The Giants have extended non-roster Spring Training invitations to 12 players. Most notable among them is washed-up lefthander Jeff Fassero, who could at best serve as a LOOGY and emergency starter, I suppose, if he somehow made the club.
Also invited were 660 victim Matt Kinney, failed Padres closer Brandon Villafuerte, 30-year-old 2004 Giants spot-starter Brian Cooper, briefly interesting Padres and A's reliever Jeremy Fikac, unremarkable Marlins lefty Armando Almanza, and forgettable Astros RP Brandon Puffer. Kinney, the youngest, turns 28 tomorrow.
Among position players, the Giants invited catcher Yamid Haad, infielders Julio Cordido and Donaldo Mendez and outfielders Doug Clark and Julio Ramirez to their Arizona camp. Mendez hit .183 in two seasons as the Padres' backup shortstop; Ramirez has hit .163 as an outfielder for three teams; and Haad went 0-for-1 in one game for the Pirates five years ago.
It doesn't look like any of our trouble spots will be filled by any of these people, although I'd guess that at least one of the pitchers as a pretty decent shot at being the new Wayne Franklin.
