Giants ink McPherson to Minors deal

Infielder hit 42 homers at Triple-A last season

Chris Haft
MLB.com

The Giants have signed power-hitting third baseman Dallas McPherson to a Triple-A contract, vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans confirmed Saturday.

McPherson, 28, led the entire Minor Leagues last year with 42 home runs for Albuquerque, then the Florida Marlins' Triple-A affiliate. He also hit .275 with 98 RBIs. But Emilio Bonifacio beat out McPherson, who's out of Minor League options, for the Marlins' third-base job this spring. Florida released McPherson on March 31, casting him into free agency.

McPherson is expected to provide depth for the Giants' Triple-A Fresno club, which is already well-stocked with corner infielders.

Injuries have pockmarked McPherson's professional career, which began after the Angels selected him in the second round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He endured a hip injury in 2005, which limited him to 61 games with the Angels and 22 in the Minors. Two years later, back surgery forced McPherson to miss the entire season.

In 128 Major League games spread over four seasons, McPherson has hit .245 with 18 home runs and 45 RBIs. Before he made his Angels debut in 2004, he tantalized talent evaluators with his hitting prowess. He hit a combined .310 with 23 homers and 86 RBIs at Class A and Double-A in 2003, then batted .317 with 40 homers and 126 RBIs at Double-A and Triple-A in '04.