SAN FRANCISCO — The man who once looked like the closer of the future is no longer a Giant.
Derek Law was designated for assignment Friday morning when the Giants claimed outfielder John Andreoli from the Texas Rangers.
Law broke through with a 2.13 ERA in 61 appearances in 2016 and some in the organization thought the best solution for the bullpen moving forward was to put Law in a high-leverage role. Instead, Mark Melancon was signed to a four-year deal to take over the ninth and Law took a step back the following season.
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SIGN UP HERE He had a 5.06 ERA in 2017 and it was 7.43 in just seven appearances in 2018, as Law struggled to find the pinpoint command that made him so successful as a rookie and prospect.
Andreoli, 28, joins a group of outfielders with little experience but a huge opportunity. The Giants currently have two open starting spots and nothing locked in on their bench, and Andreoli has a strong minor league track record. He has a .373 career OBP in the minors with 247 stolen bases in eight seasons, and he has started in all three spots.
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Drafted in the 17th round by the Cubs in 2011, Andreoli has 61 big league at-bats for the Mariners and Orioles, with a .230/.284/.262 slash line. He spent most of last season in Triple-A, where he posted a .397 on-base percentage and stole 19 bases.