Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants’ pitching staff, flush with options but light on definites, just got a little more deep.
San Francisco and free-agent righty Trevor Cahill agreed on a minor league deal Tuesday, according to The Athletic, one more veteran live arm likely out of the bullpen for a team looking anywhere (except the top of the market, seemingly) for useful pieces and fliers.
The Giants will be the fourth California team Cahill, an Oceanside native, pitches for; he started his career in Oakland, where he was an All-Star, spent three seasons in Arizona, then has bounced around since 2015, pitching for San Diego and the Angels, among others.
Last year with the Angels, he flunked out of the rotation but was better when moved into the bullpen, pitching to a 4.43 ERA in 44 2/3 innings.
Cahill, while a fairly risk-free pickup like so many others, does bring a unique history with the coaching staff. He was a teammate of pitching coach Andrew Bailey with Oakland — and coached by him last year — as well as in their staff when Zaidi was an A’s exec.
The 31-year-old would be a long shot for the Giants’ rotation, but could be a candidate for a flexible bullpen whose only nailed-down spots belong to Tony Watson and perhaps Trevor Gott.
Last week, Farhan Zaidi mentioned the possibility of a “100-120-inning reliever” who could fill two- or three-inning gaps in games, a pitcher who could get out hitters from both sides and help bridge games. Onto that uncertain platform steps Cahill, alongside swing options like Dereck Rodriguez, Conner Menez and Andrew Suarez, and a crowded Giants Arizona clubhouse gets busier.