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Giants Sign Darin Ruf To Minor League Deal

By Mark Polishuk | April 8, 2023 at 9:54am CDT

The Giants are signing Darin Ruf to a minor league contract, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark reports (Twitter link).  The Mets designated Ruf for assignment prior to Opening Day and then released the first baseman/outfielder earlier this week.

Ruf is no stranger to the Bay Area, hitting .248/.358/.455 over 726 plate appearances with the Giants from 2020-22.  Much of that production came in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, which led to a two-year, $6.25MM deal that covered Ruf’s last two seasons of arbitration eligibility.  Ruf hit a modest .216/.328/.373 over his first 314 PA of the 2022 campaign, but that didn’t stop the Mets from making a play for the veteran at the trade deadline, landing Ruf for a four-player package headlined by J.D. Davis.

Unfortunately for Ruf and the Mets, his brief time in New York was a disaster, as he hit only .152/.216/.197 over 74 PA and then finished the season on the 10-day injured list with a neck sprain.  Some wrist problems seemed to contribute to Ruf continuing to struggle during Spring Training, and the Mets finally parted ways with the 36-year-old.

Since Ruf cleared waivers before being released, San Francisco will owe Ruf only the prorated minimum MLB salary, while the Mets will cover the rest of Ruf’s $3.5MM salary.  If Ruf can recapture any of his old form, then the entire situation could become a nice mini-coup for the Giants, in obtaining four players for essentially nothing while getting Ruf’s salary off the books.

Ruf had pretty good numbers against right-handed pitching in 2020-21 before tailing off badly in 2022, but the Giants primarily used the right-handed hitter as a lefty-masher.  Over his eight MLB seasons, Ruf has a career .272/.367/.523 slash line in 706 PA against southpaws.  Between these splits and his ability to play first base and both corner outfield positions, Ruf is a very useful part-time option, especially for a Giants team that has both Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater (both right-handed hitting outfielders) currently on the injured list.

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San Francisco Giants Transactions Darin Ruf

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View Comments (41)
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Comments

  1. Joe says...

    2 months ago

    I guess the Phillies said no thanks.

    5
    Reply
    • mlb fan

      2 months ago

      It’s odd the Phillies weren’t interested; in a best case scenario, Ruf could bring 65% of what Hoskins brings, above average RH hitting. I guess the Phils will be bringing back RYAN HOWARD, Lol.

      2
      Reply
      • Oscar Gamble

        2 months ago

        Wrong mlb fan. They are bringing back Jim Thome.

        4
        Reply
      • bronxmac77

        2 months ago

        Your definition of ‘above average’ is below average.

        1
        Reply
        • mlb fan

          2 months ago

          Ruf doesn’t have a LOT of tools, but there IS a reason he’s lasted in MLB as long as he has; at his best, he’s an above average RH hitter who used to hit righties, but now only mashes lefties.

          2
          Reply
        • Hammerin' Hank

          2 months ago

          Some people can’t see past last year’s stat line, and are clueless about what each player can do well. Ruf is a lefty-masher who could still get back to his 2021 ways.

          5
          Reply
    • baseballknower69

      2 months ago

      He was a FA, he had the choice. Already went through Philly once, prob wasn’t interested in going back there. Even if they had a bigger role for him available.

      1
      Reply
  2. davemlaw

    2 months ago

    Awesome! Ruf is a good man, hope he can figure out his swing in Sacramento.

    8
    Reply
    • bronxmac77

      2 months ago

      Good man. Shiddy hidder.

      Reply
  3. Ketch

    2 months ago

    Not the Phillies?

    Reply
  4. aussiegiants53

    2 months ago

    Welcome back big boy!!

    3
    Reply
  5. JoeBrady

    2 months ago

    It’s like one of those fantasy trades. SF gets four players (who might not be any good), gets the NYMs to pick up all the salary, and get Ruf back for nothing.

    8
    Reply
    • myaccount2

      2 months ago

      Davis’ second half alone made the trade worthwhile, even if he doesn’t repeat it and the Giants never make the playoffs with him.

      3
      Reply
      • foppert

        2 months ago

        Davis is off to a great start this year as well. Hitting it hard and making plays. I’m definitely on the repeat.

        5
        Reply
    • ForeverGiantsFan

      2 months ago

      JD Davis is a major league player who can 3rd and 1st base. I think he’s better than Ruf.

      1
      Reply
    • claude raymond

      2 months ago

      Joe, the players giants got are highly regarded and incude JD Davis who has done very well with Giants. They got good young pitchers in that trade. Check it out.

      2
      Reply
      • phenomenalajs

        2 months ago

        Yes, as a Mets’ fan, I was hoping the return would have been Wilmer.

        Reply
      • claude raymond

        2 months ago

        Seymour started forAA Richmond in first game of DHeader. 4 ip, 1er, 3hits 3ks. Zwack started for AA Richmond today in game 2: 4ip, 1 hit, 0er, 9 ks. Richmond swept Reading. Seymour and Zwack came in Ruf trade. Szapucki is the other pitcher the Giants got. Hurt now but has pitched well in MILB but struggled last year in MLB. Again, also struggled with injuries lately. Farhan made out like a bandit in the trade.

