San Francisco Giants: Weekly Roundup

Each Sunday evening we will recap the events of the week pertaining to the San Francisco Giants and their affiliates.

Confidence in the team’s core group has allowed the team to be hyper-focused on what they need to improve the team. That means that they don’t feel the need to make any rash decisions or pay more than what the player will be worth to the team.

All was quiet at the winter meetings, but the team did its heavy-lifting just before they started. Here is the recap of the week for the San Francisco Giants.

Barry Bonds was introduced as a hitting coach with the Miami Marlins. The Giants seem pretty set on the coaching staff, and it makes sense for Bonds to go to a team that he can grow with.

Earlier this week the team signed starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija to a 5-year $90 million contract. The athletic innings eater will slot in as the number 2 starter behind Madison Bumgarner unless another transaction to acquire a starter takes place. The Giants still are said to be in contact with Mike Leake, and could still be in play for other starters in free agency or by trade.

Some of the starters still available are Scott Kazmir, Johnny Cueto, Ian Kennedy, Yovani Gallardo, Doug Fister, Wei-Yin Chen.

The outfield was not addressed, but the team has sent out signals that they may be comfortable with the current roster when it comes to that. But if they aren’t there are still some quality outfielders available.

Those names are Yoenis Cespedes, Dexter Fowler, Alex Gordon, Gerardo Parra, Denard Span, Justin Upton.

The Giants had two representatives, Christian Arroyo and Mac Williamson, named to the Fall League Prospects Team. Each played in 19 games and hit extremely well. Arroyo hit .308 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI’s.

Williamson hit .370 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI’s. He will get a long look this spring, and Arroyo is not that far behind. The farm system is still showing it can produce quality bats.

The team lost Joe Biagini in the Rule 5 draft. Biagini, 25, is a right-handed pitcher and was ranked the 27th best prospect in the organization. Last year at 25-years old, he was an All-Star in the Eastern league, and projects to be a long man with the team that selected him, the Toronto Blue Jays. If he does not stay on their 25 man roster the entire year, he must be offered back to the Giants for half of the $50,000 selection fee.

The Giants lost one and gained one player in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. They lost Devin Harris to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Harris hit .240 last year with 14 home runs at Double-A Richmond. He is an outfielder taken in the 48th round of the 2010 amateur draft.

More from SF Giants Prospects

• SF Giants hitting prospects week in review (8/28-9/10)
• SF Giants farm system: Updated top 31 prospect rankings
• SF Giants pitching prospects week in review (8/22-8/28)
• SF Giants hitting prospects week in review (8/21-8/27)
• SF Giants top catching prospect Joey Bart activated off IL

The team gained a pitcher for the Sacramento River Cats drafting Wilson Santos out of the San Diego Padres organization. He is a 24-year-old reliever who has pitched in 124 minor league games below Double-A. He must stay on the River Cats roster, or be offered back to the Padres.

Juaquin Arias was signed to a minor league deal by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old utility infielder will be invited to spring training, and provides the Diamondbacks with quality depth. He is a glove-first player who was always ready to play. You always need a Juaquin Arias, but that’s why you have a Kelby Tomlinson.

The team also signed a minor league contract with 30-year-old utility infielder Ramiro Pena. He was in Triple-A last year in the Padres organization. He has a .244 average over six big league seasons, splitting time with the New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. He has experience at second, third, and shortstop.

On this date:

(1956)Jackie Robinson retires instead of playing for the hated Giants. Not! The legend that floated around for years, which was great for the rivalry, was that Robinson would rather retire than play for the cross-town rival. But in fact, he had already decided to retire, but the Dodgers didn’t know since his announcement rights were sold to Look magazine.

(1966)Mike McCormick reacquired by the Giants for Bob Priddy and Cap Peterson. McCormick went on to win the Cy Young award the following year going 22-10 with a 2.85 ERA.

Next: Will The Thrill

Top Ten Prospect list: Tyler Beede, Christian Arroyo, Phil Bickford, Lucius Fox, Samuel Coonrod, Kyle Crick, Jalen Miller, Christopher Shaw, Steven Okert, Josh Osich