milky_way
01-25-2003, 02:20 PM
Giants sign Ruben Rivera
By Chris Shuttlesworth / MLB.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- Still looking for more options in the outfield for the upcoming season, the Giants signed Ruben Rivera to a minor league deal Friday and invited the 29-year-old to Spring Training.
Rivera, who was claimed off waivers by San Francisco in November 2001 but never signed with the team after San Francisco did not offer him arbitration, played in 69 games for the Rangers last season. He batted .209 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 158 at-bats and played 67 games in center field, making more starts at that position than any other Texas player. In 631 Major League games, he is a career .217 hitter.
The Panama native, who is the first cousin of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, had signed with the Yankees after the Giants gave up his rights more than a year ago, but New York released Rivera during Spring Training after he stole a bat and glove from teammate Derek Jeter's locker and sold the items to a memorabilia dealer.
It would have been Rivera's second stint with the Yankees, who signed the promising player when Giants general manager Brian Sabean was New York's vice president of player development/scouting. Rivera played for the Yankees in 1995-96 and the Padres from 1997 to 2000 before joining the Reds for the 2001 season.
Although the Giants have signed a host of infielders this offseason, the outfield corps remains thin beyond left fielder Barry Bonds. The team has discussed the possibility of second baseman Ray Durham playing center with Marquis Grissom shifting over to right, possibly in a platoon with Marvin Benard or prospect Tony Torcato. Grissom has played only five games in right field since 1991, however, while Durham hasn't played in the outfield since high school.
Though Rivera has been primarily a center fielder the last four seasons, he can play all three outfield positions and logged 73 games in right during the 1998 campaign, when he went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI for the Padres in the World Series.
Chris Shuttlesworth is an editorial producer for MLB.com and can be reached at sitecontent@giants.mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
By Chris Shuttlesworth / MLB.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- Still looking for more options in the outfield for the upcoming season, the Giants signed Ruben Rivera to a minor league deal Friday and invited the 29-year-old to Spring Training.
Rivera, who was claimed off waivers by San Francisco in November 2001 but never signed with the team after San Francisco did not offer him arbitration, played in 69 games for the Rangers last season. He batted .209 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 158 at-bats and played 67 games in center field, making more starts at that position than any other Texas player. In 631 Major League games, he is a career .217 hitter.
The Panama native, who is the first cousin of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, had signed with the Yankees after the Giants gave up his rights more than a year ago, but New York released Rivera during Spring Training after he stole a bat and glove from teammate Derek Jeter's locker and sold the items to a memorabilia dealer.
It would have been Rivera's second stint with the Yankees, who signed the promising player when Giants general manager Brian Sabean was New York's vice president of player development/scouting. Rivera played for the Yankees in 1995-96 and the Padres from 1997 to 2000 before joining the Reds for the 2001 season.
Although the Giants have signed a host of infielders this offseason, the outfield corps remains thin beyond left fielder Barry Bonds. The team has discussed the possibility of second baseman Ray Durham playing center with Marquis Grissom shifting over to right, possibly in a platoon with Marvin Benard or prospect Tony Torcato. Grissom has played only five games in right field since 1991, however, while Durham hasn't played in the outfield since high school.
Though Rivera has been primarily a center fielder the last four seasons, he can play all three outfield positions and logged 73 games in right during the 1998 campaign, when he went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI for the Padres in the World Series.
Chris Shuttlesworth is an editorial producer for MLB.com and can be reached at sitecontent@giants.mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.