SAN FRANCISCO — It’s not unusual for a veteran to wait until camp has started to sign with a new team. What happened with Tony Watson was a bit unusual, though.
Watson didn’t reach a deal with the Giants until Feb. 16, and one of the last players to join the organization ended up being one of the best options Bruce Bochy had. Watson turned in a strong year pitching in the late innings for the Giants, leading to further questions about what scared other teams off over the winter. The Dodgers, for one, looked to need Watson in front of Kenley Jansen every time they visited AT&T Park.
Regardless, Watson is a Giant, and that late contract ended up being one of the best moves the front office made over the past couple of offseasons.
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Watson made 72 appearances — tied for their among NL lefty relievers — and finished with a 2.59 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He was particularly dominant in the first half, posting a 0.84 ERA in April and making 13 scoreless appearances in June, when he held opponents to a .081 average. He had a 19-inning scoreless streak at one point and started his year with 20 2/3 scoreless innings at home, one out shy of matching the franchise record for a reliever. At home, Watson had a 1.36 ERA in 33 innings.
Perhaps some teams were scared off by Watson’s workload the past three seasons, but he turned in another heavy-duty performance. He reached 70 appearances for a fourth consecutive season, making him the only big league reliever who can say that currently. He had 32 holds in those 72 appearances, which tied him for third in the majors.
What Went Wrong
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Watson was used a ton early on, and he might have hit a bit of a wall. He had a 3.57 ERA in the second half, although his peripherals were about the same, so he could have just dealt with a bit more bad luck. Like most Giants pitchers, his numbers took a turn away from AT&T Park. He was still good on the road, but not quite the dominant reliever he was at home. Watson had a 3.82 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in road appearances.
Contract Status
Watson’s contract was one of Bobby Evans’ best moves. It’s technically listed as a two-year, $9 million, but it can be a three-year, $21 million deal if he hits all his escalators. The Giants structured it this way so they could stay under the CBT number, with Watson eligible for up to $12 million in bonuses that will count towards his 2019 or 2020 tax numbers. The Giants have Watson under contract next season and he has a player option for 2020.
The Future
If you’ve been keeping up with these player reviews, you know the drill when it comes to the bullpen. If a team is rebuilding, the easiest move is to trade veteran relievers, and Watson certainly would have value. The Giants don't seem poised to take that step back, though, so expect Watson in the Opening Day bullpen, once again giving Bochy a reliable lefty in the late innings.