Veteran infielder/outfielder Michael Morse has reportedly struck a minor league deal with the Giants, according to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy.
After posting a .275/.390/.391 line through 45 games with the Pirates in 2015, Morse was released just one month into the 2016 season when the club cleared roster space to accommodate right-hander A.J. Schugel. He hasn’t seen a full workload since his last stint with the Giants in 2014, batting .279/.336/.475 with 16 home runs while splitting time in left field and first base.
The 34-year-old has an invite to spring training, but could find it hard to break into the Giants’ 25-man roster again. Brandon Belt has a lock on first base, with most off days allotted to Buster Posey. Left field offers more flexibility, though the Giants appear to have a plethora of players that could see time there in 2017, including Jarrett Parker, Mac Williamson, Kyle Blanks and Chris Marrero, among others. Defensively, Morse doesn’t stand out in the crowd, though he could add a decent bat off the bench if need be.
Outfielder Justin Ruggiano also picked up a minor league contract, per Eddy’s report. The two deals have yet to be confirmed by the team.
