Giants Re-Sign Mota

With the addition of Mike Fontenot, the Giants looked done in terms of free agency. But they were not and they are now close to signing reliever Guillermo Mota to a one-year, $1 million deal.

No, it's not the sexiest deal. But it's, um, something?

Mota and the Giants, per MLB.com, agreed to terms and are simply waiting on a physical to bring the reliever back for a third season in San Francisco.

Of course, it's worth noting that Mota was pretty darn effective for a 37-year-old in 2011.

He pitched 80 1/3 innings last year, posting a 2-2 record and a 3.81 ERA. Mota struck out 77 batters, walked 30 and gave up 10 homers. His ERA+ (relative to league average) was 94, so it's not fair to call him "above average" or anything.

But it's worth noting that Mota's 80-some innings were spread out over just 52 outings -- he served as a long reliever much of the year when the Giants pitchers were injured or needed rest. (Compare that to his 2010 season, when he spread 54 innings over 56 outings.)

"Having to use Guillermo Mota in a lot of long relief situations" isn't the way you want your season described, of course, so hopefully Mota won't have to pile up as many inning as he did in 2011.

And if he does, here's hoping he out-earns his contract again.

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