Giants add former Padres Yangervis Solarte player

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The most diligent giant of the spring training is the employee responsible for updating the camp's composition, which is comparable to the weather in the tropics. If you do not like it, wait 15 minutes.

Just this week, the Giants have reached minor league agreements with receiver Stephen Vogt, managers Gerardo Parra and Craig Gentry and, on Friday, former Padres former Yangervis Solarte player. They also traded against national reliever Trevor Gott.

This was to occur in a slow free agent market, when baseball operations president Farhan Zaidi kept his promise to tap into a buyer's market for experienced help.

Minor league contracts are largely formalities for some of the newcomers, particularly Parra and Solarte. Unless there are strange events, both should be on the opening day list.

Fans hungry for power should host Solarte, 31, whose 17 circuits for Toronto last year would have led the Giants by one. Solarte hit 16 years before the break from the stars. His season was tough with an oblique injury and a late-season Blue Jays youth movement, which limited him to 103 catches after the All-Star break.

Zaidi loves Solarte because he can play anywhere in the field and that he is willing to work in the left field. Solarte was so excited about the prospect that he offered to play at the center. Zaidi laughed as she told the story and said, "Oh, ok, we'll wait for that."

Moreover, Solarte rarely strikes and can draw a walk.

"You do not see that in the game with double-digit power," said Zaidi. "It is therefore a striking ability with a certain power and a bit of contact, as well as a complete package that is pleasant to integrate into our range."

Zaidi is probably not done. Yes, the prosecution of Bryce Harper remains alive. The same goes for the signatures and potential transactions that the club has discussed for months and that could significantly change the list.

But the river of the dedication companions will slow down. The Giants believe that competition is an advantage, but they also want younger players, such as Alen Hanson infielders (who have more options for minor leagues) and Abiatal Avelino, as well as Austin Slater outsfielders. and Drew Ferguson, feel like they can team up.

"We want competition, but we do not want it to be a reality show or a test camp," Zaidi said.

Solarte does not have a good defensive reputation, although Zaidi called him a "very competent defender".

"This is a good striker," said Rene Rivera, former Padres teammate, noting that Petco Park's dimensions did not bother Solarte even before the barriers were moved. "He has a good approach and a good hitting area."

Director Bruce Bochy said the club was "excited" by Solarte, who, like Parra, is familiar with the Western National League. Solarte has been Padre for more than three seasons after his acquisition of the Yankees in 2014 under a contract with third baseman Chase Headley.

The progress of Duggar: Center player Steven Duggar has taken a big step forward since returning from a dislocated shoulder when he took part in the practice of field strikes for the first time.

Bochy was about to install Duggar as a daily hitter after being wounded on the ground on August 28th. If Duggar trains the team as planned, he will probably hit the first or second goal.

Duggar faced Ryder Jones in a group, which also knocked on the outside for the first time since an operation in September to repair a dislocated kneecap.

Briefly: Gentry, 35, will show up at the minor league camp. He has played 10 seasons in major leagues, including 2014-15 in Oakland. … Just three days after the training sessions, the pitchers had a day off to embark on sittings of stature. The Giants really want to preserve their weapons with a long schedule of the Cactus League and the upcoming regular season.