San Francisco Giants Sign Bill Hall

For better or for worse, sometimes the stars align.

Last Saturday, the Houston Astros released INF Bill Hall. When the Astros signed Hall to a one-year, $3 million contract this past winter, they envisioned him being a super-utility player that could provide some pop when needed.

Unfortunately, Hall has looked more like the Hall that played with the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners in 2009 (.201/.258/.338 with eight HRs in 334 ABs), rather than the really valuable player with the Boston Red Sox last season (.247/.316/.456 with 18 HRs in 382 PAs). Hall was hitting .221/.273/.336 with two HRs in 158 PAs with the Astros in 2011.

On Friday, San Francisco Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez separated his shoulder trying to make a diving play up the middle. The Giants placed Sanchez on the 15-day DL and could miss the remainder of the season if surgery is required.

So let’s do the math. Hall gets released plus Giants now need a second basemen equals a match.

The Giants signed Hall to a one-year deal over the weekend and will get the majority of the starts moving forward. GM Brian Sabean has had luck with retreads before like Pat Burrell and Aubrey Huff, but has struck out with guys like Miguel Tejada.

If the Giants are going to make the playoffs without the Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez's, they are going to need contributions from players like Hall. I have my doubts as to how much Hall has left. Hall’s only value offensively is through the long ball and he is now going to a ball park is unkind to hitters.