Report: Donnie Barrels joins Reds after three Giants seasons

Share

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Donnie Barrels will be taking his reliable swing elsewhere this season.

After following Farhan Zaidi to San Francisco and resurrecting his career, Donovan Solano has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million with the Cincinnati Reds.

Solano had spent the previous three seasons with the Giants, winning the Silver Slugger Award at second base in 2020, but there was a locker for him in Reds camp on Wednesday.

According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, he'll get a nice raise from the $3.25 million he made with the Giants last year. 

Solano was in Triple-A with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 but joined the Giants as a minor league free agent before the 2019 season. He was called up to the big league team in May and hit .330 in 81 games before stepping his game up another notch the next season.

Solano finished fifth in the NL in batting average (.326) during the 60-game season and posted a career-high .828 OPS, becoming the first Giants second baseman to win a Silver Slugger since Jeff Kent in 2002. 

San Francisco Giants

Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.

Report: Giants expected to be ‘significant players' for Sasaki

Adames' reported Giants contract shows Posey can act with urgency

RELATED: MLB's updated schedule adds some travel quirks for Giants

Solano's numbers took a step back last season and he missed 45 games because of a calf strain and a positive COVID-19 test. With Tommy La Stella signed before the season, Solano lost some time at second base, and he had just eight at-bats in the NLDS. 

The Giants have talked all offseason of giving Thairo Estrada more time, and he figures to make up the majority of the lost at-bats. La Stella is being slow-played after having Achilles surgery, but the Giants also have Wilmer Flores at second base.

Mauricio Dubon will try and get back into the mix this spring as well.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Contact Us