Giants plan to sign Yamaguchi
Team agrees to terms with pitcher, who spent 2020 season with Toronto
After kicking off spring training with their first workouts at Scottsdale Stadium this week, the San Francisco Giants are continuing to add pitching depth.
The team has agreed to terms on a deal with right-handed pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, a native of Japan who spent the 2020 season in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen. The exact terms of the contract are not known, but a league source said Yamaguchi will not be added to the Giants’ 40-man roster.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the agreement between Yamaguchi and the Giants, noting a split major league/minor league contract is most likely.
Yamaguchi, 33, was released by the Blue Jays after posting an 8.06 ERA in 17 games last season. Toronto is still paying the righthander more than $3 million this season after he went unclaimed on waivers following his release.
Yamaguchi has 14 seasons of professional experience in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, splitting time between Yomiuri and Yokohama. Yamaguchi has been a reliever for most of his career, as 37 of his 50 career starts came between 2014-2015.
The Giants have agreed to terms with a handful of experienced pitchers in the last week including righthander Nick Tropeano, who signed a minor league deal that included an invitation to spring training. Tropeano will open the spring in competition for
the fifth spot in the Giants’ rotation, but manager Gabe Kapler said he could also be a candidate to pitch out of the bullpen.
The team is also expected to officially announce the signing of 2016 All-Star Aaron Sanchez soon as the Giants agreed to terms with the right-hander on a deal earlier this week. Sanchez missed the entire 2020 season
while recovering from shoulder surgery and must pass a physical before he can be added to the 40-man roster.
Sanchez will likely be viewed as a starter, but could eventually transition to the bullpen and follow in the footsteps of Drew Pomeranz, who followed a similar track with the Giants in 2019.