Giants sign DeRosa to 2-year, $12M deal
December 29, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—For several years, Mark DeRosa(notes) daydreamed of eventuallyplaying in San Francisco. He enjoys the city’s vibe and atmosphere, from walkingto the ballpark to trying out top restaurants.
“I felt like it would be a cool place to play and an interesting place tobring my family,” he said.
For several years, the Giants pictured DeRosa’s powerful bat contributing inthe middle of their lineup.
There was mutual interest three years ago when DeRosa first became a freeagent. Now, both sides are finally getting their wish. DeRosa signed a $12million, two-year contract with the club after passing a physical Monday.
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In DeRosa, the Giants have found a versatile veteran who can hit for powerand give the offense some much-needed punch.
One of general manager Brian Sabean’s top priorities this winter was to adda big hitter to drive in runs in the middle of the batting order, and DeRosabrings that ability. He can play several infield spots and the outfield, andit’s unclear whether he will work primarily at third base or bounce around.
“The position I’d prefer to play is shortstop because that’s the position Iplayed as a kid. But that doesn’t matter anymore,” DeRosa said. “I don’treally care where I am on the field as long as I’m in the lineup. … I’ve neverreally fought to play one position.”
That attitude sure is helpful for manager Bruce Bochy, who might continue tocount on DeRosa as a utilityman.
Free-swinging slugger Pablo Sandoval(notes) is likely to bat cleanup, so DeRosacould easily fit into the No. 5 hole. DeRosa could play first or third.
“He can play anywhere, he’s comfortable playing anywhere and seems tothrive moving around,” Bochy said.
The 34-year-old DeRosa underwent left wrist surgery after the season, whenhe batted .250 with a career-best 23 homers to go along with 78 RBIs forCleveland and St. Louis. He said the Giants’ training staff was “pleasantlysurprised” by his progress during Monday’s physical and he expects to startswinging off a tee in a couple of weeks. The aim is to be full strength by thestart of spring training in February.
“He’s a winning player and any organization wants as many players like Markon the ballclub, especially ours that has a chance to turn the corner and get tothe playoffs next year,” Sabean said. “To get him in here, he spoke of hiswillingness to show guys around a little bit. We need that. We need to get tothe next level with guys like him.”
DeRosa was traded from the Indians to the Cardinals on June 27 but was inthe St. Louis lineup for three games before hurting his wrist against SanFrancisco. He spent a stint on the disabled list for an injury that was laterdiagnosed as a partially torn tendon sheath.
DeRosa was hindered by the wrist, but felt he had to play through it afterthe Cardinals brought him aboard to help get to the playoffs.
“Looking back on it now, don’t know if I would have done the same thing,”he said of waiting to have surgery until after the season. “It affectedeverything I did.”
The Giants are eager to see him healthy and ready for a new start comespring. DeRosa said he chose San Francisco over about a half-dozen other teams—including going back to the Cardinals.
He led St. Louis with five hits (5 for 13) when it was swept by the LosAngeles Dodgers in the NL division series.
DeRosa acknowledged being “very close” to returning to St. Louis.
“They’re obviously full go on Matt Holliday(notes). I wasn’t prepared to waituntil he made a decision,” DeRosa said. “I was just tired of being a lot ofteams’ Plan Bs. From a certain standpoint, I wanted to go to a place where Ifelt comfortable and the team wanted and needed me to be productive. I just feltlike this was a good spot.”
DeRosa is a career .275 hitter with Atlanta, Texas, the Chicago Cubs,Cleveland and St. Louis. With DeRosa and new hitting coach Hensley Meulens, SanFrancisco is looking for a more patient approach at the plate focused on on-basepercentage rather than just stepping in and swinging away.
“You have to find an identity early on and we didn’t do that last year andit came back and bit us,” Sabean said.
The Giants also are working on a deal to bring back infielder Juan Uribe(notes).The 30-year-old Uribe played in 122 games at third, shortstop and second in hisfirst season with San Francisco. He batted .289 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs.
San Francisco was in the NL wild-card chase well into September but missedthe postseason for the sixth straight year. At 88-74, they won 16 more gamesthan in 2008. Sabean has been committed to boosting the offense for a team thatboasts one of the top pitching staffs in baseball, led by two-time reigning NLCy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum(notes).
“That was one of the big overriding factors when I decided where wanted toplay, the pitching factor,” DeRosa said. “Pitching wins games.”
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