The Giants secured a left-handed veteran to balance their spin on Thursday, signing Alex Wood for a year, $ 3 million, which includes an additional $ 3 million in performance bonuses. Wood, a former Dodgers pitcher, will meet with baseball operations president Farhan Zaidi, who previously served as
The Giants secured a veteran left-hander to balance their rotation on Thursday by signing
Wood, a former Dodger pitcher, will meet with baseball operations president Farhan Zaidi, who previously served as general manager for Los Angeles. An All-Star in 2017, Wood recorded 3.45 ERA in 188 appearances (138 matches) over eight Major League seasons with the Braves, Dodgers and Reds.
OFFICIAL: #SFGiants signed with left-handed pitcher Alex Wood for one year in the Major League for the 2021 season. pic.twitter.com/78Fu5ONpQl
– SFGiants (@SFGiants) January 15, 2021
Wood, 30, dealt with shoulder problems last year and shot mostly in relief to the Dodgers, posting an ERA of 6.39 at 12 2/3 innings in the regular season. He ended the short 2020 season on a high note, launching two perfect entries against the Rays in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series to help the Dodgers secure their first championship in 32 years.
“I saw him at his best,” said Zaidi during Zoom’s call with reporters. “When he has the health to go there every five days, he can be a very important and valuable part of a starting car. What was encouraging about Alex last year, despite the fact that he had some health problems, is that he ended the season very strong. He shot incredibly well in the playoffs, including the World Series.
“For me, watching him shoot like that in the playoffs was really reminiscent of when I saw him at his best. … We are very optimistic that he can take this until 2021 and be a really important part of our rotation next year. “
Wood is about to join right-handers Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Logan Webb on the Giants’ 2021 rotation. Tyler Beede is also expected to join the mix as soon as he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery, probably in May.
The Giants were looking to add more left-wing options after losing Drew Smyly, Tyler Anderson and Andrew Suárez this winter, making Wood a natural fit for Zaidi, who acquired the southpaw as part of a three-team and 13-player exchange between the Dodgers, Braves and Marlins in 2015.
“I am happy that this time the acquisition was a little simpler, a one-year Premier League contract,” said Zaidi, laughing. “The negotiation we did with Braves to acquire it in LA had a lot of moving parts, so this is a much more direct transaction.”
Zaidi continued to cite Wood’s “funk, disappointment and competitiveness” as the main characteristics that made him an attractive target again this year.
“In fact, he is most effective when he keeps the ball on the ground,” said Zaidi. “This is a little different from where the game is going, with an emphasis on hitting and hitting the area with fast high balls. He has an unusual delivery, a misleading delivery and a type of pitch style that is becoming a little less common. I think all of these things really work in your favor. “
Wood will receive bonuses for games launched in which he registers 10 or more outs, including $ 125,000 for 12 and 14 games, $ 250,000 for 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 games and $ 500,000 for 26, 28 and 30 games. Zaidi said the structure of the contract was designed to offer some protection to Wood in case he was used as a pitcher for bulk innings behind an opener.
The Giants now have 40 players in their 40-player roster.
Maria Guardado covers the Giants for MLB.com. She previously covered the 2017-18 Angels. follow her Twitter.