Category Archives: Giants

Jeff Francoeur Giants: Veteran outfielder signed and sent to Triple-A

The Giants have signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor-league contract, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Following his release Sunday from Kansas City after struggling for most of the last two seasons, “Frenchy” will join Triple-A Fresno and await promotion.

Francouer is just 29 but has already had a turbulent major-league career, with the Royals as the fourth team that has given up on the right-handed hitter. Since signing a 3-year, $16 million deal in KC, Francoeur produced only the first season. As the everyday right fielder, he hit 20 home runs and posted a .285 batting average. In the season-and-a-half since, Francoeur has failed to match that home run total and his batting average has slipped to the Mendoza Line.

The outfielder’s arm is the stuff of legend, but his defensive metrics have been wildly inconsistent when they haven’t been just plain bad. The Giants have been a mess in left field all season, but Frenchy’s career numbers don’t indicate that he will be a significant upgrade over Andres Torres. But the Giants are toying with fringe prospect Cole Gillespie at the moment, which makes the Francoeur signing an inevitability rather than an option.

Caveat emptor. FanGraphs’ Wendy Thurm pointed out on Twitter today that Francoeur has played just 12 innings in the outfield in the majors.

Aside from all of that, the minor-league deal will not burden the Giants, as Kansas City is picking up nearly all of the $6.75 he is owed for the 2013 season. Brian Sabean has won two titles and become the longest-tenured general manager by squeezing rocks and finding out they were gold nuggets.

Stay gold, Frenchy.

 

SF Giants lineup: Brandon Belt will bat third for the first time in career

 

Brandon Belt is the most controversial player in San Francisco baseball history, World Series era. This sound ridiculous, of course, that a 25-year-old first baseman who is progressing nicely in his career is causing so much heat on the airwaves and on Twitter. Like a heartbroken person talking about their ex, every conversation about the Giants eventually devolves into a conversation about Belt.

Belt’s insertion into the 3-hole is a coup for all of his supporters. It’s also the greatest opportunity for #BeltBash. Today’s results for Belt won’t make or break his career, but it be a moral victory if he sent one into the water in the first inning. An 0-4, four-strikeout performance (like Yasiel Puig two nights ago) would make KNBR more unlistenable than usual.

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Joaquin Arias injury: Giants infielder has appendectomy, heads to disabled list

Giants infielder Joaquin Arias was placed on the disabled list Monday following an appendectomy, according to Alex Pavlovic of the San Jose Mercury News. Arias was diagnosed with appendicitis Sunday and had successful surgery late that night after playing a full game at shortstop against Los Angeles. Hitting sixth, Arias went 1 for 3 with a double off Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw in the losing effort.

A 3-4 week window is given for most players recovering from an appendectomy, but the results can vary. Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was out for 25 days following his surgery earlier this year, returning May 17th after going under the knife April 22nd. However, there have been cases of shorter recoveries. Matt Holliday took nine days and Adam Dunn took just six to return to game action in the 2011 season.

Nick Noonan has been recalled to take Arias’ roster spot. This is Noonan’s third crack at the big leagues, having made the Opening Day roster but been yo-yoed since his initial demotion on June 8th. Like Arias, Noonan can play multiple infield positions.

Arias was having a decent run for a bench player, batting .319 in 73 plate appearances since June 1st. The 24-year-old Noonan has struggled in his first few cups of coffee, hitting just .212/.256/.235. Per FanGraphs, Noonan hasn’t been a liability in the field or on the basepaths, scoring positive marks in both categories. All small sample size caveats apply.