The Giants are in agreement on a minor league contract with free-agent right-hander Trevor Cahill, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). The JBA Sports client will be in Major League camp during Spring Training in hopes of landing a roster spot. He can earn $2MM in the majors and double that through incentives, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).
Cahill, who’ll turn 32 on March 1, scuffled through a brutal year with the Angels in 2019, pitching to a career-worst 5.98 ERA with 7.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a whopping 2.2 HR/9. The juiced ball that resulted in the league-wide home run boom surely didn’t do him any favors, but homer troubles that extreme can’t be solely placed on the abnormalities within the composition of the baseball.
A year prior, though, Cahill enjoyed a strong reunion tour with the Athletics, spinning 110 innings of 3.76 ERA ball with 8.2 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.65 HR/9 and a 53.4 percent ground-ball rate as a member of the Oakland rotation. He’s been in an on-year, off-year cycle for the past four seasons that in some way mirrors the Giants’ own even-year dynasty from 2010-14, so perhaps he’s due for yet another bounceback effort. He’ll surely be comfortable with the coaching staff in San Francisco, which features first-year pitching coach Andrew Bailey — a former teammate of Cahill’s dating back to his first A’s run and his bullpen coach in Anaheim a season ago.
Cahill has extensive experience both as a starting pitcher and as a reliever, so while four of the Giants’ five rotation spots are spoken for — Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Gausman, Drew Smyly — Cahill can both compete for the fifth slot or for a spot in the San Francisco bullpen.
What is it with the Giants and ex-Angels this year?
we are really just grabbing every bargain free agent pitcher
Well he was a disaster for us last year, but last time in the bay area with Oakland he was decent, so there is hope..
no hope really, except as a bp pitcher…
that’s what you do when rebuilding. grab as many as you can, hope they succeed, and flip them. not all are going to do anything, but the more you have, the better your chances of finding a few.
Pretty much, yeah.
The Giants. Lol
You. Smh
Building an entire roster of guys who used to be good a bunch of years ago.
Makes perfect sense for a rebuilding team. Doesn’t cost the team anything so why not?
I would say it’s disheartening for fans to see their team sign numerous mediocre and over-the-hill players in hopes they can flip them. I think all fans want their team to attempt to field a competitive team. Maybe not playoff-worthy, but competitive.
that’s like buying a cute looking trash can. no matter how nice it looks, its still a trash can. however, the nice one costs you more.
I’d rather they sign as many guys who might turn into trade chips than spend money/years on a Nick Castellanos type who might take them from 70 to 73 wins. Until the dead weight contracts come off the books they should just be trying to build the farm without blocking anymore MLB spots long-term.
Frankly, as a lifetime San Francisco fan, I’ve been quite pleased with the moves that have been made overall. I love Zaidi’s ideas and it’s unfortunate that most other fans are seriously in love with the Bobby Evans moves to this day. The team could of gotten a great deal of significant younger talent if they could of pursued trades of Bumgarner and Smith but was held hostage by Bay Area’s finest really believing this team had a shot to the post-season. Hell, the writers for the Giants are still complaining about MadBum not being around implicating it was the FO’s doing and absolutely nothing to do with an awful lineup.
Yeah I agree with you mate. I’ve liked his moves. Only wish they had resigned MadBum and made him a Giant for life, not meant to be
None of the Giants writers are complaining about the lack of MadBum? They’ve written about him and his absence, but they have been understanding of the process and have constantly been defending the front office from the rage of Twitter.
PECOTA projections came out yesterday…it’s UGLY. Giants are a 90+ loss last place team. Lol
The Bay Area baseball writers are just god awful. A bunch of homers who never criticized Sabean or Evans as a matter of fact that Hack Baggarly wrote this wonderful retrospective piece on Evans when he was fired. I’m from New York. If you do what Sabean/ Evans did to cripple this franchise, they would have been tarred and feathered and subsequently ran out of town after the 2017 when they loss 98 games. The baseball writers here are a JOKE
Fielding a competitive team while rebuilding is easier said than done. This is more than just a “retooling”; Giants need to clear house on elderly underperforming vets, who are still half or more of the players on the diamond.
The only way they compete with that existing core is by spending $$$ (thus defeating the point of a rebuild) or getting lucky and hitting the lottery on bounceback guys and fringe pickups. The latter method is the one they are using, and it’s the smartest way to go for 2020. If things go right, you’ll have a competitive team by next year or the one after.
