12:27pm: Giants GM Bobby Evans confirmed the deal to reporters, adding that Holland has already passed his physical (Twitter link via Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area). Holland will be given a chance to earn a spot in the rotation or in the bullpen.
The deal includes a $1.5MM potential base salary with as much as $2.5MM in possible incentives, per SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter).
11:47am: The Giants are in agreement with left-hander Derek Holland on a minor league contract, reports Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Presumably, he’ll compete for a roster spot in big league camp this spring.
Holland, 31, spent the bulk of the 2017 season with the White Sox, getting off to a hot start but fading as the season wore on before ultimately being released. The longtime Rangers lefty 2.37 ERA with a 52-to-24 K/BB ratio in 60 2/3 innings through the first two months of the 2017 season, looking the part of a bargain for the ChiSox at the time.
ERA alternatives like xFIP (4.95) and SIERA (4.77) never fully bought into that success, though, and Holland’s production cratered in the months to come as his control worsened. Over his final 74 1/3 innings, he allowed 77 runs on 105 hits and 51 walks, causing his season ERA to balloon from 2.37 to 6.20.
Holland at one point looked like a promising young building block in Texas, pitching to a 3.83 ERA and a 3.89 FIP over 623 1/3 innings from 2011-14. Knee surgery cut short his 2014 season, though, and his 2015 and 2016 seasons were marred by shoulder injuries. The 93-94 miles per hour that Holland averaged on his fastball during those peak young seasons was replaced in 2017 by a more pedestrian average of 91.1 mph.
It’s not entirely clear how the Giants plan to use Holland, though their rotation has no shortage of uncertainty. Beyond Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija (each of whom will be looking to rebound in 2018, to varying degrees), the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation are currently set to be filled by lefty Ty Blach and righty Chris Stratton. Blach had baseball’s lowest K/9 and K% marks in 2017, and his 6.2 percent swinging-strike rate was the game’s second-lowest. Stratton, meanwhile, is entering his age-27 season and has just 68 2/3 innings to his credit in the Majors, during which time he’s averaged 7.5 K/9 against 4.3 BB/9 with below-average ground-ball tendencies.
San Francisco could also look at utilizing Holland in a bullpen role, even though he has never spent much time as a reliever. Lefties have batted just .246/.310/.349 against him in his career, and while those splits are hardly dominating, he could yet find some improvement if his velocity ticks up when pitching in shorter stints.
Add another to the San Francisco 2011 All Star Team.
Funny and sadly true!
But-But look what Fangraphs has predicted
I think only Giants fans beleive that once you get in anything can happen (or Eagels fans NFL)
So many on here are like “yeah they might get a 2nd wildcard, but….” about any team. Imagine if this site was full of GMs we would have 24 Miami Marlins. I guess it would be fun to watch Scott B meltdown
Nobody here thought Giants would win in 2010, 2012 or 2014 either.
I did.
Um…It’s a Minor League deal. No need to get your pantys in a bunch.
Um…He was making a light-hearted joke. No need to get your panties in a bunch.
A light-hearted joke.? Please. If that’s a joke it’s so long in the tooth to not be the slightest bit funny anymore. No other team seems to be as unfairly maligned because of age than the Giants.
The Rays signing Sergio Romo to a major league deal doesn’t get anywhere close to the treatment that them signing Holland to a minor league deal gets. Imagine the abuse had the Giants given Romo a major league deal.
Unfortunately, seeing how some here love to diss the Giants no ,matter what they do, I think it was meant less as a light-hearted joke, and more like a dig.
Its kind of funny. Hollands last good year was 2013. They really are building a 2013 super team. And yes if they signed Romo i would have gone off on them. But the same if the Dodgers did too.
No. Maybe it was kind of funny the first 2, or 3 times I saw it, but at this point it’s just repetition. There’s nothing clever about it anymore.
So you would have gone off had the Giants signed Romo. I assume a lot of others would have too. So why is there not one post going off on the Rays? Clearly there’s a double standard here. Every team in MLB signs 30+ year-olds to minor league deals, but for some reason, only the Giants get grief about it.
