The Giants announced today that they have exercised club options over lefty Madison Bumgarner and third baseman Pablo Sandoval. With players returning from the 60-day DL, the club adds, it’ll have four open 40-man roster spots at the outset of the offseason.
Needless to say, there was never any question that the San Francisco organization would hang on to Bumgarner. While he has certainly not been his usual, ironclad self in the past two seasons, Bumgarner is a clear bargain at $12MM (rather than a $1.5MM buyout).
Bumgarner’s deal, which expires after the 2019 season, included a $35MM guarantee over five seasons. As it turns out, with both option years being exercised, he’ll have earned $56MM in a seven-season term. That has clearly been a big win for the Giants.
As for Sandoval, his second stint with the organization will continue for the time being, though he’ll still need to earn a roster spot in camp. When he re-joined the club in the middle of the 2017 season, he inked a deal that included successive club options at the league-minimum salary. The Red Sox are still responsible for his $18MM salary in 2019, less the$555K minimum, along with a $5MM buyout for a 2020 club option.
While the 32-year-old Sandoval has not exactly thrived of late, he was reasonably productive in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury. Over 252 plate appearances, he posted a .248/.310/.417 slash. That’s a roughly league-average level of offensive output, which the veteran had not even approached since his original run with the Giants ended in 2014.
Why bring back Pablo? Do they really have that much tumescence for living off of past glory?
Oh wait, it’s the Giants. Of course they do.
Assuming I read the article correctly and the Red Sox are on the hook for the option year, then it seems like a fairly low-risk move for the Giants.
It’s a low-risk move but also a no-reward move. Sandoval doesn’t make the team better.
He is cheap and their farm is weak
Yeah but it makes the Red Sox pay it
There are plenty of guys just as good as Sandoval that they could get on minor league deals. Plus I’m sure they have prospects they could give a shot to if it weren’t for Sandoval taking up a roster spot.
Red Sox are paying Sandoval’s contract no matter what the Giants do.
Giants fans and the organization can justify this move all they want, but if my team announced they picked up Sandoval’s option, I’d be depressed. He can bat .089 in spring training, and he’d still have a roster spot. That’s how SF rolls.
Rooster, you obviously did not pay attention last season, Sandoval is one of the most versatile players on the roster. They’re paying him the league minimum, if he is terrible they release him which won’t really cut them. He also has to earn a spot in Spring Training, so that leaves the opportunity for any rookie or “minor league FA” to win a spot. Your hate for Pablo makes you blind to reality that this doesn’t hurt anything.
Panda knows where all the good restaurants are….that’s a plus!
No Red Sox pay it regardless. Just a matter of them not allowing him to sign with another team for the same salary, which he wouldn’t, so moot point.
The $555K is not even guaranteed I don’t think
“There are plenty of guys just as good as Sandoval that they could get on minor league deals.”
Well, if so, it should be easy to name a few utilities guys that hit for league average that aren’t much more expensive that the minimum. So please name a few.
I believe the $555k is pro-rated. Every day he’s not on the Giants 40 man roster means the Giants don’t pay and the Red Sox do.
I don’t think they care
The point Sandoval is literally worthless. Like has zero value and sucks at the game of baseball at this point. Who cares if the Sox are paying for him. He’s worthless…
I Agree on every point (4ever)
Please explain how a league average hitting utility guy is worthless.
what reason is there to not bring him back? he is making the league minimum so its not like you lose anything except a roster spot, and with guys having been moved and such there is space
There is no reason to bring him back. His career is basically over. Only reason he hasn’t retired yet is because that would mean forfeiting his paycheck. Their Giants don’t keep bringing him back because he’s one of the 25 best players available to them. They bring him back because they are obsessed with living off past glory and refuse to see the writing on the wall that the golden years are over. I bet they bring back Gregor Blanco and Hunter Pence this offseason too.