You have no Dubon without such moves. Pomeranz was part of that deal. So yeah, there’s a lot of value signing guys for very little and turning that guy into a versatile, talented and controlling player
“Giants need to clear house on elderly underperforming vets” by signing a couple other dozen elderly underperforming vets. Sure, they’re low paid & low risk, but still way past-their-prime.
It’s a matter of contract length. Some of the underperforming vets, like Longoria, are under contract for a long time to come. Recent vet signings like Pence and Panda are just for mentor/backup roles. Most of the other vet signings are of the minor league/invite to ST camp variety.
agreed
Baggarly is so awful I refuse to even acknowledge him as a baseball writer, let alone a Giants advocate. He’s a hack who will write anything that’ll garner the pitiful sentiment of San Franciscans by any means necessary. The guy literally puts his pronouns in his bio… ffs man go write for Buzzfeed or something.
could ‘have’ gotten/pursued
rightyspecialist:
As a Yankee fan you should know, but apparently don’t, that Sabean was director of scouting, and later vice president of player development for the Yankee before being hired as Giant’s GM. Basically he’s responsible for the Yankees drafting Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, J.T. Snow, and Andy Pettitte, and signing Mariano Rivera,
And apparently as a Yankee fan you have no idea that the majority of those 27 WS titles were just plain bought. You are the joke..
BigFred:
It’s only disheartening for fans that don’t understand the realities of the Giant’s situation.
Indeed. I loath Baggarly. He’s the complete idiot that didn’t vote Pete Alonso NL ROY . Subsequently denying him a unanimous vote
@tad2b13 I’m fully aware of Sabeans time in NY and you give him Way too much juice. Groch signed Jeter and Gene Michael was responsible for the core 4 development not Sabean.
Lastly , you need to GET OFF MY nuts. If you don’t like what I type go complain to your boyfriend about it. We don’t do personal attacks here at MLBTR comment boards. Knock it off
@snot, I agree 100%. Our young guys will get plenty of reps this year and we might end up with a pitcher or two (or three if we’re lucky) to trade at the deadline. Rebuild and reps is all that’s happening in 2020. I’m ok with it.
@righty: do you ever post anything positive, anywhere, on any site or blog? Or do you troll every statement anyone makes, and just lol your way thru your negative life? Why not try to ADD to the conversation?? Man you must be one miserable dude.
Yes I know
Besides bringing 3 world series titles here, what did Sabean and Evan’s do. Do admit Evan’s was over his head when he took over for Sabean tho.
Agreed. And let’s revisit that Pomeranz/Dubon deal in a year. My bet is it looks even better than getting the Braves to eat all of Melancon’s bloated contract.
Yeah, the Giants May lose 90 games. But they’ll also unearth a gem of a player for league minimum, and they’ll be in a very positive position this time next year, with prospects and payroll space. Unlike Baltimore, the Giants have a plan and anyone who isn’t a fair weather/Johnny come lately fan can see it.
There’s no such thing as a bad one year contract.
@Rightyspecialist: “If you don’t like what I type go complain to your boyfriend about it. We don’t do personal attacks here at MLBTR comment boards.”
You just made a personal attack, homophobe.
Most fans don’t understand how to get there. The team would not need to grab Cahill types if the upper minors were beaming with guys ready.
^Grammar!
I was thinking the same thing
Dude, you don’t know anything!
Sabean was a huge part of Jeter becoming a Yankee!
And “we don’t do personal attacks”!!!? Did you of all people really just say that!?!
So it’s ok to be an ignorant, bigoted troll, but just don’t point it out to you?!?
Wow.
Maybe stop posting if you can’t handle the consequences of your words/actions. I know we’d all appreciate it!
The way you talk about the Giants seems quite personal, broheim.
@”Bochy’s retirement fund” Mr. Zaidi, please don’t come here just to praise yourself on the discussion boards, you have hired plenty of “yes men” to follow your flawed logic. Thank you.
rightyspecialist:
Ooh, I guess I struck a nerve. Why so sensitive? I thought you were down on Giant’s fans for your incorrect perception of their sensitivity, and now you go all crybaby. Wow talk about hypocrisy. If you’re too sensitive for the comments section may be don’t come here. I love how you say we don’t do personal attacks at MLBTR and then immediately follow that with a personal attack. Plus things like “go complain to your boyfriend” are so lame. If you want your insults to hurt get some new material.
You’re a tool and I’ll get on you for your baseball ignorance as much as I want. For example, I guess you don’t know how FOs work. Maybe Groch signed Jeter, but he had to be drafted first. Sabean was head of scouting, and it was with his recommendation that the Yankees went. Delude yourself as much as you want but it’s common knowledge throughout baseball that Sabean had a big role in putting together that Yankee’s core.
