Giants sign Affeldt, Cain and Wilson to contract extensions
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In an effort to keep the club's strong pitching staff intact for the upcoming future, the San Francisco Giants have signed pitchers Jeremy Affeldt, Matt Cain and Brian Wilson to contract extensions, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. Affeldt receives a one-year extension for the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012, Cain receives a new three-year contract for 2010-12, and Wilson receives a two-year extension for 2011 and 2012.
Per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
By locking up the three pitchers, the starting rotation has four pitchers under team control through the 2012 season, with Cain (signed through 2012), Tim Lincecum (arbitration eligible through 2013), Jonathan Sanchez (arbitration eligible through 2012) and Barry Zito (signed through 2013 with a club option for 2014).
"Pitching is our hallmark," said Sabean. "By signing these three outstanding pitchers, this gives us cost certainty in this area and makes a statement to our fan base that we realize their importance."
The 30-year-old Affeldt, who signed as a free agent prior to last season, was named the Setup Man of the Year in 2009 by This Year in Baseball Awards. He led all left-handed relievers and ranked third overall with his 1.73 ERA last year, posting a Major League-best 33 holds (tied with MIN's Matt Guerrier) and a 2-2 record in a team-high 74 appearances. Overall, the eight-year ML veteran has a 28-30 ledger with 18 saves and a 4.27 ERA in 434 career outings (392 in relief) with the Kansas City Royals (2002-06), Colorado Rockies (2006-07), Cincinnati Reds (2008) and Giants (2009).
Cain, 25, is the longest tenured Giant, having pitched for the club since the 2005 campaign. An All-Star for the first time in 2009, he posted a personal-best 14-8 record with a 2.89 ERA in 33 starts last year. His four complete games last season tied for the most in the National League, while the workhorse logged 217.2 innings overall to establish the third straight year he has topped the 200-inning plateau (and fourth straight year of at least 190 frames). In his four-plus years in the Majors, he has garnered a 44-51 mark with a 3.53 ERA in 138 outings (137 starts).
Wilson, an NL All-Star in 2008, has recorded a combined 79 saves the last two seasons (fourth highest total in the Majors, Francisco Rodriguez leads with 97), including 41 in '08 and 38 last season. The 28-year-old appeared in 68 contests in 2009, logging a 5-6 record with a 2.74 ERA, while his 38 saves ranked tied for third most in the NL. Overall, he has an 11-13 lifetime record with 86 saves (fifth most in club history) and a 3.73 ERA in 186 outings (all in relief) since breaking in with the team in 2006.