Obri
12-21-2004, 02:54 AM
By Rich Draper / MLB.com
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/images/2004/09/26/AdK9Z4Fy.jpg
Pedro Feliz, who was tendered a 2005 contract, is eligible for arbitration. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants, wanting to keep their bench strong for 2005, have tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible infielder-outfielder Pedro Feliz and catcher Yorvit Torrealba, it was announced Monday.
But the big surprise was the club not offering a pact to outfielder Dustan Mohr, who starred for San Francisco last season but is now free to negotiate with any Major League club, including the Giants.
All players on the 40-man roster were tendered contracts for 2005 except Mohr, reliever Wayne Franklin and shortstop Cody Ransom. If agreements cannot be reached with Feliz and Torrealba, a hearing before an independent arbitrator will determine their salaries for the upcoming season, but that's a process the Giants desperately hope to avoid, especially after losing their case with catcher A.J. Pierzynski last season.
Mohr, 28, platooned in right field with Michael Tucker and also saw action in left, and it's felt the Giants didn't want to engage in an arbitration battle for his services.
He's still a hot product. Over 117 games, Mohr hit .274 with seven homers and 28 RBIs but was on a hot streak over the second half, batting .333 with 16 RBIs and four homers in his last 44 contests.
Mohr hit .389 (7-for-18) as a pinch-hitter with a pair of homers and became a crowd favorite with his daring outfield defense.
Feliz had a career-best season with a .275 average, 22 homers and 84 RBIs as he alternated between shortstop, first base and third. The versatile player got into high gear over the final 28 games, batting .323 with five homers and 21 RBIs.
The Giants hoped to get Feliz 500 at-bats last season to prove his consistency, and they succeeded on both accounts. The 29-year-old Dominican Republic native had 503 plate appearances, scored 72 runs, batted .306 after the All-Star break and hit .345 with the bases loaded.
To earn even more playing time next season, Feliz may get stints in the outfield.
Torrealba boasts a solid defensive resume but batted only .227 last season. He had a great stretch from July 16-Sept. 10, batting .297 and hitting safely in 14 of 16 starts. His best game was on May 2 vs. Florida, going 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs.
The left-handed Franklin, 31, was 2-1 with a 6.39 ERA last season and gave up 11 homers. He was considered a longshot to return.
For the 29-year-old Ransom, it likely means the end of the trail with the Giants organization. He signed in the ninth round of the 1998 draft, batting .238 with 13 RBIs in 114 games with San Francisco over four seasons.
So far this offseason, the Giants have added shortstop Omar Vizquel, closer Armando Benitez and catcher Mike Matheny, with a key returnee being left-handed reliever Jason Christiansen.
Veteran pitcher Jeff Fassero has also been signed to a minor league contract.
Gone are closer Dustin Hermanson, Pierzynski, relievers Dave Burba and Robb Nen and outfielder Ricky Ledee.
Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/images/2004/09/26/AdK9Z4Fy.jpg
Pedro Feliz, who was tendered a 2005 contract, is eligible for arbitration. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants, wanting to keep their bench strong for 2005, have tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible infielder-outfielder Pedro Feliz and catcher Yorvit Torrealba, it was announced Monday.
But the big surprise was the club not offering a pact to outfielder Dustan Mohr, who starred for San Francisco last season but is now free to negotiate with any Major League club, including the Giants.
All players on the 40-man roster were tendered contracts for 2005 except Mohr, reliever Wayne Franklin and shortstop Cody Ransom. If agreements cannot be reached with Feliz and Torrealba, a hearing before an independent arbitrator will determine their salaries for the upcoming season, but that's a process the Giants desperately hope to avoid, especially after losing their case with catcher A.J. Pierzynski last season.
Mohr, 28, platooned in right field with Michael Tucker and also saw action in left, and it's felt the Giants didn't want to engage in an arbitration battle for his services.
He's still a hot product. Over 117 games, Mohr hit .274 with seven homers and 28 RBIs but was on a hot streak over the second half, batting .333 with 16 RBIs and four homers in his last 44 contests.
Mohr hit .389 (7-for-18) as a pinch-hitter with a pair of homers and became a crowd favorite with his daring outfield defense.
Feliz had a career-best season with a .275 average, 22 homers and 84 RBIs as he alternated between shortstop, first base and third. The versatile player got into high gear over the final 28 games, batting .323 with five homers and 21 RBIs.
The Giants hoped to get Feliz 500 at-bats last season to prove his consistency, and they succeeded on both accounts. The 29-year-old Dominican Republic native had 503 plate appearances, scored 72 runs, batted .306 after the All-Star break and hit .345 with the bases loaded.
To earn even more playing time next season, Feliz may get stints in the outfield.
Torrealba boasts a solid defensive resume but batted only .227 last season. He had a great stretch from July 16-Sept. 10, batting .297 and hitting safely in 14 of 16 starts. His best game was on May 2 vs. Florida, going 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs.
The left-handed Franklin, 31, was 2-1 with a 6.39 ERA last season and gave up 11 homers. He was considered a longshot to return.
For the 29-year-old Ransom, it likely means the end of the trail with the Giants organization. He signed in the ninth round of the 1998 draft, batting .238 with 13 RBIs in 114 games with San Francisco over four seasons.
So far this offseason, the Giants have added shortstop Omar Vizquel, closer Armando Benitez and catcher Mike Matheny, with a key returnee being left-handed reliever Jason Christiansen.
Veteran pitcher Jeff Fassero has also been signed to a minor league contract.
Gone are closer Dustin Hermanson, Pierzynski, relievers Dave Burba and Robb Nen and outfielder Ricky Ledee.
Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.