CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–Derek Holland couldn’t wait to arrive in Scottsdale this spring.
He just had to wait for the Giants to sign him.
The left-hander resurrected his career in San Francisco last year and didn’t mince his words late last season when asked if he wanted to return in 2019. Despite the club’s 73-89 record, Holland said he hoped to extend his run with the team for at least one more year.
“My goal was to always be here,” Holland said. “It was the first option, this is where I wanted to be. Even though I’m here, I’m still taking this as if I’m still trying to make the team, still trying to get into the rotation. That’s my philosophy and that’s how it’s always been.”
On January 14, after a three-plus month wait, Holland and the Giants agreed to terms on a one-year deal with a club option for 2020.
After arriving in camp as a non-roster invitee last spring, Holland signed the most lucrative contract of any free agent the Giants brought in this offseason. His mindset entering the spring, however, isn’t much different.
“I’m a little more relaxed right now,” Holland said. “Last year I had to make the team, that was the goal. I’m already on it, but at the same time, I still have the mindset that I’m competing but now I can actually work on a little more.”
Holland made his Cactus League debut Monday against the Chicago White Sox and allowed three earned runs in one-plus inning of work. Last year, a stat line like that may have hurt the lefty’s chances of earning a roster spot. This spring, Holland is able to take the results in stride.
“The line is going to say I gave up a couple of runs but to me there wasn’t really any hard hit balls,” Holland said. “I thought everything was working today, I definitely pitched very well away. One of my strengths is in so I thought we did a really good job of using all of my pitches.”
For the second straight day, a Giants starter opened the second inning but failed to record an out. Like Madison Bumgarner on Sunday, Holland was the victim of a handful of softly-hit balls that found openings and a bit of shoddy defense.
The Giants’ defense must improve if they hope to challenge in the National League West, but Holland believes doing so is realistic because the roster is healthy. If the front office adds a big free agent or two over the next few weeks, Holland wouldn’t mind.
The former Texas Rangers union representative joined the growing number of veterans across the league Monday to express his thoughts on the state of free agency in Major League Baseball.
“There’s so much talent out there and it’s crazy that nobody is really spending,” Holland said. “The thing that kind of bothers me is if there’s teams that are out there that are trying to tank.”
Holland expressed disbelief that his former college roommate, closer Craig Kimbrel, remains unsigned. He cited former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and five-time All-Star Adam Jones as examples of other valuable players who could help teams right away.
“At the end of the day, you’re letting key players that are out there that can help you go get a ring, I thought that’s what it’s all about?” Holland said. “I thought we’re trying to see how many rings we can get.”
If franchises are concerned about their bottom lines and unwilling to spend to acquire more talent, Holland provides some advice.
“Scared money don’t make money.”
