The San Francisco Giants settled on one year contracts with four arbitration-eligible players today. With MLB arbitration fast approaching before spring training, the Giants agreed to 2011 contracts with Jonathan Sanchez, Cody Ross, Santiago Casilla, and Ramon Ramirez.
Sanchez agreed to terms on a one-year deal for $4.8 million. Sanchez put together a very strong 2010 campaign that earned him a sizable raise. He posted a 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 205 strikeouts over 193 1/3 innings. He’ll head into spring training as the number three starter behind Tim Linecum and Matt Cain. It will make for an interesting battle between Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and maybe even Barry Zito to see who steps up as the number three.
Ross agreed to terms on a one-year deal for $6.3 million. Ross had a fairly pedestrian regular season after joining the Giants in late August. However, Ross put together a big postseason that included five homeruns and was capped by NLCS MVP honors. Ross will head into free agency next season.
Casilla agreed to terms on a one-year deal for $1.3 million with a potential $50,000 in performance-based incentives. Casilla had his struggles at times but generally was a solid performer out of the bullpen. He finished 2010 with a 1.95 ERA and 56/26 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings. If he can repeat that in 2011 he might get himself more work in high leverage innings.
Ramirez agreed to terms on a one-year deal with financial terms not yet disclosed. The Giants acquired Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline and put together some solid numbers pitching in 25 games for the Giants and posting a 0.67 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. His K/BB ratio was 15/11 so he’ll have to work on that. I’d imagine he and Casilla will be competing for late inning work in spring training.