The Giants have struck a minors pact with catcher Hector Sanchez, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. He’ll be expected to take up a spot on the depth chart but not open the season on the MLB roster, as the Giants have already re-signed Nick Hundley to pair with stalwart regular Buster Posey.
In other news, San Francisco has agreed to terms with infielder Chase d’Arnaud and righty Jose Valdez, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter). Like Sanchez, both players saw time with the Padres in 2017.
Sanchez, 28, is no stranger to the Giants organization. He broke into the majors in San Francisco in 2011 and played there through 2015. In 637 total MLB plate appearances thus far with the Giants, Sanchez carries a .240/.274/.345 batting line.
Since departing, Sanchez has mostly plied his trade for the division-rival Padres. As Pavlovic notes, the otherwise light-hitting backstop turned into a slugger when stepping into the box against his former mates. Sanchez slashed just .219/.245/.423 over 143 plate appearances on the year, but he did launch four long balls against the Giants.
As for d’Arnaud, who’ll soon turn 31, he suited up for three MLB teams in 2017 but received just 61 total plate appearances. The shortstop-capable utilityman carries a .223/.278/.306 batting line in 499 total MLB plate appearances.
Valdez, meanwhile, will reach his 28th birthday before the 2018 season. He has a 5.72 ERA over 50 1/3 total MLB innings spread over the past three seasons. Valdez does own a mid-to-upper-nineties heater and managed an 11.2% swinging-strike rate during his time in the majors in 2017.
Kenleyfornia74
They signed Sanchez so he doesn’t destroy them anymore. He has hit some big HRs against them
Deke
Not just against SF, also FOR SF. He always seemed to hit well in the clutch. Good depth piece so long as he stays healthy. Man that guy ALWAYS seemed to get whacked on foul tips. SF announcers used to say he would get hit a lot because he sat too high and needed to sit lower.
pustule bosey
I’ll never forget the game I was at where he fouled like for balls in a row into his nuts before he walked
GareBear
False, he limped
jorleeduf
*Four
pustule bosey
This was true
lanceparrish
Man, we are definitely headed back to the postseason. Unreal.
lowtalker1
Nah
Giants window has closed
Patick L
Hi, I’m sarcasm. I don’t believe we’ve met.
yoyo137
I think we’ve met too much, personally
Dodgethis
You’re either too young or not a real fan, since prior to 2010 nobody gave the giants a chance. Even after they won in 2010 they were written off. The only series they weren’t considered the underdog was the last one in 2014. Morons who keep saying this crap about the giants need to crawl back under the bridge the came from.
lowtalker1
Giants suck
West to too good. Giants farm is awful and there team is old.
Meanwhile you got the doyuers, Rockies and dbacks
And you got the slowly rising padres
Like I said. Window is closed.
padresfans1111
I agree with Lowtalker1
Cashford64
Dodgers? yes
Dbacks? yes
Rockies? Lol, please tell me when they have ever had two consecutive successful seasons. No.
Padres? Bwahahaha!
Besides, Giants just need that 2nd wild card and they’re set. A healthy Bumgarner takes care of the rest 🙂
See 2014
claude raymond
They’re young, 2010 band wagoners, Dodgethis. One bad year and the team is old.
One year and one year older outweighs 7 years of greatness. It’s just dumb.
With a handful of down years mixed in, the Giants have been competitive since 86 when Will Clark came along. I’ve been a fan since 20 years before that. These whining fans didn’t suffer those preClark years. They have no clue how good they have it now.
The idea of rebuilding is comical. Giants management, “Hey Bruce, Buster, Brandon, Brandon, Madison, Hunter, Mark, Jeff, Johnny…when we signed you for multi year contracts and we told you we were ALWAYS gonna try to win a title to get you to play here?…well, there’s been a change in plans. We’re gonna rebuild. Sorry guys. Do your best. Okay?”
You can’t rebuild.
brucewayne
You need a good dose of reality ! The Giants are in trouble
brucewayne
and will be lucky to finish 3rd in that tough division for the next 10 years!
larry48
giants will sell off at trade dead line and blow up whole team and start over
gmenfan
Nothing wrong with depth for a team that previously had none.
JoeyPankake
Hack-tor.
RedKing22
Depth for a team that lacks it is always a good thing.
websoulsurfer
Nice to see Hector signing a deal. Great guy. He has a couple of rings with the Giants. That the Giants are signing 3 former Padres doesn’t seem to be a great idea.
redking
Actually all three of the players mentioned were with the Padres last year.
claude raymond
Stealing from Patrick L, 3 meet three
Misterants
Actually all 3 were all three
nelson 2
This continues the trend of former Padres players, coaches and managers departing to other teams. It’s happens to every organization but I feel like we’ve seen our departed succeed elsewhere more than most.
dvmwitt
You really gonna miss any of these guys? Sanchez was the only one that was decent and he was only good against SF
timtim007
I wonder if Jose Valdez will bring coffee for everyone
gmenfan
From his brother, Juan ?
gilgunderson
i prefer Nicaraguan coffee, but Dennis Martinez isn’t available.
padresfans1111
Jose sucks watch out
bitterpadresfan
3 ex Padres. Trying to take our players so you can catch us in the division next year.
southi
Signing ex-padres has worked out well for the Giants in the past. Just look at that Bochy guy.
padresfans1111
While Jose sucks so have fun.
User 355748524
Name some ex-Padres PLAYERS who flourished with SF, please.
boltz82
Keith Mitchell. Dave Dravecky. Nick Hundley. Jake Peavy. I could keep going.
gilgunderson
Kevin Mitchell. Craig Lefferts. Terry Kennedy.
loach
Willie McCovey
velorum
Sign Schweinsteiger and they’ll win a World Cup for sure
milkman
Sanchez should be a mighty fine third string Catcher
CubsFanForLife
What a sexy signing. Such offseason, much excite
Houston We Have A Solution
wonder what nick noonan is doing this days former giant then padre
Misterants
I’m assuming you’re aware of Google’s existence:
“Nicholas Murphy Noonan is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.”
card collector18
Padres in retaliation will do absolutely nothing
dvmwitt
Good. Because these three are basically nothing
claude raymond
MY GOD IM GONNA LOSE MY MIND!!! Many of you, quit making these dumb mf-ing comments over milb signings.
nelson 2
You may already have brother. At this point in the cold stove what do we have left to talk about?
yoyo137
Man I don’t even like the MLB, I’m a MiLB fan strictly
larry48
then u should watch padres they are a minor league team at best
wkkortas
J’aime votre nom de plume.
dvmwitt
Padres should have just traded these three for a bag of chips. mmmm chips