Kung Fu Panda Returning to the Giants in 2020!

In a somewhat surprising move, the San Francisco Giants have signed one of their legends, Pablo Sandoval, to a Minor League Contract with an invite to Spring Training this year. Pablo had a fantastic first half in 2019 but his season was cut short by Tommy John Surgery. This move will allow the Kung Fu Panda to make the team and again serve as a versatile switch hitting backup who can swing the bat who also serves as a fan favorite bringing more life into Oracle Park. If he makes the team, he will make about $2 million.

In another move that happened earlier, the Giants signed former White Sox infielder and 2019 Gold Glove Award winner Yolmer Sanchez. This is also a Minor League Contract, but the strange details of the signing include a tweet by Ken Rosenthal who said Sanchez had Major League offers, but declined them so he could have a chance to be an every day player.

Free-agent 2B Yolmer Sánchez in agreement with #SFGiants on minor-league deal, source tells The Athletic. Turned down major-league offers for chance to be everyday starter at second base.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 28, 2020

Sanchez an every day player on the Giants? The Giants are a team that needs more offense — not another great fielder who hits .250 with 5 home runs. Besides, Mauricio Dubon, who hit 24 home runs between AAA and the big leagues in 2019 is in a prime position to be the every day second baseman. With Longoria, Crawford, and Belt rounding out the infield — all of whom hit better than Sanchez — where does Sanchez fit in as an every day player? Perhaps Zaidi has something up his sleeve.

How The Giants Allowed Bumgarner To Leave To a Division Rival

When we think of Madison Bumgarner’s best moments with the San Francisco Giants, the 2014 World Series will always be one of the first memories that comes to mind. However, his World Series dominance started in 2010, when he absolutely baffled Rangers hitters, helping the Giants win their first World Series in San Francisco. Not longer after that, the Giants Front Office knew they had to figure out a way to lock this guy up… and they did it.

After the 2012 World Series, which the Giants also won, Bumgarner signed a long term extension that would last through at least 2017, with options for 2018 and 2019. It was during this time that folks started making some noise about the fact that Bumgarner was being underpaid. The Giants heard the noise and knew they needed to negotiate another extension — and they were set to do so after the 2017 season, when Matt Cain’s contract would come off the books.

It was in April of 2017, however, when the Giants plans with Bumgarner were forever altered — he seriously injured his shoulder in a dirtbike accident. Although he eventually returned to action, there was no way the Giants would approve of a long term extension without at least making sure was fully healthy again in 2018. Fast forward to 2018 Spring Training, and a line drive off the hand throws another wrench into the extension plans. Bumgarner was sidelined again, and this time, the final decision would have to be made in 2019, which corresponded with the arrival of new President of Baseball Operations, Farhan Zaidi.

Zaidi showed up with a new philosophy in mind — an analytical philosophy that included making sure to not allow emotions to get in the way of practical decision-making. Bumgarner, at 30, signing a multi-year deal for upwards of 100 million dollars, would likely not be the wisest baseball decision in his mind. Therefore, he was allowed to become a Free Agent and take his talents elsewhere. It was not simply a cold, calculated, analytical Front Office that sent MadBum out of town, but it was a sequence of unfortunate events that included a dirtbike, a broken hand, and a Farhan Zaidi.

Oracle Park New Dimensions Announced!

Artist rendering of the new bullpens at Oracle Park

Oracle Park (Formerly AT&T Park) is undergoing a slight makeover this off-season as the bullpens are being moved from the field to behind the fences. To accommodate this change, the fences are being brought in. The change is not dramatic and will not turn Oracle Park into a hitter’s haven by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, the dimension at Triple’s Alley used to be 421 feet, which is an absolute bomb by any standard. It will now be a slightly more reasonable 415 feet (San Francisco Area Code!)

The Center Field dimension will also change from 399 ft. to 391 ft. while left-center changes from 404 to 399. These changes are slight and will give the Giants, a team who does not hit a lot of home runs, a chance to bring a little more offense to their home ballpark.

The bullpens being on the field were a fun aspect to the stadium experience as fans could get a closeup view of pitchers warming up, but it is a safety concern. This concern was brought to the forefront when Mac Williamson was injured there in 2018 chasing a foul ball. For safety purposes, the bullpens will now be behind the fences, which also allows the fences to move in slightly, killing two birds with one stone.

San Francisco Giants Send Garrett Williams to Angels as PTBNL

The San Francisco Giants picked up Will Wilson a few days ago in a move that further bolstered their minor league system. Wilson was the #4 prospect in the Angels system and was sent to the Giants along with Zack Cozart in a move that relieves the Angels of some salary so they could pursue some of the big free agents still on the market. The Free Agent they ended signing was Anthony Rendon.

The Giants only had to give up cash and a player to be named later, which is now announced as being Garrett Williams. Williams is an Oklahoma State product who last played in Double A with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. There, he was 7-8 with a 3.60 ERA. The Angels desperately need some pitching and it can’t hurt to add more depth to their starting rotation.