Giants’ Casey McGehee Along for the Ride
If you had to name a journeyman professional baseball player that comes to mind, Tom Selleck’s character Jack Elliot from the movie Mr. Baseball may be a popular response — assuming you participate regularly in Movember or are a big enough fan to know Selleck turned down the titular role of Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure saga. But unlike the actor who made a terrible decision choosing Magnum, P.I. over Hollywood superstardom, real world journeyman athlete Casey McGehee just got lucky landing with the defending World Series champions via trade in December.
The 32-year old is the short-term replacement for departed third baseman Pablo Sandoval on the San Francisco Giants’ roster. McGehee attended high school in Soquel, CA, a mere 80 miles away from AT&T Park in San Francisco.
While a journeyman by definition is in fact not someone who is well traveled geographically, McGehee probably still embodies the actual definition of being a reliable professional.
McGehee is both well traveled and reliable, though. His MLB story started in 2003 when he was drafted in the 10th round by the Chicago Cubs. Making his big league debut in 2008 as a September call-up for the Cubs on the road in Houston, McGehee’s nine appearances were forgettable. In the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers claimed him off waivers.
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Having a memorable 2009 rookie season, McGehee became a productive player for the Brew Crew. He slashed .301/.360./.499, swatted 16 home runs and managed to tally some votes in NL ROY balloting. Then in 2010, the third baseman built on his previous seasons success. A fine campaign by any standards, McGehee put together a line of .285-70-23-104-1. In a stacked lineup featuring Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart, McGehee finished fifth on the team in oWAR with a 3.1 number. A dismal 2011 followed 2010’s breakout campaign.
Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2012 offseason, McGehee played poorly and was dealt to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. By 2013, the 30-year old found himself across the Pacific Ocean playing in Japan for the Rakuten Golden Eagles. While there, he was a teammate of Masahiro Tanaka and former MLB outfielder Andruw Jones. Playing mostly third base while there, he hit .292 with 28 HRs and 93 RBI in 144 games.
The Miami Marlins figured McGehee would be a bounce back candidate for 2014 after resurrecting his swing overseas, and he was. Focusing more on making solid contact and favoring substance over style, he hit .287 with 74 RBI while leading the Fish in plate appearances.
Two continents, seven years and six teams later, McGehee will be playing for yet another big league ball club since his originla debut. Probably not a long-term replacement for Sandoval at third base, McGehee will buy the club some time and be a reliable option with his durability an knack for making contact.
After avoiding arbitration with the Giants, he’s set to make $4.8 million in 2015. For Casey McGehee, it’s not a bad pit stop to find himself playing for one of the most respected baseball organizations of the last decade. The Giants, are to some people, approaching dynasty status with three titles in the last five years. To others, depending on who you ask, they are already there.
McGehee knows there is no guarantee he will be a Giant 2016 or beyond. But as always, he’s going to keep on swinging a bat while his professional baseball journey continues. Maybe he will get the opportunity to play for a ring in the process.
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