The Texas Rangers briefly employed Tim Lincecum two years ago and watched Hunter Pence turn back into an All-Star for them last season. On Thursday, the Rangers added two more former Giants.
Matt Duffy signed a minor league contract with the Rangers, per a source, and the team later announced that Derek Law also will be in camp as a non-roster invitee. Duffy will make $1 million if he's on the team, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, who first reported the signing.
Duffy and Law were two of the more exciting prospects to come out of the Giants' system in the middle of the last decade, but both were traded to American League East clubs.
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Duffy spent the previous three-plus seasons with the Rays after going over in the Matt Moore trade, but persistent leg injuries cost him a full season and large chunks of other ones. Duffy played 199 games for the Tampa Bay Rays, posting a .284/.351/.357 slash line with six homers. If healthy, he figures to have a good shot at making a Rangers club that needs infield depth.
Law was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the beginning of last season in a deal that brought Kevin Pillar back to San Francisco. He had a 4.90 ERA and five saves in 58 appearances. Law was non-tendered by the Blue Jays in December.
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The Giants and Rays didn't quite get what either hoped out of that deal, but the one that sent Law out of town ended up being a blockbuster for the Giants.
San Francisco Giants
Pillar was a key player last season before getting non-tendered as well. He remains a free agent with camps opening in less than two weeks.