I like talking baseball, and it’s disappointing that for many there isn’t even an attempt at objectivity. MLBTR used to have a higher level discourse, but it seems it’s regressed to a lot of people just busting on teams they don’t like.
The Dodgers did. Hahahaha
No if the Giants signed Romo it wouldn’t have been bad because he is 30. Its because theres an obsession with their own guys there. Rays are a small market team so a guy like Romo is reasonable for them to sign. And im already telling you know if they sign Lincecum that would just be pathetic. Also Derek Holland was not being ragged on because he was 30. Its because his last good year was 2013 and the Giants are building the all star 2013 team. You cant possibly still think Evan Longoria and McCutchen are still elite players
Actually Longoria & McCutchen drove in more runs than any other Dodger last year not named Cody Ballinger. When you have an OBP of .363, hit 28 bombs & drive in nearly 90 rbi (McCutchen) & it’s considered a down year, your an elite player. And since when did Dodger fan get any bragging rights over Giants fan. Last 8 years we have 3 World titles. Dodgers have become the Buffalo Bills (1990’s version) of baseball. Win a World Series this century, then talk
Um…yea no need to get your panties in a bunch it’s not like they signed Tim Lincecum.
..yet
That one feels like a Duquette special.
u spelled panties wrong, bro
At least they’re trying to win even it’s a little delusional. So many teams are rebuilding. Let’s admire a team for trying even it’s likely futile.
I hate to ruin it for you but every team starts the year 0-0 and in sports anything can happen.
Had a 6.20 ERA but as least his FIP was……oh wait.
Could be a nice replacement for Matt Moore in the rotation if he can find the success he had earlier in his career
Couldn’t the exact same thing be said about Moore?
No, because how could Matt Moore be a replacement for Matt Moore?
Except that Moore was taking a ML roster spot and costing $11 million for the Giants. Good for Moore if he bounces back, but a guy like Holland on a minor league deal is a WAY lower risk, obviously.
Is this a bullpen piece or a buy low starter?
Someone has to pitch at AAA.
I’m guessing bullpen since just yesterday it was reported that they were still looking for bullpen help.
Minor league deal. There is no bad minor league deal.
Tim Tebow
Haven’t paid attention to ticket and merchandise sales, I’m assuming?
Yea but you can hire a monkey to be a bat boy to. Mets fans today came at me on twitter with the Yankees trading for Russell Wilson. Well the difference is Wilson has no inclination that he’s gonna play minor league ball. The Yankees are using him as a mentor opposed to this guy wanting to feed his massive ego. They even promoted this clown last year. It’s certainly a joke not everyone finds amusing.
“This clown”
Seriously, what did Tim Tebow do to you?
Your rant against Mets fans, specifically going to what Wilson supposedly brings to the Yankees, is a tad interesting considering the Mets signed Tebow largely because he is an unbelievable motivational speaker who constantly goes above and beyond to spend his time solely to help others.
That is a gigantic part of why Tebow is going to be playing his second season of pro ball in a month, and why he stands a very good chance of hitting all the Mets minor league stops at some point.
That he also more than pays for himself thru sales and is guaranteed to find himself at the center of least a couple noteworthy, often emotion-triggering moments… well its all icing on the cake for the Mets.
Realistically, I think the other 29 teams are a tad stupid for not trying to sign the guy; its really a win-win-win situation no matter how you look at it – and I’m hardly a fan of him saying it.
@mrnatewalter
I’m assuming the answer is; he exists
Seems a lot of the unbelievable, sometimes uncontrollable rage seen against him boils down to just that, and absolutely nothing more.
I am no way anti anything Tebow stands for in the way he leads his life. That being said he is just seeking attention as is the Mets organization no more then that. Sales of the said monkey bat boy t-shirts,hats,and gloves would be quite lucrative to.Tebow comes across as being so dedicated to the craft yet spends weekends in Aug and on doing SEC network. He really comes across no better then the Kardashians. Oh well let’s just agree to disagree.
honestly – I don’t think he is going to stick unless he changes his approach but he does have some legitimate power. Personally I think if they brought him up he might finish the year around the .150 BA mark with at least a handful of big flies- I mean I could be wrong but even though it isn’t astounding it isn’t like he would stumble around while his pants fell down.
