Armando Benitez, formerly of the Florida Marlins, signed with the G-Men:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1935338
This should greatly displease Halx.
Quote:
Giants pay up for much-needed closer
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Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- Free agent Armando Benitez and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a three-year contract Tuesday, a move that stabilizes the club's closer role that's been in flux since Robb Nen got injured two years ago.
The Giants announced the deal after Benitez took a physical in Florida on Tuesday. Agent Mike Powers would not say how much the deal would be worth, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported that it would be for about $21 million.
Benitez bounced back from a subpar 2003 season to save 47 games and post a 1.29 ERA for the Florida Marlins this year. His signing would fill one of the Giants' biggest offseason needs.
Since Nen was sidelined with a serious shoulder injury following the 2002 World Series, the Giants have pieced together their bullpen. Tim Worrell closed in 2003 before leaving for Philadelphia as a free agent and San Francisco struggled at the end of games last season.
Matt Herges started the year as closer before being replaced by Dustin Hermanson in August. Hermanson saved 17 games but couldn't hold a three-run lead on the final Saturday of the season against Los Angeles, helping cost San Francisco a playoff berth.
Hermanson is a free agent and the Giants have talked about bringing him back, but it could possibly be in a setup role.
Benitez is an intimidating presence on the mound and is one of the game's most overpowering pitchers, striking out 826 batters in 654 innings.
But while Benitez has been one of the game's top closers in the regular season with 244 saves in 283 chances in an 11-year career, his postseason history is spotty.
He has blown six of 10 postseason save opportunities -- a major-league record -- with Baltimore and the New York Mets, including the opener of the 2000 World Series against the Yankees and Game 2 of a first-round playoff series that year against San Francisco.
He also gave up three game-winning hits in the 1997 ALCS for Baltimore against Cleveland and gave up the infamous Jeffrey Maier home run in the opener of the 1996 ALCS against the Yankees. In that game, a 12-year-old boy reached over the wall to get a drive by Derek Jeter. The Yankees beat Baltimore that afternoon and in the series.
Despite his postseason troubles, pitching for a team that is in contention every year was a big attraction for Benitez.
"You look at places where you see you can get an opportunity to pitch in big games. They fit the bill," Powers said. "I can't fathom how they could not be in postseason running."
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