MLB.com has reported the San Francisco Giants signed four arbitration-eligible players from their 2010 roster, including National League Championship Series MVP Cody Ross. Also signed were starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, and relievers Ramon Ramirez and Santiago Casilla. The final two arbitration-eligible players on the Giants’ active roster are center fielder Andres Torres and lefty reliever Javier Lopez.
Cody Ross received a one year $6.3 million contract and will be ticketed to start in right field for the Giants in 2011. Ross batted .269 with 14 home runs and 69 RBI in 2009 as a member of the Florida Marlins and the Giants. San Francisco claimed Ross off waivers from Florida on August 22nd and he proceeded to lead the team in their drive to the playoffs the final four weeks of the season. Dominating throughout the playoffs, Cody Ross batted .294, powered five home runs and five doubles, drove in 10 runs and scored 15 as the Giants became World Champions for the first time since 1954.
Jonathan Sanchez signed a one year $4.8 million deal for 2011, with a $50,000 bonus if he reaches 200 innings pitched. Sanchez was part of the best starting staff in the Majors last year, going 13-9 with a 3.07 ERA, and was 8th among National League pitchers in strikeouts, fanning 205 batters. Sanchez also held all hitters to a .204 batting average– the lowest of any pitcher in the Majors. The left-handed starter earned $2.1 million in 2010.
Righty reliever Ramon Ramirez, acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline last year, earned $1.55 million in 2010. In 25 games with San Francisco, he put up outstanding numbers: 1-0 with a 1.67 ERA. Ramirez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $1.65 contract for 2011.
Santiago Casilla was a right-handed strikeout monster for the Giants in 2011: 56 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings, going 7-2 with a 1.95 ERA. According to ESPN Deportes, the 30 year old Casilla, who made $400,000 in 2010, was re-signed by the Giants for $1.3 million with a $50,000 incentive package.
Cody Ross brings a great glove and serious run production to a position that contributed very little to the team’s offense in 2010. Before Ross took over last season, Nate Schierholtz played 137 games in right, batting .242 with 17 RBI. At the same time, the Giants’ front office is carefully reassembling the bullpen that led the team to the 2010 playoffs and a World Series Championship ring. San Francisco’s bullpen posted a 2.99 ERA in 2010, second best in the Majors after San Diego’s 2.81 ERA.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
