San Francisco Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly, formerly of the San Jose Mercury News Group has joined on with CSN Bay Area the network as "Giants Insider," Baggarly according to by Jen Franklin, Senior Director of Digital Media for CSNBayArea.com and CSNCalifornia.com.

Baggarly will provide an array of coverage across the network including CSNBayArea.com's GiantsTalk page, SportsNet Central, Chronicle Live, Giants Pregame Live and Giants Postgame Live.

Make the jump for more information.

Here is Franklin on the Baggarly hiring:

"Andrew is one of the most accomplished sports journalists in the business today and is the region's preeminent Giants beat reporter," said Franklin. "We are thrilled with the addition of his remarkable talents and insights to the network. Andrew's hiring further demonstrates our commitment to present high-quality, premium digital content and confirms Comcast SportsNet as the region's leading source for comprehensive multiplatform sports coverage."

As for Baggarly himself, he is all smiles about his new gig:

"For the past eight seasons, it's been a privilege to cover the Giants and write for what might be the most engaged, passionate fans in all of baseball," said Baggarly. "Now it's a privilege to join the tremendous team at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. A beat reporter's job is not only to inform and entertain, but also to be a storyteller. Now I'll have the opportunity to tell those stories in new ways, while staying true to an old-school approach to covering the beat."

One important thing of note is Baggarly will be changing his twitter handle as well. Starting on February 13, you can follow him @BaggsCSN.

Baggarly worked eight years with the Oakland Tribune (2004-06) and San Jose Mercury News (2006-2012), where his popular "Extra Baggs" blog was a great source for all Giants fans Baggs is also Major League Baseball Hall of Fame voter , and author of "A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants."

Prior to covering the Giants, Baggarly worked for the Riverside Press Enterprise where he followed the Los Angeles Dodgers (2002-03) and Anaheim Angels (2000-01). He began covering Major League Baseball in 1998 for the San Bernardino County Sun.