The San Francisco Giants increased their pitching depth by adding an experienced reliever. According to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2, the Giants have signed Justin Garza, a former Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians pitcher, to a minor league contract.
SF Giants sign former Guardians, Red Sox hurler to a minor league deal
Alexander reports that Garza will report to minor league camp, implying that he is not in contention for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. However, the Giants may call him up from minor league camp if a necessity arises.
Garza was originally selected by the Guardians in the eighth round of the 2015 draft out of California State University – Fullerton. He was drafted as a starter, but his below-average control has forced him to move to the bullpen in recent seasons.
Over seven minor league seasons, he has a 4.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, and a 2.16 SO/W ratio. This includes a 3.98 ERA in parts of five years at Triple-A, but that performance has not translated into success in the majors just yet.
In two seasons with the Guardians and Red Sox, the right-handed pitcher has a 5.74 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 30 walks. His most recent major league action was in 2023 with Boston, thus he has some recent experience against major league batters.
Garza’s pitching arsenal includes a mid-90s sinker, cutter, slider, and changeup. The sinker velocity is intriguing, but opposing batters can easily get lift on it, and he does not have an above-average pitch among his secondary offerings.
Of course, the 29-year-old has two minor league options left. That may be beneficial to the Giants if he gets added to the 40-man roster at some point.
The Giants’ bullpen options on the 40-man roster are inexperienced, so Garza might eventually replace them.
That is a conversation for another day, since Garza is expected to open the 2024 season in Triple-A. Even if he does not make the Giants’ roster this season, he has recently had success in Triple-A, which might benefit a Sacramento River Cats squad that is expected to be youthful and feature several of the team’s top prospects.
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