Derek Holland Resigns: 1-yr + Club Option

Giants Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco Giants announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Derek Holland to a one-year contract with a club option for 2020. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Holland was one of the most improved pitchers in the Majors in 2018, making 36 appearances (30 starts) for the Giants, posting a 7-9 record with a 3.57 ERA (68er, 171.1ip). He improved his ERA from 6.20 in 2017 to 3.57 in 2018 marking the second largest improvement among Major League pitchers (Stats, LLC). The left-hander led the Giants in starts (30), innings pitched (171.1ip), and strikeouts (169). His 36 appearances set a new career-high (previous: 33 games in 2009 and 2013 with TEX) and his 171.1 innings pitched and 169 strikeouts both marked the most he had recorded in a single season since 2013.

The 32-year-old had his best stretch of the 2018 season from Aug. 15-Sept. 12, where he posted a 1.59 ERA (6er, 34.0ip), opponents hit .197 against him, and struck out 34 batters over six starts. He also allowed two-runs-or-fewer in 10 of his 11 starts from July 10-Sept. 12, posting a 2.29 ERA (16er, 63.0ip). Left-handed batters hit just .168 (24-for-143) off Holland in 2018, which ranked as the third-lowest figure in the National League and sixth lowest in the Majors. Lefties also slugged just .189 off him last season, which marked the lowest in the Majors.

He finished the 2018 season with 169 strikeouts, the fourth-most by a player in his first season with the Giants since 1900 behind Vida Blue (1978: 171), Johnny Cueto (2016: 198), and Sam Jones (1959: 209) (Stats, LLC).

              Holland has posted a 76-73 record with a 4.44 ERA over 10 Major League seasons with the Texas Rangers (2009-2016), Chicago White Sox (2017) and San Francisco Giants (2018).

With today’s addition, the Giants 40-man roster is now at 40 players.

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