You called the guy a “clown”.
You dislike Tim Tebow more than you say you dislike Tim Tebow.
For what it’s worth, I don’t care if you think Tebow shouldn’t get a chance in baseball. I personally think the Mets having him in Spring Training takes a roster spot from more deserving players. I’m not of the persuasion that ticket sales are a good way to justify his roster spot.
But, I’m also not going to personally criticize a guy for wanting a shot, or for some team giving him a spot.
I just found your comments are unreasonable and unnecessary. You don’t have to insult the guy. Your vendetta comes across as childish and classless.
“For what it’s worth”..Nothing. You totally contradict yourself as opposed to @darkstar61 who gave his view without the childish retort.
Teams have like a hundred guys at spring training. Tebow isn’t getting in anyone’s way.
“That being said he is just seeking attention as is the Mets organization no more then that”
….says the guy who calls Tebow a “clown” for actually investing himself in the game fully to the point he is riding a crappy bus in the low minors for hundreds of miles, but praises Wilson as some kind of leader for ‘always wanting to play for the Yankees’ and therefore getting said opportunity handed to him on a silver platter.
And yeah, Tebow, who can often be seen at the park a half hour after the game still signing for every fan that came out to see him, who jumped into the stands and waited for 20 minutes for paramedics at the side of a fan who had a seizure during one such autograph period …well, he’s just a pre-madonna, apparently
Yeah, I guess we will have to agree to disagree if lack of reality and selective bias leading to petty slandering is the entire foundation of your entire argument.
Meanwhile, I’d say you should probably expect to see Tebow make it to a couple clubs this year as the team continues to use his unbelievable motivational skills and positive outlook as an example of a personality they wish all their players would be able to be affected by. Because reality says there is hardly a better role model present in minor league baseball, and that kind of opportunity does not present itself often. When you have it, you use it. And whatever low talent guy with zero shot at the majors he’s theoretically taking the spot of …well, if Tebow’s attitude rubs off on even one young player that goes on to having a better career for it, then he will have provided infinitely more to the Mets than the low-talent roster filler merely there because you need a certain amount of players for each position
instead of insulting Tebow, just take a step back and realize how special it is to play two sports at a high level. not common at all, think Bo Jackson, Danny Ainge, Dave Debusschere, and Deion Sanders. not quite Michael Jordan
He had the nerve to be religious. This new generation is deluded into thinking they know everything and have all the answers.
No you just didn’t put Tebow in with those guys. Take your pills Grandpa!
Yea from what you’re referencing “being religious” is fantasy.
Whatever
You’re just as delusional!
I doubt Tebows current teammates look at him as a great “motivational speaker” if anything they probably resent him due to the fact he’s there for financial reasons, not his baseball abilities. A bunch of 19 to 30 year old men are not sitting in the locker room asking Tim Tebow for advice on life skills & “having a positive outlook on life.” How do you know his teammates outlook on life? You don’t, you just know what the media has shown you about Tebow. And to your point on him being a great motivational speaker, that is simply your opinion. I guess if you’re needing someone to speak to a Christian group of teenagers, he’s your guy. But I doubt economists, scientists, business leaders, addiction counselors, battered women groups, or foreign policy leaders could gain anything from watching a Tim Tebow motivational speech.
Technically your right, Tebow has played 2 sports professionally, but I would not say he did it with much success at the highest levels. He flopped out of the NFL & will never make a MLB opening day roster. To compare him to Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders is ridiculous. BJ was one of the best running backs in the NFL & was an all-star in baseball. Tebow won’t even be an above average minor leaguer. And DS was arguably the greatest corner in the history of the NFL. And he played in the majors with some success. Dude scored a NFL touchdown & hit a home run in MLB in a 36 hour span. Tebow was never 1 of the best at his position in the NFL & won’t even get a MLB at bat.
I thought they just traded a lefty with an ERA over 6 to the rangers. Whatever, minor league deal, but I seriously doubt they will be able to remain under the luxury tax all season if they end up calling even 2 of these guys who signed minor league deals up.
