Derek Holland designated for assignment by San Francisco Giants

Derek Holland, long-time Texas Rangers lefthanded pitcher, has been designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants. Holland was DFA’d in a move that was announced Sunday, but that I must have missed.

The Giants have 7 days from Sunday to waive, trade or release Holland, who was signed to a 1 year, $7 million deal this offseason by San Francisco, with a team option for 2020. Holland has a 5.90 ERA and a 6.08 FIP in 68.2 IP over 7 starts and 24 relief appearances, and thus would seem to be unlikely to be claimed.

Texas drafted Holland in the 25th round of the 2006 draft, and he had several solid seasons for the Rangers before his career was de-railed due to offseason microfracture surgery in 2013-14. He struggled for Texas with both performance and health in 2015-16, signed with the Chicago White Sox in 2017 and didn’t pitch well, but had a renaissance in 2018 with the Giants, putting up a 3.57 ERA in 171.1 IP.

There was some indication that the Rangers might be interested in a reunion with Holland, but he ended up returning to San Francisco. Once he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, it would seem possible that Texas could look at bringing him in on a minor league deal to see if there’s anything there.