*Photo from the Mercury News*
Another benefactor of the San Francisco Giants effect is back in the Orange and Black. The Giants and LHP Alex Wood have agreed to a two year, $20 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Giants have confirmed the deal.
In 2021, Wood generated a career rebound season in his first year of full time starting since the 2015 season. Last season, Wood pitched to a 10-4 record with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, striking out 152 hitters while issuing just 39 walks, pitching 138 2/3 innings while starting 26 games in the regular season for the Giants. Wood allowed two earned runs or less 18 different times in his starts.
Wood's 3 pitch arsenal is highlighted by his slider, which limited opponents to a .184 average against that pitch, making it his most effective pitch last season. Wood also mixes in a sinker and a changeup during the game, but his slider is the clear cut number one pitch.
In 9 major league seasons spent with 4 teams, Wood has a 63-48 record with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, throwing 990 1/3 innings in 214 games, 164 of them being starts. Wood has spent plenty of time bouncing between starting and relieving, his last season of fully starting pitching being when he started 32 games in 2015 between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The biggest obstacle in Wood's career has been staying healthy. He was on his way to becoming a full time starter again in 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds, only to be limited to 7 starts before getting injured, with back and shoulder issues limiting him to just 48 1/3 innings in 2019 with the Reds and 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers combined. Additionally, Wood has not thrown more than 152 1/3 innings since 2015.
Wood rejoins a Giants rotation that currently only features Logan Webb and Anthony DeSclafani, with Tyler Beede in the mix for a rotation spot in Spring Training. The Giants have been interested in adding more starters, with them having reportedly made a strong push towards signing Alex Cobb in the last few days.
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