Do you watch the Giants, or are you basing this on the (justified) idea that SF is clinging to its prior successes? Because Sandoval, right now, deserves a 40-man roster spot. He brought an energy to the Giants clubhouse that is hard to replace, and that’s valuable enough to let him compete for a 25-man spot again. Pence and Blanco are not coming back unless it’s in a coaching/front office role, and Sandoval has no guarantee to make the cut in April. I understand that the whole “Giants keep their guys” thing has been earned, but it gets beaten to death. If the Giants were in the playoff hunt in September, they wouldn’t have played Pence or Blanco as much — just like they were willing to cut Lincecum, Cain, Tim Hudson, Ryan Vogelsong and Zito from the rotation when it affected their playoff hopes. They may hold onto their “guys” longer than most, but they don’t waste many AB’s or innings on those guys when the games count down the stretch
That 40-man spot would be better suited going to someone younger and with less fat and more upside. I haven’t checked the Rule 5 eligibility of their prospects yet but I wouldn’t give Sandoval a 40-man spot if it means leaving anyone with starter upside unprotected.
And we will stop beating the “Giants keep their guys too long” thing to death when they prove us wrong.
Wow. Not only do you know for sure that Sandoval has nothing to contribute which is something no one else knows. And that’s odd since he did provide value in 2018. But even more amazing is you actually know the Giant’s motivation for picking up the option.
Bro, everyone knows the Giants only brought him back because of the sentimentality thing. If he had anything beyond that to offer the Sox wouldn’t have cut him.
Are you a cardinal fan? Lol! Idiot comments.
Your generalities are unconvincing. Who are these guys that need to be on the 40-man that Sandoval is hurting? I would rather see Sandoval sitting on the bench as a utility guy, than some younger promising guy that would best be served getting ABs in the minors. They have 4 open spots now. I can’t believe they need all 4 of those spots to protect the guys they need to protect.. It’s absurd to believe the Giants would let any sort of decent prospect go for the purpose of keeping Sandoval.
Who would you rather the Giants use a roster spot on? Because there’s no clear MLB-ready upgrade in the system and if someone comes along, Sandoval doesn’t have a 25-man spot locked. And my point about the “Giants keep their guys too long” thing was that it’s often overblown, much like you claiming that you believe the Giants will bring Blanco and Pence back when everything points to the contrary
I admit to scratching my head when they brought him back. But know what? they knew better than you or I because Sandoval actually was valuable, especially when Longoria went down. You keep disparaging him, but there are teams that can’t find a league average hitter to start, let alone sit on the bench. Sandoval’s OPS, had he qualified, would have tied him for 12th place with Matt Duffy for 3B for all MLB.
The only minor league player that Sandoval could conceivably be “holding back” right now is Ryder Jones, who is also a lefty-hitting 3B/1B. Jones isn’t exactly a flashy prospect and hasn’t exactly seized his opportunities yet, though he has shown some flashes and suffered a season-ending injury this year. He still has options, let him compete for a role in spring training and go down to AAA to play every day if need be.
As a Red Sox fan, pandas con tract is at least as bad if not worse than Carl Crawford’s, it’s worth every penny the Red Sox are playing him NOT to be on the Red Sox
He is making league minimum and they will get that back in his merchandise, so in all honesty they aren’t paying anything for him.
Lol so they’re bringing him back because he sells merchandise and not because he’s one of the 25 best players available to them? Sounds about right.
With that roster, he could easily be one of the 25 best. As Jeff said in the article, he will have to earn his spot in camp. Why not?
Because he’s not one of the 25 best. We both know why they keep bringing him back, has nothing to do with his level of play.
Roughly league average output last year… seems like he could be in the top 25.
Almost every team has a veteran (or several) who are there for the purpose of being a veteran in the clubhouse.
Most teams pay far more than the league minimum for these characters.
Must still have truckloads of Kung Fu Panda hats to sell
He’s basically free.
Because he cost nothing, idiot.
He costs a roster spot.
… “IDIOT!”
Daaaaaaah!
please name the 5 players then that aren’t on the 40 man right now to fill up those spots not counting the guys he is better than that are currently on the 40 man (not 25, because I don’t know if you know this but the season just ended and rosters will change between niw and opening day.
Wow only $8 million a year average??
