SF Giants sign relief pitcher, utility player to MiLB deals

The SF Giants made a pair of moves to bolster organizational depth this week. According to Baseball America, they have signed relief pitcher Peter Tago and reportedly agreed to terms with utility player Arquimedes Gamboa.

SF Giants sign relief pitcher, utility player to MiLB deals

The terms for the contracts are not known at the moment but Gamboa's deal does include an invite to spring training.

Tago was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the 2010 draft out of Dana Hills High School in Dana Point, California. Despite his long professional career, the right-handed reliever has yet to make an appearance in a major league game.

The Rockies used him as a starter earlier in his career but he struggled badly and transitioned to the bullpen by 2014. That is a move that has paid off for the 29-year-old righty but he has bounced around the minor league circuit in recent years, making stops with the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, and independent ball.

He returned for his second stint with the White Sox organization last season where he posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, and a stout 3.18 SO/W ratio in 56.2 innings across two minor league levels. He did reach Triple-A for the first time in his career where he completed 11.1 scoreless frames.

On the other hand, Arquimedes Gamboa will have an outside shot of making the major league club as a spring training invite. The Philadelphia Phillies signed the switch-hitting infielder as an international free agent during the 2014 J2 signing period for $900,000.

His defense has always been ahead of his bat as he has registered a .217/.307/.311 line across six minor league seasons. However, he does bring a patient approach to the plate, posting an 11.2 percent walk rate in his career.

Gamboa has rarely hit for power in the game but he has typically shown a powerful stroke during batting practice. That said, the switch-hitter did post a career-high in home runs with 10 in 2021. Perhaps, the front office sees him as someone who can continue to add more power to his swing.

On defense, the 24-year-old was originally signed as a shortstop and that remains his primary position. He has also seen time at second base and third base, but the Phillies challenged him in center field as well this past season.

These are minor moves but ones that ensure that the organization has enough depth in case an emergency arises. They are getting an intriguing arm in Tago, who seems best suited in the bullpen, and an interesting utility player in Gamboa, who made strides at the plate in 2021.