MLB San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants Should Consider Signing Justin Masterson

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By @real_johnshea

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The San Francisco Giants aren’t expected to become a legitimate authority in the MLB free agent market until a decision is made regarding Pablo Sandoval, but the club’s brain trust has already been linked to several name brand players, like Justin Masterson. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Giants are one of at least six teams rumored to have interest in the 29-year-old right-handed pitcher.

Masterson struggled mightily in 2014, posting a 7-9 record with a career-worst 5.88 ERA between the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals over 28 games. His numbers were particularly ugly in the National League, where he registered an alarming 7.04 ERA in nine appearances. But as Crasnick notes, the price tag on Masterson has dropped significantly since 2013, when he won a career-high 14 games while recording a 3.45 ERA.

The Giants are habitual bargain hunters, which means Masterson could very well be on the radar of general manager Brian Sabean. San Francisco flaunts one of the most well-respected pitching coaches in all of baseball (Dave Righetti), who would surely welcome the challenge of correcting Masterson’s seemingly flawed mechanics.

Masterson’s strikeout-to-walk ratio has decreased substantially from his All-Star season in 2013. He recorded 2.57 punch-outs per free pass that year, compared to just 1.68 Ks per walk in 2014. His struggles have tremendously decreased his market value to say the least, which means that he could be seeking a potential one-year tryout of sorts.

That kind of deal would perfectly supplement the Giants’ rotation, which currently has two open slots. Masterson would become the biggest steal of this offseason if he’s able to rekindle his form from 2013, when he led the American League in shutouts (3).

The Giants aren’t a penny-pinching organization, but they’re also not free spenders. Sabean’s brass has learned firsthand that frivolous spending seldom yields positive results. Aaron Rowand and Barry Zito are Exhibit A and Exhibit B in the Giants’ case. It’s much more economically reasonable — and mentally digestible — to suffer the consequences of a low-cost player gone bad (see: Dan Uggla) than to eat multiple years of poor production.

San Francisco has a luxury that most teams around the league do not; his name is Yusmeiro Petit. The journeyman right-hander has found his niche with the Giants, and is a big reason why the orange and black were able to steamroll their way through the NL’s elite en route to their third World Series title in five seasons. If, for whatever reason, Masterson were to falter, the Giants would have Petit in their back pocket.

The biggest problem with the Giants taking a flier on Masterson is that he would become the second question mark in the club’s rotation. Tim Lincecum is set to reclaim a permanent rotation spot, but it’s unknown how effective he’ll be.

The Giants only have one mulligan. If Lincecum and Masterson were to both crumble, they’d be in serious trouble. But if Masterson is able to correct his flaws and rekindle past success, the Giants will have done it again. In this case, the risk is worth the reward.

John Shea is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @real_johnshea. Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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