But I’ll make you a deal. You get off the Giant’s nut, which you’ve been as hard on as I’ve been on you, and I’ll knock it off. But as long as you make pointless attacks on the Giants you can expect more of the same from me.
They projected them as a last place team last year as well…
you’re quite pleased? ok, will you be quite pleased with 100+ losses this year?
Yes, but continual dumpster diving is not rebuilding…its accepting less than mediocrity
It’s not continual…it’s until the aged out core’s contracts come off the books, which is 2021-2022.
Cahill had some good years but since then at his best he’s been average. At his worst he’s been quite bad.
If Cahill is bad he doesn’t make the team. But he wouldn’t be the first SP to rejuvenate his career as a reliever. It’s zero risk to find out.
Well he has been about the same as a starter and a reliever both least year and for his career. Take opposing hitters OPS in 2019. Starter .894
Reliever .864
It would take making a mechanical or pitch usage change to make him a valuable reliever.
You’re probably right, but for the amount of risk I don’t mind the Giants finding out.
Jered Weaver is the Giants next signing. You heard it here first.
They’ll sign Matt Harvey before Jered Weaver
And…We will never hear from you again.
The A’s got a lot out of him. The Angels got nothing out of him.
Maybe he’ll fall somewhere in between.
Watch for the REAL Molina brothers too
Trevor was good with the A’s last time around. The hope is for Cahill to replicate what he did while with Oakland back then…
Does anyone else remember those Garbage Pail Kids trading cards from long ago ? The Giants kind of remind me of them with the moves they’ve been making. Maybe one of them is a doll grooming himself in front of a mirror with the nickname “Washed Up”.
Does anyone else remember those Garbage Pail Kids trading cards from long ago ? The Giants kind of remind me of them with the moves they’ve been making. Maybe one of them is a doll grooming himself in front of a mirror with the nickname “Washed Up”.
Maybe Tyler Beede’s card could be a guy in a body cast-“Often Injured”. Or one of the least protective players could have a peace sign t- shirt and be “Zero WAR”
If that’s the best you’ve got, maybe you shouldn’t post anymore. I’m surprised your trailor park has wifi.
Better a trailer park with Wi- Fi than having to squat at the library computer lab reeking of booze + garbage. You want to trash talk, troll ? You’ll have to wait until tomorrow when the library opens again.
I’m surprised you know there’s computers at the library, considering you’ve probably never been to one. It’s not trolling when it’s responding to a comment comparing people to garbage pail kids. Grow up.
Man, I remember when Cahill came up with the A’s and had an incredible year in 2010, then was lights out at the start of 2011 (he had an ERA below 2 in his first like, 10 starts). Since then, he’s been pretty hit or miss though.
they should try him in the pen
Maybe, but he has been about the same pitcher as a reliever.
Cahill belongs in the NL to have any shot at pitching in the big leagues.
The fake ball has ruined a lot more careers than stolen signs. Start the lawsuits. Trevor Cahill v Fake Ball.
I remember being happy when he signed here. The results were brutal. Credit the guy for taking his lumps and continuing to try. Hope he does better in SF.
Waiting for a Puig at $5,000,000 one year deal.
Keep waiting.
Puig is not a good role model or mentor for the younger guys. There is a method to the madness in SF. Trying to get team oriented guys with positive attitudes as they prepare for 2021 and beyond. They’re better off without guys like that
Cahill pitches well across the bay so maybe he’ll have some luck in SF.
Cahill’s best days are surely in the past, but it’s just a minor league invite. No harm in that.
All of the moves made since Zaidi took over have been low risk, show me type of deals. He has created minor league depth and the major league team will be more versatile then in the past. He’s still got multiple, bad contracts to get rid of so the process will take longer. The goal is 2021, probably 2022 and beyond. Be patient, they’re going to get better. Be thankful the Giants aren’t perpetually rebuilding like so many other teams. The Giants have great ownership and management, they’re going to be fine
Fascinating that the ire is focused on the front office when the core group of players deserve the majority of the ridicule. Collectively the core group that were all handsomely rewarded with contracts ranging from $75m to $125m ALL FAILED MISERABLY! They should all be embarrassed by the epic collapse of the team these past 3 seasons. Injuries were a part but guys clearly didn’t work hard, some obviously were out of shape while others rested on their laurels and didn’t adjust to the ever changing game. Some were selfish and put their own interests ahead of the team. Don’t misinterpret this post as a waiver from complicity to the front office. But every key piece failed (Crawford, Pence, Posey, Panik, Belt, Bumgarner, Melancon, Samardizja, etc.). All of those individuals played a key role in a massive failure.