        1
        Reply
  6. raregokus

    2 months ago

    LOLMETS

    9
    Reply
  7. 10centBeerNight

    2 months ago

    The prodigal son returns! Cue the Long Island choir with cries of “watch him hit for the cycle against the Mets”

    3
    Reply
  8. MetsRTrash

    2 months ago

    Dumpster Divin’ Farhan…

    2
    Reply
    • ForeverGiantsFan

      2 months ago

      I call it fantasy baseball.

      Reply
  9. Breck68

    2 months ago

    My question is why?
    The Giants don’t need a first baseman because they have several that can play first. LeMont Wade Jr.,LD Davis,Wilmer Flores. They have enough average outfielders.

    1
    Reply
    • foppert

      2 months ago

      That’s awesome. I love the Giants.
      Welcome back, Darin !

      4
      Reply
    • foppert

      2 months ago

      Apologies Breck. That love statement wasn’t meant to be a reply.

      Reply
    • mlb fan

      2 months ago

      The Giants might not need a 1bman, but they need players who can HIT. The Farhan-led SF Giants of the last few yrs, have been trotting out LOTS of AAAA type players and hitters. Ruf is a well trained, albeit streaky,veteran hitter, which is more than many of the recent SF Giants can say.

      1
      Reply
      • foppert

        2 months ago

        That narrative is a bit of a misconception imo.
        7th in runs per game in 21. 11th in 22. I think it’s something like 4th in HR in those 2 years.

        3
        Reply
    • phenomenalajs

      2 months ago

      Sabol will be needed behind the plate until Bart’s ready, so it’s possible Ruf could be used in the outfield.

      Reply
  10. Datashark

    2 months ago

    Giants will turn around and trade him to Phillies, once phillies realize he could fill in.

    Ruf has no real place to fit in on Giants at 1B but maybe role filler or PH/DH

    1
    Reply
  11. tad2b13

    2 months ago

    Love it. If Ruf can get his swing back he provides depth at multiple positions. When the inevitable injuries occur he’ll be a good guy to have available.

    2
    Reply
    • Bill M

      2 months ago

      Getting his swing back is a big if. He hasn’t had it for a while

      Reply
      • tad2b13

        2 months ago

        It wasn’t that long ago that he did have it. But if he doesn’t, so what? It’s a no-risk investment, with some decent upside.

        4
        Reply
  12. solaris602

    2 months ago

    Somewhere Bobby Evans is shaking his head in agreement saying to himself, “Yes, Farhan, now you’re getting it. I made moves like this all day long.”

    Reply
  13. Dumpster Divin Theo

    2 months ago

    I rove you ruf

    Reply
  14. sfjackcoke

    2 months ago

    Just so we are clear we’re talking about a MiLB signing, a guy not on the 40 man roster. Due to injuries the Giants are missing Slater, Haniger, Bart and now Perez, all RH bats. Unlike Gary Sanchez, Ruf was in an MLB camp this year so he provides both short term emergency depth

    In 2022 SFG tried to expand his role to beyond just a lefty masher and I think it messed him up. Any role he has for the team in 2023 will be back to almost exclusively facing lefties but it’s not a good sign if he gets called up. ZERO chance he plays on the grass at this juncture. It’s 1B/DH and off the bench.

    Sanchez has the clearer path to big club whenever he’s ready as the simple move to create roster space is swap 40 man spots with Wynn now the backup catcher. The downside is wow Perez looked SO good behind the plate and none of the Bart, Sanchez, Sabol are as good defensively.

    1
    Reply
  15. BaseballisLife

    2 months ago

    The Mets get to pay for Ruf to be depth for the Giants. Adding insult to injury.

    Reply
  16. Rsox

    2 months ago

    Can he catch? that seems to be the bigger need in San Francisco these days.

    I kind of figured the Phillies would take a pass but it would seem they need depth at the position

    Reply
  17. brat922

    2 months ago

    Yippeee !!

    Reply
  18. CottMan3

    2 months ago

    Can one really say a package was headlined by JD Davis?

    Reply
    • tad2b13

      2 months ago

      CottMan3, I’m guessing you’re a Mets’ fan. Nice try at trying to be cute BTW, but in 49 games last season Davis hit .263 with an OPS+ of 140 for the Giants. This season he’s off to a nice start hitting .353 with a 187 OPS+. If that isn’t worthy of the questionable value of being the headliner in a trade, then most trades apparently aren’t worthy of a headliner either.

      Reply
    • sfjackcoke

      2 months ago

      Why not? It was a trade based on roster fit from the Major League roster. What is perplexing given difference in age, number of years of control (Davis was 6yrs younger + extra year of control) how in that deal did the Giants also get 3 lottery tickets pitchers from the Mets?

      SSS but what I’ve seen this year of JD Davis is he looks better at 3rd, I think he ends up with ~450 plate appearances being more than just a lefty masher.

      1
      Reply

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