Well, this is not the news most of the Giants fanbase was looking for. The Giants agreed to a minor league contract with Jake Lamb with an invitation to spring training. If he makes the Opening Day roster, he will get a $1 M salary. Once upon a time, Jake Lamb was a thorn in the Giants side as young, slugging third baseman for the D'Backs, but that was a LONG time ago! Several things combined to cause his career to go into a tailspin: A severe platoon split(he basically can't hit LHP's), a series of injuries, bouncing from organization to organization. His is 34 years old now and spent all of last season with the Pirates AAA team putting up modest numbers and if he couldn't crack the Pirates active roster, you have to wonder what makes the Giants think he has anything left in his tank. He did play briefly under Bob Melvin with the A's for part of the 2020 season.
Monday, January 27, 2025
Hot Stove League Update: Giants Sign Jake Lamb To Minor League Deal
Jake Lamb 3B/1B. DOB: 10/9/1990. B-L, T-R 6' 3", 215 lbs.
2023(AAA): .289/.420/.454, 11 HR, 16.2 BB%, 19.9 K%, 357 PA.
2023(Angels): .216/.259/.353, 2 HR, 5.6 BB%, 27.8 K%, 54 PA.
2024(AAA): .264/.350/..393, 7 HR, 10.4 BB%, 20.3 K%, 414 PA.
IMO, the Giants need a lefthanded bat to DH and off the bench, but I am not sure Lamb is the answer to that need.
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No huge thing but very FZ-ish in going "bottom of the barrel" "out of nowhere", "we are smarter than everybody" signing of Lamb just like Luchessi...! or 2 is OK, I guess but please don't make it a habit!!!!! Also, is this Buster's work or the GM's work?..I still don't know what he does!
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
Not that I'm doing handsprings over it but the 2010 team had about 10 Jake Lamb type players on it, so it's not just FZ. I'm guessing Buster delegates a lot to the GM, much more than FZ.
Delete...but I'm sure he at least gets a text message before a deal is signed.
DeleteWhat's the issue with signing players to minor league, make-good contracts? Sign 100. Why not?
DeleteYou're Straw-manning hard if you infer from the Lamb signing that's it's a directive strategy.
I haven't gone through the list player-by-player but if my memory is still good, I think historically most players signed to these "hybrid" minor league contracts end up on the active roster on Opening Day. Not saying that's a bad thing by itself but if I was betting I would take at least even odds that Lamb is the DH. if they face a RHP on Opening Day.
DeleteIf Jake Lamb makes the opening day roster we have more problems than we thought.
ReplyDeleteJake Lamb is probably not the answer but it is addressing a need for a power bat that can hit RHP so it is a depth piece. Bryan Murphy on McCovey Chronicles says Lamb is a CAA Sports Client (Jeff Barry's old company) and two of the new analysts that they just hired were familiar with Lamb so he might be worth taking a flyer on. You have to hand it to the guy who is still chasing the dream at age 34.
ReplyDeleteLamb probably just serves as insurance if Wade's knees start acting up again but I can see that if they sign Lamb to the 26 man, that would be it for VIllar. I don't see it as the return of the FZ churn if the player fits a need. FZ would weaponize the 25th or 26th spot on the roster as a way of resting players or for taking a chance on AAAA types but this does not seem to be the case with Lamb.
"that would be it for Villar"
DeleteFine.
Lamb has a specific skill. Expect more of these type of signings when players are released toward the end of Spring. It's not the end of the world, just how you build a roster.
As long as the Giants don't need him due to injuries to Late Night and/or Wilmer, Lamb should stay in the minors. I would not want to see him block playing time for prospects, Bryce Eldridge in particular. If they do bring him up that will be because the season has turned baaaa-d.
ReplyDeleteMy feeling is that if Jake Lamb is on the 26 man roster on opening day, then its a bad sign.
ReplyDeleteDid you feel that way when Andres Torres made the opening day roster? Gregor Blanco? Joaquin Arias?
DeleteExactly so.
DeleteNo. Torres, Blanco, and Arias were faster and more athletic players who could play multiple positions. The may not have had the best bats but they had value defensively. Lamb has a lot of mileage on him. Also, if they plan on using him as a DH, Melvin would prefer a DH who can play in the field for more flexibility. He will probably not make it if he is DH exclusively.
ReplyDeleteLamb has played D at 3B, 1B and LF so he does not have to exclusively DH. I'll stand by my better than even odds he is the DH on opening day if they are facing a RHP.
DeleteLast year at Indianapolis, he started 72 games at 1B, 22 at DH, and 6 in RF.
DeleteFor Jake Lamb to make the Opening Day roster he'll have to outperform McCray, Matos, Mecler, Luciano, and any other non-roster OFer the Giants invite to ST.
ReplyDeleteJake Lamb has a history of performing well in spring training. McCray, Matos, Meckler and Luciano all have options.
DeleteIsn't the 40-man full?
DeleteRight now, yes, but I think there are 2 or 3 players who are out of options and unlikely to make the opening day active roster.
DeleteTaylor Rogers was just traded in a salary dump so that opens up one spot.
DeletePer Baggarly, The Athletic:
ReplyDelete"Giants pitching coach J.P. Martinez on the staff: ‘We will have 15 or 16 legitimate starters’ — upper-level, legitimate guys that can start."
But they aren't named...
OTOH, the Giants used 16 pitchers last year as "Starters" although some of them were just that: starters for an inning or 2.
But, it doesn't include the 60-something games started in Sacramento by the 3 Carsons and another 49 by Bertrand (career).
You don't have to look beyond Richmond to see 20 or more "legitimate guys that can start."