Holland in rotation; Parker shipped out
Derek Holland joined the Giants as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He’ll open the season smack in the middle of their starting rotation.
Manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Monday that Holland, the 31-year-old left-hander, will start the third game of the season Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Holland takes the rotation spot of Jeff Samardzija, who’s sidelined by a pectoral injury.
“It’s huge,” Holland said after his outing Monday night against the A’s. “To get this opportunity is what I was trying to do. I want to show people I’m not done.”
Outfielder Jarrett Parker, the Giants’ Opening Day left fielder in 2017, was designated for assignment to make room for Holland on the 40-man roster.
Holland threw five innings in his final spring tune-up, allowing solo homers to Matt Chapman and Mark Canha and striking out five. Over 20 spring innings he had a 4.05 ERA with 21 hits allowed, including six home runs, six walks and 23 strikeouts.
Monday was Holland’s first time this spring working with catcher Buster Posey in a game.
“We were joking about that,” Holland said. “But we were on the same page. There were a couple things that just didn’t go our way, but that’s just kind of how it is. It was the right pitch selection for the most part.”
Posey said before the game he’d caught Holland in bullpen sessions and watched the lefty on TV “for years. … It’s not like I’m not somewhat familiar with him.”
“Obviously he’s a guy with a lot of major-league experience, knows how he wants to attack certain lineups and certain hitters,” Posey said. “So it’s nice to have someone like him to be able to step in.”
The Giants needed reinforcements following injuries to Samardzija and Madison Bumgarner (fractured metacarpal). Holland made a strong case for a roster spot regardless. The Giants plan to open the season with a four-man rotation of Ty Blach, Johnny Cueto, Holland and Chris Stratton.
“He pounded the strike zone, showed good stuff,” Bochy said of Holland. “He’s up in the low 90s there, with good command. He’s got the veteran presence you like on the mound.
“And he just pitches with a lot of confidence, too. You look at him, he’s usually pitching ahead in the count. That’s always a good thing.”
A former Ranger who pitched against the Giants in the 2010 World Series, Holland put together a 38-21 record and 3.98 ERA from 2011-13, before a series of knee and shoulder injuries stalled his career. He made 26 starts last season for the White Sox, going 7-14 with a 6.20 ERA.
“It was just like a dark time,” Holland said of the injuries. “It slows you down, it takes a lot out of you. But the main thing is, you can’t let that affect you. You’ve got to keep plugging away. To me, this shows how much hard work I’ve been doing, to get this opportunity.”
Parker spent parts of the last three seasons with the Giants, hitting .257 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs in 135 games. The Giants have seven days to trade or place him on waivers. If no teams claim him, the Giants can outright Parker to the minors. Bochy said the Giants would “love to have Parker back in our system.”
Briefly: It was announced Monday that a trophy called “The Bridge” will be presented to the winner of the regular-season series between the A’s and Giants beginning this season. The trophy will be made out of steel salvaged from the original East Span of the Bay Bridge … Fans got their first look at new protective netting at AT&T Park that extends down each baseline to the bullpens.