One of the remaining needs for the San Francisco Giants is to bolster their bullpen.
That’s exactly what they reportedly did by signing left-handed reliever Tony Watson on Friday night, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag sports, to two-year deal worth $7 million with a player option in 2020, as reported by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly.
#SFGiants deal with Watson is believed to be a multiiyear. with @RobertMurrayFRS
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2018
Confirming #sfgiants and LHP Tony Watson are in agreement on terms. Two years with incentives plus a player option with incentives. Does not put them over CBT. Likely not official till Monday. Massive, massive achievement.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) February 17, 2018
Although the Giants expect Will Smith to return from Tommy John surgery on May 1, Watson gives them a reliable left-handed arm from the bullpen right out of the gate. Aside from Smith and Watson, the Giants only have two other left-handed relievers in Josh Oshich and Steven Okert, who both drastically underperformed last season.
And just like all of their other moves this offseason, this signing kept the Giants under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
The player option for Tony Watson counts as guaranteed money for the third year. The guaranteed portion of the entire contract be in the neighborhood of $7 million. That is what allows them to still stay under the CBT. Escalators earned this year would not count for '18.
— Henry Schulman BLUE CHECK MARK (@hankschulman) February 17, 2018
Following his trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Pittsburgh Pirates last July, Watson became a key part of their bullpen. In 24 games during the regular season, the 32-year-old held a 2.70 ERA with 18 strikeouts before pitching phenomenally during the postseason.
Watson pitched 3.2 innings for the Dodgers in the World Series, during which he received two wins and allowed just one run.
