Giants settle with Casey McGehee for $4.8 million

The last time the Giants acquired an arbitration-eligible player before the season, they couldn't reach an agreement and went to arbitration. It was the last time the Giants went to arbitration. Either the Giants learned a lesson with that situation, or A.J. Pierzynski was a buttnose who was going to burn bridges he hadn't even crossed yet, regardless of what the team offered. You can guess which way I'm leaning.

The arbitration-free streak continues, however, as remaining holdout Casey McGehee settled with the Giants for $4.8 million, according to Jon Heyman. The Giants were offering $4 million, and McGehee filed for $5.4 million, so the 2015 salary will be $100,000 above the midpoint. McGehee was already guaranteed to more than the $3.5 million MLB Trade Rumors was projecting him for, so there must be some sort of "hit well in Japan" addendum when determining this stuff.

This is the last year McGehee is eligible for arbitration, and he'll be eligible for free agency next year. The third baseman hit just four home runs last year, but got on base well above the league average. He also hit 39 homers in his first 1,000 major league plate appearances, so maybe the dinger-free 2014 was a fluke.

Reminder that McGehee is from Soquel, which is I've always pronounced "So Cal," which has always bugged the everloving crap out of me.