George

Kontos

He’ll actually join NBC Sports Bay Area as an analyst for the pre- and postgame shows. Kontos, 35, split last season between the independent Long Island Ducks and the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate. He’ll walk away with a 3.10 ERA over 350 career relief appearances, with most of his success coming as a member of the Giants.

Kontos signed with the Nationals in May after beginning the season in Independent Atlantic League with the Long Island Ducks. He struggled with Triple-A Fresno with a 6.07 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 46 innings and 31 appearances.

The 33-year-old right-hander had been pitching for the Long Island Ducks in the independent Atlantic League, where he posted a 1.29 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 6/1 K/BB ratio over seven innings. He’ll be assigned to Triple-A Fresno, but if he pitches well there should get a chance with the Nationals in relatively short order.

It’s likely that he’ll also get an invitation to big league camp, though that has yet to be confirmed. The 33-year-old hurler appeared in 28 games between the Pirates, Indians and Yankees during the 2018 campaign, registering a 4.39 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 15/7 K/BB ratio across 26 2/3 innings.

Kontos held a 4.39 ERA over 28 relief appearances for three different clubs this season. He’ll look for a minor league pact this winter.

Stewart was out of options, so the Giants did pretty well here. Kontos only made five appearance this spring due to an oblique injury, but had an impressive 2.62 ERA and 91/26 K/BB ratio in 89 1/3 innings last season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He could be a useful bullpen piece at some point.

Kontos has been sidelined since early in Yankees’ camp with an oblique strain. The 26-year-old right-hander has an outside shot at a bullpen gig after posting a 2.62 ERA and 91/26 K/BB ratio in 89 1/3 innings this season at the Triple-A level and tossing six innings as a September call-up.

Kontos has been shut down for a couple of weeks. He was doubtful to land a spot in the Yankees’ Opening Day bullpen before the injury and is even more doubtful now.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi indicated that Kontos would have to miss a couple weeks, but the 26-year-old right-hander thinks he’ll be back sooner. He’s doubtful to make the Yankees’ bullpen no matter what.

Kontos has been sidelined with an oblique strain since the early days of camp. If all goes well Saturday, he’ll continue on with a regular routine and could face hitters within a few days. The 26-year-old right-hander is running out of time to impress this spring.