Giants ink INF slugger Vosler to Majors deal
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants completed their first signing of the offseason on Tuesday, announcing that they¡¯ve agreed to terms on a Major League contract with infielder Jason Vosler.
Vosler, 27, last played for the Padres¡¯ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso in 2019, when he set career highs in batting average (.291), on-base percentage (.367), slugging percentage (.523) and OPS (.890). A 16th-round Draft pick of the Cubs in '14, Vosler primarily plays third base, though he also has experience playing first, second and shortstop.
Vosler didn¡¯t play in 2020 and has yet to make his Major League debut, though he now appears in line for a role with the Giants, who had sought a left-handed-hitting infielder who could serve as a potential platoon option for third baseman Evan Longoria and second baseman Donovan Solano.
Longoria fared better against lefties (.859 OPS) than righties (.671 OPS) this season, and the Giants had a hard time getting the 35-year-old veteran off his feet due to their lack of reliable backup options at third base. Vosler, who posted a .934 OPS against righties in 2019, could be a nice complement to Longoria and also add some left-handed power off the bench, as Vosler hit at least 20 home runs in three consecutive seasons in the Minors.
Terms of Vosler¡¯s contract were not immediately disclosed. The Giants now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.