Mad Bum contract year. The time is nearing to make a decision
Melancon – Do the Giants a HUGE favor = OPT OUT of your remaining 2 years.
You’d like that wouldn’t you?
Thats like asking Jason Heyward to opt out
The fact that they’re paying Melancon an elite closer salary, and he hasn’t resumed closer duties – and he may never – is what’s really discouraging. It’s like paying an attorney to clean the restrooms.
Nentwigs, If only that could happen.
Melancon is not the Giants’ only problem by any means. He’s being payed 14 million a year, but still being somewhat productive. I mean, I know an ERA in the mid 3s isn’t what we got him for, but it’s better than nothing. Let’s face it: the Giants can’t compete in 2019. The salary is less important right now, and clearing space on the payroll for 2020. The Giants have an absurd amount of overpaid players who are mediocre to above average. Samardzija and Longo are the biggest drags on the payroll right now, and while I doubt shark has much left to offer, longo has a decent shot at a bounce-back.
Sorry for talking a lot ha
SFG has $140M tied up in 9 guys, and you could take the position that Baumgarner is the only one you’d keep if you had a choice. That is an absolute recipe for mediocrity at best.
What does 1 year of a declining Bumgarner bring back in a trade?
Lol, declining? That dude has been hurt for two years and is still better then 2/3 of the pitchers out there. Crazy comment dude. Posey played hurt most of the year also and still put up respectable numbers. Better then most catchers and is still on the ballet for a gold glove!
His velocity is down from where he used to be and so are his strike outs. He hasn’t been quite the same since the dirt bike accident. Still very good, but not an unquestioned ace anymore.
He never had high velocity, he may have lost a couple mph but at the beginning of the last season before the pinky break he looked great. I bet he gets back to the horse that he is.
I doubt we will ever find out.
What?
Giants an absolute disaster but that division is crap outside of Dodgers and their billions to spend… Belt can’t avoid getting a front seat on the DL every year, Panik ditto, Crawford & Longoria your only hopes and Posey fading, their staff is old and innings adding up for Madbum despite not pitching a lot last two years…. contracts all stink exception of Madbum but mgt doesn’t want to trade him..,,,nobody knows who’s in the OF….. long road to rebuild especially when you can’t with those crap contracts.
The division is crap outside of the Dodgers, yet the Rockies were tied for the division lead?
So considering the Red Sox paid 18 million dollars for Sandoval to not play for them this year, does he get a ring?
That’s only if the player plays in at least one game for the team that year. Dan Uggla got a ring from the Giants in 2014 for example.
I was kinda being sarcastic. The best thing Sandoval did for the Red Sox this year was to play for the Giants and relieve us of a couple hundred thousand dollars.
Gotcha
What I don’t get are the downvotes. My comment that you just replied to was accurate and didn’t insult anybody.
Don’t play that game. Paying attention to trolls is a bit like paying attention to a 6-year old throwing a temper tantrum because you won’t buy them candy bar.
I wish there was an upvote system here too…
As a Giants fan Pablo pains me. I refuse to watch a game on television because he is on the roster. That’s my way of protesting. I know they do not care about the little guy but it is all I can do.
there are a lot of other reasons to be upset about the way the FO has handled the last couple of years and pablo is really not the biggest.. If that is your reason for boycotting so be it but it isn’t a great one.
They need to trade Bumgarner this offseason to get at least one major prospect in return. That is all they need really. Just accept a middling 2019 season and plan for 2020 and 2021. If this new prospect, Duggar, and Ramos can become above average starters in 2-3 years, then the Giants would have a good nucleus of vets and a good chance at a run at the playoffs.
Along with Bart, and if we can get Shaw dialed in, they can have a pretty good core. Add a big bat, a couple starters you’ll see them late in October soon AGAIN. Bet they have 4 rings in 15 years like the Sox.
This is the same organization according to Giants fans that is gonna entice Harper to sign. Just wow
I could be wrong, but I don’t think Bryce Harper is going to be concerned about his future team retaining some bench player at a league minimum salary.
