SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On Tuesday, Buster Posey said he was disappointed that the Giants did not re-sign Nick Hundley. Hundley certainly sounds disappointed that he won’t spend another season backing up Posey.
“I definitely will miss playing with him and the guys there,” Hundley said on MLB Network Radio on Wednesday. “I’ve caught with a lot of guys, been really fortunate to catch with a lot of great teammates, but as far as teammates go, he might be the best one I’ve ever had.”
That’s high praise from Hundley, who was beloved in the Giants clubhouse and won the Willie Mac Award in his first season with the team. Hundley played two seasons with the Giants and left such a strong impression that some in the organization view him as an option to manage the club if he chooses that career path once his playing days are over.
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SIGN UP HERE For now, Hundley has a fresh start across the bridge with the A’s. He signed a minor league deal with them earlier this week. The Giants did not go hard after Hundley, choosing instead to go with a new look at the backup spot.
Aramis Garcia, Hundley’s teammate last September, will battle Stephen Vogt, Rene Rivera, Cameron Rupp and Hamlet Marte for the job this spring.
“To move on from that organization definitely wasn’t easy but it was the right move,” Hundley said. “It was the right time for me and my family and the right opportunity here in Oakland. There’s definitely no looking back. It’ll be fun to compete against them in spring.”
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Posey’s Giants and Hundley’s A’s will square off March 7 and 10 here in Arizona and then three times during the Bay Bridge Series. As always, there are four regular season matchups. Each team hosts two games in August.