The Giants have signed infielder Andres Blanco to a minor league contract, Jon Heyman of FanRag tweets. Blanco’s deal includes an invitation to big league camp. He’ll receive a $1.1MM salary and $400K-plus in incentives if he makes the Giants’ roster. Otherwise, the contract will allow Blanco to pursue opportunities in Asia should they arise.
This is the second straight day in which the Giants have added a Blanco, as they reunited with outfielder Gregor Blanco on a minors pact Monday. While Andres Blanco has also played some outfield in the majors, nearly all of his work has come in the infield since he debuted with the Royals in 2004. The soon-to-be 34-year-old brings at least 95 games’ experience at second base, shortstop and third. The hot corner was Blanco’s primary spot with his previous team, the Phillies, from 2014-17, though he hasn’t graded out particularly well there during his career (minus-10 DRS, minus-6.1 UZR).
Offensively, the switch-hitting Blanco has been a below-average producer across 1,321 plate appearances (.256/.310/.378), and he’s coming off a miserable year in which he hit .192/.257/.292 in 144 PAs. He wasn’t able to find a major league deal as a result, but it was a different story a year ago. Then fresh off parts of three consecutive solid seasons at the plate (.274/.337/.457 in 523 PAs), Blanco tested free agency before ultimately re-signing with the Phillies for $3MM.
As he did in Philly, Blanco will attempt to fill a utility role in San Francisco, which has established starters across the infield in first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Joe Panik, shortstop Brandon Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria. Pablo Sandoval and Kelby Tomlinson are the current backup infielders on the Giants’ projected 25-man roster.
Over 30 so he fits their model
Do you have more than one thought, or is this the only one you like to push?
Very doubtful. Just a fan of bashing the giants.
how is he bashing, pretty much all of their acquisitions have been above thirty….
Every team acquires players in their 30’s. Under 30 players are expensive, or useless.
How many under 30 FAs are there for any team to sign?
Stop acquiring 30 year olds every day and making it easy then lol
Free agent players under 30 are mostly career Minor Leaguers. Why should they acquire never will bes.
Except the Giants are known for trading for/signing players on the wrong side on 30. They have one of the oldest rosters in MLB. Mostly all players in MLB are FA’s before turning 30 unless they sign an early extension.
They trade away players that aren’t going to help them, and acquire players that help them. It has worked out quite well. Very few mlb players acquiring service time before the age of 24. That would mean they hit FA at the age of 30. Not everybody signs extensions early in their career. Teams and players want to see what their market is.
“Mostly all players in MLB are FA’s before turning 30 unless they sign an early extension.”
That is absolutely not true. The under 30 FA is a rarity, and always expensive for that reason.
“Stop acquiring 30 year olds…”
You know the saying about people in glass houses? The Dodgers just signed Mark Lowe who will be 34, That was on the heels of re-acquiring 33 year old Matt Kemp. MLBTR reports the Dodgers are interested in a reunion with 38 year old Chase Utley. How about Donovan Solano, and Josh Fields?
Last season the Dodger pitching staff was the 4th oldest in all MLB, older than the Giants who were tied for 8th oldest with the Indians. Hate on the Giants if you want, but at least do it with a valid argument, and not some perception unsupported by stats.
I think people get confused between starters and depth. Of course you want young starters. But starters get injured, veterans can come in fill a much needed role. Guys that have big league experience perform better.
The Giants are the team where players come to Die. ✝️
LOL ok man. Because the Dodgers traded for Kemp to help the team. Yes those guys the Dodgers signed were over 30. But they actually have a core of young players. The Giants only guy in their rotation or lineup under 30 is Bumgarner. Not counting Belt because he will be 30 in april. The average age of the staff is meaningless because Rich Hill drags it up.
Panik, Slater, Stratton, Beede, and probably Duggar will be in the lineup and rotation and are all under 30.
You do know the Giants are not the only team to sign players over 30 right? That’s because most free-agents are over 30…
just as Micheal responded I am amazed that any body able to get paid $4334 in 4 weeks on the internet
follow this link….
………………………………. bit.do/ussdmake-hare45
Are there any other Blancos out there they can sign? I think Henry Blanco retired.
Cornering the Blanco market.
At least the Giants are cornering the back market.
The Dodgers once tried to corner the Brandon market but it was just too large. The Giants are wise to go after the much more limited Blanco market.
Blanco is a allstar club house guy, just a shame he cant hit (anymore?). He had like one good year. Wouldnt have minded him being a Phils’ coach
Did we miss when he actually could hit???? And all this about him being an Allstar club house guy….
You actually think they can'[t find some Triple AAA guy that could hit .192 and give them the same output…..PLEASE!
yeah.. he hit .292/.360/.502 with a 137 OPS+ over 106 games in 2015. Thats when he was good… and yeah, hes one of the best clubhouse guys in recent phillies history
I hate when facts get in the way of a loudmouth spewing their opinion.
agreed, great guy, and had one good year season. He probably should get into coaching
Everything’s coming up Blancos for the Giants this week.
Is a phillies fan I’m sad to see him go
Lol
Make America Blanco again.
No
Nice, now All the giants need to do is get Henry blanco on the line and invite him to spring training and they’re set.
Hank White went with Dave Martinez to the Nats. Bullpen catcher.
I always liked Andy White. Lou Pinella messed with his mindset and put him out at SS too soon. Or maybe it was Dusty Baker. He can play 2nd. Will give Panik a run for his job at 2nd.
I almost feel like they are trolling the fan base with all these old dudes, after saying in the post season press conference that the primary goal of the offseason was to get younger and more athletic.
Show time!
Got the opportunity to briefly talk with Andres Blanco earlier this year, seriously a phenomenal dude, he’s an easy guy to root for
addicted to blanco
The whole Giants are old storyline is both ignorant and boring.
Giants 40-man roster has 13 players age 30 or older. Dodgers have 10. Hardly a significant difference and not much of a relative criticism. Especially silly when posting about non roster invites who are at best a coin flip to even make the team. Who cares how old the aging veteran is who is in camp for back up infield depth? Frankly Blanco probably would put up numbers superior to a stiff like nearly 40 Chase Utley. And he somehow was starting a World Series game which is pretty pathetic for a team with such a bloated payroll in 2017.
Find somewhere else to troll.
Signing a player like Blanco is just to add infield depth and competition. He is not expected to be a starter.
People act like they think the 2 Blancos are going to be seeing significant time in the field. If so, it exposes a significant lack of understanding about how ball clubs operate. Both were signed for minor league depth, and baring multiple injuries, neither will see much time, if any, on the major league roster.
Thank you. An intelligent post. I’ve been a fan of Gregor since his Kansas City days. I hope he gets on one of his streaks when it comes to playoff time. He can be an immensely fun player. Never great. But exciting.
Why do fans freak out over minor-league deals so much. It’s not like these guys are going to be playing any kind of major role on the team, and very likely won’t even end up on the 25-man roster.
Pablo Sandoval does not belong on a major league roster