Harper is not signing with the Giants. Stanton refused them last year, and they’re worse off now. Horrible farm, aged players, they’re at least 7-8 players away from realistically overcoming the Padres.
When did I say he was signing with the Giants?
I’m saying he’s not concerned with minor, auxiliary moves teams make. That won’t factor one bit into his decision.
Stanton and Harper aren’t comparable. Stanton was going to be paid the same no matter which team he went to. Harper will go where the money is. If the Giants were to offer Harper the best contract he probably would sign with them. I don’t think Harper will sign with SF, but not because he would reject any offer, but because the Giants are going to spread the resources, and not spend it on one guy.
not necessarily, it’s a long road to get harper to sign in SF for 2 reasons: Tax implications and the ballpark. It is already tough to sign hitters to SF but lefty power dies in RF, both because of general marine layer, wind and lower temps but also because of the RF wall that turns what would be a HR in other parks to a long single. it may not seem important but if Harper puts in an opt out and suddenly his long ball drops by 10+ a year it doesn’t do him much good – add to that the fact that California has one of the higher income tax rates and it just becomes really tough to sign a guy like harper.
The park as a detriment to Harper’s signing is overblown. Unlike fans, that look at cumulative numbers, FOs are looking at stats, like wRC+, that take park effects into account. So if he did opt out after, say 2 years, any reduced HR totals would not have a negative impact on interested teams.
Harper doesn’t care about winning more than he does about money. And with Harper on the team, the giants would almost undoubtedly make the playoffs for at least one year if he signs for more than 7 years.
2012 is on line-1 bro, and Yankee fans catch crap.
“Harper doesn’t care about winning more than he does about money” How in the world do you profess to know that? No just adding Harper won’t get them in the playoffs.
Do you know him?
Signing Harper and his inconsistent track record to a record setting contract is the last thing a team who has as much money on the books as the Giants do for older players who are clearly on the down side of their careers should do. Hopefully the new GM is smarter than the majority of people who are able to post on this forum but apparently can’t figure out how to check Harper’s stats and realize that he is more of a product of media hype than he is a legit superstar.
Trade Bum and get some ready-to=play prospects. Play Slater and Duggar, maybe even Mac if he can ever get it all sorted out. Release Panik and work on getting Hanson to play better defense in the winter leagues. Take a year to get Shark and Cueto back healthy and try again in 2020..
Sadly I don’t think Shark will ever be good. They need Cueto to be healthy in 2020 for trade bait.
Hansen was solid in the 2nd half defensively last year all his problems were in the first half,I trust him next year,however if he goes to work on something it’s Batting Right Handed that did not improve
I’m not a huge Panik fan, but Alen Hanson can’t get on base at a decent clip. You don’t just give the starting job to a guy who put up a .274 obp with questionable defense.
I agree with this. I’m sold on Hanson as a bench bat, but I don’t want him starting until he can take a walk.
I am not sure about slater, mac could be good if the injuries would put on the brakes. I think duggar is already the plan but I would like to see them get someone in the outfield, just not a harper. Panik you want to keep to see if you can raise his stock, same with belt to move at the deadline. I think the big thing is to sign holland back, don’t sign hundley back and let garcia take the backup role till bart can come along for now and sign or swap for a decent mid rotation pitcher on that has 2 years in order to set your plan for 2020. then you can free up to trade bum and let some of the young guys go for it since both rodriguez and suarez showed a lot this year which opens you up to a rotation in 2020 (or late 2019) with cueto, rodriguez, holland, suarez and a signee. I did’t include samardzija because honestly they should take him IF the injuries can subside and move him to the pen (where he used to be when he started) and try to work him into a late inning role.
I know people think the giants farm is crap and that they will be in a long rebuild, but many of their young players are in the range of 21-24. They could develop pretty quickly and with the money that the Giants have they could become contenders in a few years. Moronta has established himself as a solid reliever and I think he’d be the closer. The hitting core could consist of Duggar, Shaw, Bart, and Ramos, and Suarez, D-Rod, and Anderson being the front of the rotation. Mix this young core with a lot of FA signings and I think they could be decent in 2022.
