That's it ... get ready for a pennant race in Arizona! The Diamondback have signed 37-year-old Geoff Blum to a two-year deal, according to an official release from D-back's General Manager Kevin Towers. Blum is a utility infielder who hit .267 with 22 RBI in 93 games last season for the Houston Astros. He went .333 as a pinch-hitter and was tied for fourth in National League with 11 pinch-hit RBI.
Numbers aside, the real deal here is veteran leadership presence in the club house. According to the Houston Chronicle, Blum was named the "Good Guy" award winner by the Houston Baseball Writer's Association of America fellas. In the article announcing his departure from the Astros, he was lauded for his veteran leadership.
"He's brought veteran leadership to the club and the type of versatility that good teams need to succeed," Astro's GM Ed Wade said.
"The signing of Geoff Blum is the first step in identifying how we can improve Kirk Gibson's options off the bench next season," Towers said. "Geoff is a veteran that can play nearly every position on the field while also having the experience of contributing to key situations late in the game as a pinch-hitter off of the bench."
Welcome to Arizona, Geoff. The Giants are quaking in their boots now.