This is correct. Baseball stupid low-IQ Giants fans applaud Brian Sabean and have contempt for Farhan Zaidi. It’s just laughable. Sabean / Evans BURIED this franchise . They left Zaidi 200 million dollar payroll . No farm system. An outdated scouting department, coaching staff that was illiterate and dismissive of advanced metrics. And a fan base of overly sentimental, highly sensitive self entitled children.
That’s because Sabean’s got 3 WS trophies and Zaidi has… Billy Hamilton, genius.
Yeah if Giants fans want to be upset with anybody they should look straight at the ownership group, because Farhan is doing exactly what was asked of him and he’s doing a great job. At the beginning of last year I had no hope for the next 5 years minimum. All of that’s been completely turned around in 1 year.
We now have financial flexibility, farm system nearing top ten, depth on the 40 man is improving every day. Now we just need to play the waiting game for the farm system to produce a few stars. Pretty damn impressive stuff.
The two things that are going the way of the Hula Hoop in 2020 are (a) the super ball and (b) tanking. The combination has come close to almost wrecking what should be , if not another Golden Age, at least a Silver one.
The super ball leads to three-outcome baseball….which bores everybody, young and old. Tanking leads to half (if you’re lucky) teams playing competitively. I doubt MLB is going to let either exist anymore (see new playoff idea).
Look, the Giants are in a bit of a mess; it happens. But there’s NO excuse, in that market and with that fan base, to toss it all aside and play for 2025. #1 it almost never works; #2 it destroys the brand. And the Giants brand is HUGE; we ain’t talking the Rays here.
Zaidi’s moving along pretty much the way he should. He COULD be more aggressive (eating some bad contracts; they have the money), but he hasn’t been bad.
How about bringing back the dead ball era – make teams rally and hustle for runs instead of the big bop and trot. Lots more fun to watch baserunning plays…
Agree, front office is doing a good job of rebuilding while simultaneously being competitive without tanking. Doing a quick rebuild without tanking is hard to do.
On the last part, I think Farhan would consider eating some bad contracts if some prospects were actually ready to take there spots and the depth on the roster was better than guys like Crawford. Sadly, we are not quite there yet. I think next year we will be though.
Good Lord! Competitive? This team IS NOT competitive, except competing for a spot as one of the worst teams in baseball .
Zaidi could’ve signed Castellanos to build around, instead he’s rebuilding around Billy Hamilton and Hunter Pence.
Granted he’s improved the farm system 100% but he apparently has no concept of grabbing a player like NC and what it would mean to franchise & fans. A rebuild has to have a core and he has NOTHING in place that resembles a cornerstone. Whatever success he had with LA was because they actually spent money on FA’s. Dodgers great farm was in place LONG b4 Zaidi showed up, he had nothing to do with it.
C’mon man, he’s NOT rebuilding around Hamilton and Pence. Pence is a part-timer signed to a one-year contract that will probably be more of mentor/4th outfielder role, just like Gregor Blanco was in the championship years. Hamilton isn’t even on the team: He’s merely a ST invite. He’ll have to blow Duggar away to break camp. He might do that and still not make the team with all the depth back there.
Ownership will open the coffers wide starting next year. To keep the competitive window open as long as possible for the next core, it makes a lot more sense to make this year a stopgap year.
Uh, that was sarcasm, rebuilding around Hamilton and Pence. Nevertheless, Castellanos made sense, outfielder, young and could’ve been had for a reasonable 2-3 year deal.
Yes, competitive. This team will win at least 75 games, you’ll see. And for a team in a rebuild thats competitive. Lineup far exceeds what we had at this time last year. Rotation is much deeper and should be better. Bring back tons of bullpen pieces.
The new core is normally the last thing to be put in place before a rebuild is finished. Duh. Teams don’t wait for depth pieces to develop, those guys are the easiest to find. Remember, when Farhan showed up there was no new stars in place. Joey will come up this year, and then we’ll see how quickly the rest of the core develops.
Park and defense should help him. Could be a valuable reliever/swingman. Solid bye low.
*buy
Why is assumed that Gausman and Smyly have rotation spots locked up? They both will have to earn it in Spring Training. Beede and Webb are also being afforded Spring Training to prove if they deserves those spots.
Only Cueto and Samardzija are really “locked in”
I think so too with Gausman and Smyly. But, they are prefered by FO since they have the dual function of eating innings and being trade assets.
100 losses might be possible. Anyone understand why Baer hired the hollywood beachball doodgers front office to run the San Francisco Giants?