Will Smith will be the closer going forward and I’m comfortable with that, Moronta will probably be the 8th inning guy with Strickland and Watson flipping roles
smith only has 1 more year on his contract, I don’t think that he is going to be around long term – if the giants aren’t competitive this year he becomes a trade chip at the deadline.
Sounds reasonable. 2022 is a long time away
The Panda will be back and the giants will be competitive again that is for sure…
…..As long as Pablo comes off the bench and doesn’t bat Right Handed I’m good,there’s no risk in him Financially
As a Dodger fan, I’m thrilled the Giants keep clinging to the past.
It’s a cheaper contract than the Dodgers paid to get the same value for Chase Utley.
At least the Giants have a recent past to cling on to…
Dodger fan? Shouldn’t you all be hiding in shame right now?
Yup the past,oh you mean like back when you actually won a WS?In the Kirk Gibson Days ,lol
As a Giants fan, I’m thrilled that the Dodgers have to keep clinging to ’88.
Does Panda get a World Series ring since he’s taking 18$mil from the Red Sox?
No. You have to actually play for the team during the year they win to get a ring.
There’s no actual rule on who gets a ring and as far as I can tell it’s not even an official award. It’s just a long standing tradition that the team owners give every player a ring and it’s up to their discretion who gets one at all.
If the Giants aren’t in the playoff race in July they gotta deal Mad Bum. Can’t lose him for nothing.
If MadBum is to be traded what should be expected in return?
His value is more than being a #1 in the Giants pitching rotation. MadBum is the face of the Giants rotation, a true leader by example, and a great mentor to the up and coming pitchers.
Let’s not forget, MadBum has 3 World Championship rings. And, just ask the Kansas City Royals what they thought when MadBum entered the game as the relief pitcher in the World Series!
And remember, not once has he ever complained about the salary he negotiated. Yes he deserves a higher salary and hopefully the Giants will give him a long term extension.
Hopefully he will be a member of Giants until he decides to hang up his cleats.
I doubt whether Bum gives the Giants another extension
Another crazy statement…Madbum got his chance with a club that believes in him and still believes in him. Because of the way Giants treat there players is a big reason for the rings they have. They have chemistry unlike the Dodgers…Giants will give him the money he deserves. He earned it.
Keeping MadBum should be a no brainer!
When I saw him pitching for South Caldwell High School against North Forsyth High School (which had Dustin Ackley and 30-0 entering high school playoffs) I knew he was going to be something special. He was a MAN against boys.
MadBum is still that special player. He is the face of the Giants pitching staff, the leader other pitchers look up, and won’t back down regardless of the situation or player he’s facing.
And MadBum has 3 World Series rings!!! Ask the Kansas City Royals thought when MadBum came on in relief. You could easily tell the momentum suddenly shifted back to the Giants.
Hopefully MadBum will finish his career as a Giant.
But he wants to win which the Giants aren’t going to do for the next 10 years
Exaggerate much?
Not really. They’re probably going to trade Ramos and Bart for more 30+ y/o’s this offseason.
So it’s obvious you don’t really want to have any kind of an intelligent discussion about baseball; you just want to troll.
Sometimes I can’t even stand to read the comments you all post. I usually try to power through because I hate myself though.
You’re one of the few I like. We may not always agree, but you’re always respectful, thank you
We are down to a very small number of sane and respectful commenters
Thanks Wiggy! goes without saying you’re part of that small number. prob get bashed for this, but you’re the kindest commenter here.
Feel you there, hence why I don’t comment a lot…
Using “exercised” and “Sandoval” in the same sentence was just flat-out funny.
Dear Boston,
You’re welcome.
– Giants
Sandoval had nine home runs in 92 games and not all of those were starts. He was productive as a bench player. The Giants had many problems last season but Sandoval was not one of them.
I can’t believe so many people here are talking about Pablo when the real problem is a declining Evan Longoria who has like 4 years left on his contract
This.
I can’t believe that anyone thinks Panda is the problem. Guys done great things for SF and can and does still contribute to an otherwise mediocre club. If he never plays another game, thanks Pandoval.