The Giants officially announced decisions on their club options today, exercising their rights to retain infielder Wilmer Flores, left-hander Jose Alvarez, and right-hander Jay Jackson for the 2022 season. As was previously reported, San Francisco officially declined their $22MM club option on Johnny Cueto, and will instead pay Cueto $5MM in buyout money. Additionally, right-hander Yunior Marte’s contract was selected to the Giants’ 40-man roster.
There wasn’t much surprise with any of these option decisions except for possibly Jackson, just because it wasn’t publicly known that the veteran reliever’s contract contained any sort of option. The Giants signed the veteran reliever to a minor league deal this past winter, and Jackson posted a 3.74 ERA and a strong 31.1% strikeout rate over 21 2/3 IP in the big leagues, though he was also hampered by a below-average 13.3% walk rate. Jackson has tossed 56 1/3 innings with the Padres, Brewers, and Giants over parts of three MLB seasons, but he had more success pitching in parts of four seasons with Nippon Professional Baseball.
Flores inked a two-year, $6.25MM free agent deal with San Francisco in February 2020, and he’ll now return for a third season and earn $3.5MM. (The Giants had a $3.25MM decision to make, as Flores was owed $250K in a buyout if the option had been declined.) Flores has hit .264/.328/.470 with 30 home runs over 649 PA in a Giants uniform, and has seen action as a part-time first, second, and third baseman, making him both a versatile platoon piece and a big weapon against left-handed pitching.
Alvarez signed with the Giants last winter, earning $1.05MM in salary last season and now another $1.5MM in 2022 via his exercised club option. Despite several solid years as a member of the Angels and Phillies bullpens, Alvarez’s market was hurt by his lack of action in 2020, as a groin injury limited him to only 6 1/3 frames over eight appearances with Philadelphia.
He bounced back in a major way with the Giants, posting a 2.37 ERA over 64 2/3 innings. Never a particularly big strikeout pitcher, Alvarez’s strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 15.8% last season, yet he still kept batters at bay by inducing a lot of grounders (50.5% groundball rate) and a lot of soft contact.
Wilmer❗️⚾️
Flores & Alvarez for sure, not too sure about the other ones.
Jay Jackson is a 34 year old, right-handed career minor league journeyman making the league minimum that gave the Giants 21.2 innings, striking out 28 walking 12 and allowing 9 runs.
No real reason to let him walk yet at that price, particularly given he still has a minor league option left.
SF probably would have selected Posey’s option too, if he didn’t retire.
Ah….. maybe
Dont know if you heard, but the Giants FO petitioned the League to pay Posey his 3 mil option, even though he forfeited it by retiring–still awaiting word from Legue
Why would they do that instead of just hiring him in some advisor job that doesn’t actually have to do anything and paying him the money that way?
Because he is taking time to spend with his family. There is supposed to be something coming about his future in the org but for now he just wants to be a fan for a bit and watch baseball with his kids.
Interesting they didn’t make a qualifying offer to DeSclafani. Who else on the Giants didn’t get one. I thought there was one more eligible. Was it Wood?
Why would they give the QO to someone who flourishes off bad teams and is unusable against their biggest rival
Disco isn’t worth 18M AAV, more like 10-12M annually max
Even that seems about 20% high to me.
The Giants believe the coaching staff will attract front lien starting pitching. The arrival of the Bart Train along with shutout Casila are a definite step down from Posey. They will need starters with established track records to stabilize the rotation. I think Stroman is a logical target.
Then they will roll the dice on some reclamation projects. Verlander would be the high end version of that tier.
Actually interesting you bring up Verlander…Never thought of that, might be a wonderful fit.
It is too be seen whether he and Syndergaard take the QOs. I think Verlander rejects and Thor rejects.
Both have high upside talent and are coming off serious injuries. If Syndergaard goes to free agency he would be a great target for the Giants.
The problem with a QO is that you’re taking what’s behind Curtain #1 without knowing what’s behind curtains 2 & 3.
Are DeSclafani or Alex Wood worth guaranteeing $18M next season before the free agency market actually plays out? I think the Giants would be thrilled to have both players back, but I think they can do it for much, much less than $18M each.
Yes–Wood and DeSclafani did not get a QO–just Belt
Thanks. I was just trying to figure out who didn’t get them, but was eligible. I trust this FO.
“Groin injury” is putting it mildly
More like testicle trauma.
Gimme KB, Verlander, Sherzer, Chris Taylor, and John Gray, on top of many resigns like Gaus and Wood. Disco if you can. Semien.
LETS GO GIANTS
crazywarrior – The Giants aren’t signing all those players—especially with 4 of them attached to QOs. Would love Semien!
Glad they kept Jackson, that dude is awesome, like he is a good pitcher but seems like an awesome dude to have in the org.