospectus; Stat Corner), though BP also has typically credited him as doing a solid job of handling balls in the dirt. It’s worth noting that he did prevent out 34 percent of stolen-base attempts against him in an all-around superior 2015 season and does have a solid 27 percent mark in for his career in that regard.
All told, the signing seems to work out well for San Francisco, which can rely on the established veteran at a fairly meager commitment. Brown, meanwhile, can continue to work on his hitting in the upper minors, with the bat-first Pinto perhaps seeking to refine his work behind the dish and Federowicz providing additional depth.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What a deal!
You’re going to need at least 3 competent catchers over the course of a 162 game season. You can’t have too much depth at that position.
But why though
The Giants are really cornering the market on the “but why though” deals this offseason
Wtf? Giants have been a bit silent but solid this off season. You must have been the only guy in the world saying “but why” did they sign an AS closer at a solid price. They also made a nice lil signing on the KBO 3B. No skin off their back if he doesn’t come through.
Now saying “but why” did they sign a decent backup catcher… haha. These “fans”. Not too quick on the uptake
I obviously didn’t question Melancon signing.
Because they don’t have the level of offense that can carry 50 games of a .235/.285/.330 line, especially if you’re getting that line in left everyday already. I like Brown, but he’s not a guy that you want gettingredients 200 at bats a year.
I don’t want him getting ingredients either. F’ING autocorrect.
Because they just got a good backup catcher for $2 million? Posey can’t catch every day…
at first it seemed a bit puzzling but I think us giant fans are used to having a glut of more than servicable catchers with sanchez and susac having been really nice backups. trevor brown isn’t terrible but hundley definitely provides an upgrade.
I think that they want Trevor Brown to play every day?
Solid backup to posey.
Regardless of their motivation to sign Hundley, it’s call for celebration that they DIDN’T sign Saltalamacchia.
I interpret this signing as a sign that Posey will be spending more time at first base as he continues to get older to keep him fresh
He’s best friends with Melancon as well.
Had to look up where they might have played together, because off the top of my head I drew a blank. They both played at University of Arizona, is that where they bonded? Seems like they’ve been in different systems as pros. And also, how did you know this? Ha!
Weiters Market is slim & none
& slim just left town.
I think if the Angels can get a good price he is a fit there
I don’t think the Giants signing Hundley takes a suitor out of the race for Wieters, they were never suitors for him. There’s still a few potential fits for him, like the Rockies, Angels, Orioles, and Nationals.
And it also takes a decent option off the market for the teams that possibly have interest in Weiters.so if anything,it helps him.
Great signing for the Giants. The Giants are smart and do things well. Hundley is a good piece for them. I was hoping the Jays would sign Hundley.
Nice upgrade to Posey Giants got a great deal. lol. This guy is not gonna get more than a few games of playing time.
He might get 50 games if Posey spends a little time at first mixed in with his off days.
Posey played 123 games at catcher last year, the most of his career. Giants are clearly trying to unload Posey with a quality back up
Wow. This increases the odds of the big Posey-to-Braves trade for Rio Ruiz and a couple of can’t-miss p0st-TJ/TOS pitching projects.
(Increases the odds to about 1 percent….)
the giants will trade posey the same way that the dodgers will trade kershaw… like a 0.00000000001% chance
So…. you’re saying there’s a chance? 😉
lol
Watching the Cubs last year showed how having 2 quality catchers can really improve what a team can do. Obviously the Cubs were good everywhere, but after rewatching game 7 of the WS, it was something that stood out to me.
This and the KBO 3rd baseman the Giants just signed makes me feel a little better about having a good bench beyond Tomlinson.
The Cubs actually used three catchers in game 7
Signing Hundley provides the Giants with an opportunity to play Posey more at first base or at DH during inner-league.
Great backup option to have.
I love this deal for the Giants, but why did Hundley take a back up role behind one of the most capable catchers in the game? Seems like, for his sake, he could have signed with a team providing more playing time.
Ring > playing time
Well. It’s not an even year. Usually WS winning teams have second basemen and center fielders and left fielders and third basemen.
Because Hundley is a team player, always has been. I think he just loves the game and wants to be part of a contending team (unlike my home team, SD.)
Why are they avoiding a outfielder…….????? That is there biggest need
A) they don’t have the prospects to facilitate a trade for a significant outfielder.
B) they didn’t have the financial space to bring in Melancon AND a big bat in left.
C) there are very few free agent outfielders remaining, even fewer which would be a significant upgrade.
This strategy is called “getting creative.” If you can’t upgrade your biggest need in one move, then make several small upgrades to take up the slack.
Hes a Corvallis, OR native which means this was his like hometown team. Mix that in with playing with Melancon and I bet he turned down less money to play in SF. It’s a great situation for him. On top of that the Giants are a winning organization.