Just a few days ago we noted that the Giants were actively shopping Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot. Unfortunately, there wasn't much (any?) interest in either guy, and now the team has decided to put Fontenot on waivers.
Fontenot was, per Jaymee Sire of CSNBayArea.com, set to make $1.05 million on a one-year deal. The Giants now just owe him a fourth of that salary, which saves the team $787,000. (Or, as I like to call it: one start from Barry Zito.)
Freddy Sanchez is currently dealing with a shoulder injury that should keep him on the disabled list to start the season, and while that quashed the idea of moving/cutting both Theriot and Fontenot, the starting rotation is already banged up, and the Giants need a pile of pitchers on the roster to start the season.
Which means someone had to go. And that someone is Fontenot. It also means that either Brandon Belt or Brett Pill could end up making the big-league roster. Though given the way the team feels about Belt, the former is no sure thing.
Fontenot was traded from the Cubs to San Francisco in the middle of 2010's World Series run and played 113 games with the team since then. He batted .241/.310/.361 over that time, with four home runs and five stolen bases.
Needless to say, he's not going be swarmed on by teams who need offensive help. But Fontenot's a good player -- he's the definition of a utility infielder, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him picked up by someone who's hurting around the diamond, like the Phillies or the Braves.
