{Giants} {MLB}

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCSICO-After sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series, the San Francisco Giants looked to become the first National League team since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976 to win back-to-back World Championships.

Unfortunately, the Giants were plagued by injuries to key players like Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro and Ryan Vogelsong and ended up the 2013 season with a record of 76-86.

This offseason was a different one for the Giants, as they re-signed key players such as pitchers Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum, but did not re-sign longtime stalwart Barry Zito, who left the team after seven years wearing the Orange and Black.

To make up for the loss of Zito, General Manager Brian Sabean signed Zito’s former Oakland A’s teammate Tim Hudson, who spent the last nine years pitching for the Atlanta Braves

David Huff, who pitched last season for the New York Yankees was acquired this week and will be competing for a spot as a long reliever.

Huff, who grew up in Orange County is happy to be back on the West Coast, as he is closer to his family and friends, who travel to the Bay Area to see him play and is also reuniting with a former college teammate in Brandon Crawford from their days with the UCLA Bruins.

Sabean was not done signing players, as he went out and signed power hitting outfielder Michael Morse as another outfielder.

After Fanfest on Saturday, the Giants return again together in just two weeks at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona for Spring Training.