SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A day after pitchers and catchers reported to Scottsdale Stadium, the Giants added one more option to the mix.
Veteran right-hander David Hernandez arrived Tuesday on a minor league deal. Hernandez will make $1.5 million if he's in the major leagues, per a source.
The 31-year-old made 70 appearances for the Phillies last season, posting a 3.74 ERA and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He had previously spent five years with the Diamondbacks, finding plenty of late-innings success despite missing time with Tommy John.
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Hernandez has scattered 20 saves in his career, and while the Giants don't need another right-hander for the late innings, Hernandez could provide a veteran option for a young group. Derek Law and Hunter Strickland are expected to set up for Mark Melancon.
"We've been talking all winter (with him) about opportunities here," general manager Bobby Evans said. "He adds experience and overall stuff (and) he's now three years removed from Tommy John surgery. He has seven years of big league experience and we do have a young bullpen, so to speak. That's attractive to us."
Hernandez, who grew up and still lives in the Sacramento area, called signing with the Giants an "easy decision." He had held out hope that a major league deal might develop over the past week, but otherwise he was choosing among non-roster opportunities.
"Being from Sacramento, I grew up watching a lot of Giants games," he said. "It's always been one of my favorite places to play as a visiting player."
