Giants avoid arb with 3, non-tender 3 others
The Giants announced Tuesday that they’ve agreed to terms with right-hander John Brebbia, left-hander Jarlín García and outfielder Austin Slater on one-year contracts for the 2022 season to avoid arbitration.
Brebbia, 31, logged a 5.89 ERA over 18 appearances after returning from Tommy John surgery in June, but the Giants believe he’s capable of regaining the form he showed with the Cardinals, with whom he posted a 3.14 ERA over his first three Major League seasons.
Brebbia and García are likely to be part of the Giants’ Opening Day bullpen next year after landing deals worth $837,500 and $1.725 million, respectively, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Slater, who has emerged as one of San Francisco’s top bats against left-handed pitching over the last two seasons, will receive $1.85 million, per Rosenthal.
Four other arbitration-eligible players -- outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Darin Ruf, catcher Curt Casali and right-hander Dominic Leone -- were also tendered contracts, but their 2022 salaries have yet to be determined. Teams and players typically exchange salary proposals next month ahead of arbitration hearings in February, but the system could be disrupted since the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is due to expire on Wednesday night.
The Giants also cleared three spots on the 40-man roster by declining to tender contracts to a trio of pre-arbitration players: outfielder Luis González, right-hander Sam Delaplane and left-hander Joe Palumbo. González and Delaplane both missed most of the 2021 season while rehabbing injuries, while Palumbo was claimed off waivers from the Rangers earlier this month. All three are now free agents, though the Giants could attempt to re-sign them to Minor League deals to keep them in the organization.
San Francisco now has 38 players on its 40-man roster, as its deal with free-agent starter Alex Cobb was finalized on Tuesday. The Giants are also reportedly finalizing a deal with Alex Wood as they look to rebuild their rotation following the departure of ace Kevin Gausman, who agreed to a five-year, $110 million deal with the Blue Jays on Sunday.