SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants continued their penchant to hire veteran ballplayers Friday with the signing of 37-year-old infielder Jose Vizcaino to a one-year deal.
Vizcaino served as San Francisco's starting shortstop in 1997, helping the club win the National League West title. He batted .266 with five homers, 50 RBIs and 77 runs scored after being acquired from Cleveland in the multi-player swap for Matt Williams.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean, who wasn't available for comment, was seeking a backup infielder with playoff experience, and the native of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic fits that status. He made starts at all four infield spots with the Houston Astros and has appeared in 37 postseason games during his career for seven clubs.
Vizcaino has played for the Astros the past five seasons, batting .246 with a homer, 10 doubles and 23 RBIs in 98 contests in 2005. He gives the Giants a great double pinch-hitting threat along with new first baseman-outfielder Mark Sweeney, batting .280 in that role last season for Houston, including a team-high nine RBIs.
In his 16-year Major League career, Vizcaino has a lifetime .271 average with 34 homers. A versatile player, he has made 922 appearances at shortstop, 416 at second base, 225 at third, 28 at first and only one stint in the outfield.
Vizcaino is expected to be a steady backup for third sacker Pedro Feliz, shortstop Omar Vizquel and second baseman Ray Durham.
Originally signed by the Dodgers in 1986, Vizcaino has also played for the Cubs, Mets and Indians.
The next target for Sabean to complete his 2006 roster is probably a second-string catcher and possibly a fifth starter.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...ontent_id=1287050&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp
Vizcaino served as San Francisco's starting shortstop in 1997, helping the club win the National League West title. He batted .266 with five homers, 50 RBIs and 77 runs scored after being acquired from Cleveland in the multi-player swap for Matt Williams.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean, who wasn't available for comment, was seeking a backup infielder with playoff experience, and the native of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic fits that status. He made starts at all four infield spots with the Houston Astros and has appeared in 37 postseason games during his career for seven clubs.
Vizcaino has played for the Astros the past five seasons, batting .246 with a homer, 10 doubles and 23 RBIs in 98 contests in 2005. He gives the Giants a great double pinch-hitting threat along with new first baseman-outfielder Mark Sweeney, batting .280 in that role last season for Houston, including a team-high nine RBIs.
In his 16-year Major League career, Vizcaino has a lifetime .271 average with 34 homers. A versatile player, he has made 922 appearances at shortstop, 416 at second base, 225 at third, 28 at first and only one stint in the outfield.
Vizcaino is expected to be a steady backup for third sacker Pedro Feliz, shortstop Omar Vizquel and second baseman Ray Durham.
Originally signed by the Dodgers in 1986, Vizcaino has also played for the Cubs, Mets and Indians.
The next target for Sabean to complete his 2006 roster is probably a second-string catcher and possibly a fifth starter.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/...ontent_id=1287050&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp
