Hot Stove Update: Giants Sign Jerry Blevins

The Giants signed LHP Jerry Blevins to a minor league deal with and a NRI to spring training.  Blevins has been around the block a few times including, not surprisingly, an extended tour with the Oakland A's back in the Farhan Zaidi days.  That, combined with Farhan's fetish for stockpiling lefty relievers, should have made this signing predictable.  Blevins is now 36 years old and has parts of 13 seasons under his belt.  He pitched successfully last year for the Braves to a stat line of 1-0, 3.90, 32.1 IP, 16 BB, 37 K.  Along the way, he had dramatic splits holding LH hitters to a .540 OPS while getting torched by RH hitters at an .831 clip.

It will be interesting to see how lefty specialists, aka LOOGY's, fare with the new reliever rules which force them to face 3 batters or finish an inning, whichever comes first.  On the surface, it seems like lefties with recent starting experience such as Andrew Suarez or Conner Menez might be better for the lefty reliever role than a classic LOOGY type such as Blevins.  I would also point out the Giants already have lefties Wandy Peralta and Sam Selman on the 40 man roster, although either could be easily jettisoned to make room for Blevins if that's the direction the Giants decide to go.

In any event, between the 40-man roster and Sacramento, Farhan will figure out how to keep as many lefty relievers within the organization as possible.