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.
I guess the Phillies said no thanks.
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.
Wrong mlb fan. They are bringing back Jim Thome.
Your definition of ‘above average’ is below average.
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.
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.
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.
Awesome! Ruf is a good man, hope he can figure out his swing in Sacramento.
Good man. Shiddy hidder.
Not the Phillies?
Welcome back big boy!!
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.
Davis’ second half alone made the trade worthwhile, even if he doesn’t repeat it and the Giants never make the playoffs with him.
Davis is off to a great start this year as well. Hitting it hard and making plays. I’m definitely on the repeat.
JD Davis is a major league player who can 3rd and 1st base. I think he’s better than Ruf.
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.
Yes, as a Mets’ fan, I was hoping the return would have been Wilmer.
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.
LOLMETS
The prodigal son returns! Cue the Long Island choir with cries of “watch him hit for the cycle against the Mets”
Dumpster Divin’ Farhan…
I call it fantasy baseball.
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.
That’s awesome. I love the Giants.
Welcome back, Darin !
Apologies Breck. That love statement wasn’t meant to be a reply.
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.
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.
Sabol will be needed behind the plate until Bart’s ready, so it’s possible Ruf could be used in the outfield.
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
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.
Getting his swing back is a big if. He hasn’t had it for a while
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.
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.”
I rove you ruf
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.
The Mets get to pay for Ruf to be depth for the Giants. Adding insult to injury.
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
Yippeee !!
Can one really say a package was headlined by JD Davis?
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.
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.