If there was one area where the Giants didn't figure to need help this offseason, it was left-handed relief. But that didn't stop them from adding a veteran who was one of the better southpaw relievers in the league in 2020.
The Giants have agreed to a two-year, $7 million deal with Jake McGee, as first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided and Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The deal will be the first multi-year contract to a pitcher since Farhan Zaidi took over after the 2018 season and puts the San Jose native on his third NL West team in three seasons.
McGee was let go by the Colorado Rockies last July and quickly signed on with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who ended up getting a steal. The 34-year-old had a 2.66 ERA and 1.67 FIP for the Dodgers, striking out 33 and walking just three in 20 1/3 innings. He threw his fastball -- which averaged 94.9 mph -- 96 percent of the time.
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In San Francisco, McGee figures to immediately vault to the top of the bullpen hierarchy, replacing Tony Watson, who remains a free agent. The Giants already had Jarlin Garcia, Caleb Baragar, Sam Selman and Wandy Peralta from the left side, but McGee is by far the most experienced and successful of the bunch. He has 45 career saves and could see time in that role in 2021, as the Giants don't currently have a closer.
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The Giants had spent most of the offseason working on their right-handed relief depth, but they now have one of the NL's deeper groups from the left side. McGee joins Wilmer Flores and Tommy La Stella as free agents who have agreed to multi-year deals with the Giants under this current front office.
