The San Francisco Giants have added another lefty starter to their rotation in the form of veteran Drew Pomeranz. The contract calls for Pomeranz to earn a base salary of $1.5MM but he can earn another $3.5MM in incentives as well, pushing his total to a potential $5MM deal. The incentives are based on time on the active roster, innings pitched, and starts made over the course of the season. In other words most of his incentives can be reached whether he is starting or pitching in relief.
Pomeranz, 30, was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 draft by the Cleveland Indians. He never played for the Indians as he was shipped to Colorado the following year and has gone on to pitch for four different teams, the Rockies, Athletics, Padres, and Red Sox, over his 8-year career. Pomeranz was elected to his lone All-Star game in 2016, the year that he was traded mid-season from San Diego to Boston. Pomeranz has seen time in the rotation as well as the bullpen and owns a career ERA of 3.92 over a combined 122 games started and 74 appearances in relief. Last year was disastrous for Pomeranz as he dealt with injuries and only appeared in 74 innings while pitching to a 6.08 ERA with the eventual World Series Champions. Pomeranz will be looking to bounce back this season and prove that he is healthy and capable of pitching at a high level which scouts anticipated when he was a top draft pick.
This move brings the Giants another rotation arm at another reasonable price for the upcoming season. With a lot of uncertainty surrounding the rotation this year, after so many injuries last year, the depth is a welcomed sight for Giants fans. Pomeranz and other recently acquired southpaw, Derek Holland, have both shown that they can pitch very well in the majors at times if their body allows it. If everything goes well for the Giants and their rotation is healthy, they can move Pomeranz to the bullpen as he already has a lot of experience pitching in relief. With the way his contract is written he would still reach the incentives for days on the active roster and all of the innings incentives are low enough to achieve out of the pen as well.
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