In 2013, he had a 3.42 ERA in 213 IP with the Texas Rangers.
He tore his ACL that following offseason, in one of the most bizarre injuries to memory, involving a dog.
It seemed like that injury forshadowed his decline, it was all downhill, from there.
Yep, cascade injuries. It’s pretty instructive to see how often extreme knee injuries in pitchers lead to future elbow/shoulder injuries. I believe the people at driveline mechanics did a study on this years ago.
Whiny Giants fans, please please stfu!!! You embarrass me and other sf fans. You idiots become fans in 2010 and don’t know squat what ur talking about.
Go grab some effin tissue!
Whoa dude.
What set you off exactly?
You embarrass all Giants fans. Your the one who came on the bandwagon at the end of 2010. Most bandwagon guys fell off already. Everyone hopped onto our GSW bandwagon and with Jimmy GQ contract the niners bandwagon will be next.
Holland decent signing with Blach, Stratton, Heston, Holland and Beede. Should be a good battle coming into Scottsdale this year. Pitchers and Catchers report to spring training soon.
…….Triggered much? Lol
Show me on this doll where the bad man hurt you.
Hilarious. Love the voodoo doll reference.
um…I think you missed the reference. never mind
Let me make sure I got this straight, people who cheer for a team when they win aren’t “real” fans? Only people who started watching when a team is bad are real fans? Do you even understand the contradictory nature of what you are saying? How sad is your life? And before you start, I became a giants fan 23 years ago (ish) as a child who played little league and went to candlestick and saw bonds crush balls. The giants never won in the 90s, yet had a huge fan base. Sorry your team sucks and has no history and no cult like following. Good day reject!
I like this signing, finally a team signed Holland.
Another SP comes off the board who I felt BAL would sign. Holland could spot start or relieve and should be effective in either role.
Low risk high reward signing if he comes out strong maybe a Stratton for Broxton deal with Brewers could work
I thought for sure by today the chips would be falling these players and agents are dillusional they better realize that between the luxury tax and next year’s market they are not getting what they thought they would.
Is it really disrupting your life that much?
Based on your thoughts regarding Tebow above, I’m not sure you have much latitude to make comments like this.
Totally different animal..changes in latitudes,changes in attitudes.
You’re right, they are different.
His comment has to do with players wanting too much money.
Yours comes across as a silly, childish vendetta that shows your maturity level.
I stand corrected.
God your a hypocrite. “Show me on this doll where the bad man hurt you” Talk about infantile and most of all..Creepy.
Collin, show us on the doll where the bad man hurt you.
It’s funny to me that these so called professional agents don’t understand they don’t control the market.
Actually these “so called professional agents” are professional & they have a major effect on the market. And as much as we all hate Scott Boras, every one of us would be crazy not hire a Scott Boras if we needed an agent. And these “so called professional agents” as you call them, make a hell of a lot more money than you
He declined a $15MM player option and got a minor league deal. Smart.
That would be Greg Holland….
Different Holland
Being Half-right, is better than being completely wrong.
Lol
The Giants have a great team if this was 2012
That 2012 Giants team did some good things.
He might not be an effective pitcher anymore but he still does an impressive Harry Carey impression.
Teams and players are desperate now. Feel bad for Holland.
Curt Young will have a lot to prove in his first year. If he can get Derek Holland pitching at the major league level that would be a significant achievement.
Gil that’s true but that was a very different Pence and Posey and now you have different Cuetos and Hollands with a much older and worse pitching staff
Not a horrible depth move I guess but they would’ve been better off with Pelfrey in that capacity.
Good signing. Minor league deal. Lets see if he can pitch as a reliever. Im sure he gets called up.
He is a huge Cubs fan, named his dog after the stadium. In 2014(if I recall correctly), he fell over the dog on the stairs and tore his ACL. Back then, even Rangers fans could not escape the Wrigley Curse…
I️ read this is Greg and almost had a heart attack
I would love for him to have a career resurgence. he always seemed like a nice dude with Texas. And honestly I’m still miffed that he wasn’t allowed to finish out game 4 of the 2011 series. One of my all time favorite games.
If he could turn into a poor mans lefty specialist that would be fine for this year.