Giants ink Yabu to Minor League deal

SAN FRANCISCO -- Increasing the number of contenders for bullpen jobs, the Giants signed former A's right-hander Keiichi Yabu to a Minor League contract with an invitation to big league Spring Training.

Yabu finished 4-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 40 games -- all in relief -- for Oakland in 2005. He requested and received his release from the Colorado Rockies the following spring after failing to make their Opening Day roster. Giants director of player personnel Bobby Evans said Wednesday that Yabu pitched professionally in Taiwan during 2006 before sitting out last season.

Evans said that Yabu impressed Giants officials during a throwing session while the club's prospects were gathered in Scottsdale, Ariz., for fall Instructional League.

"We took a look at him and liked what we saw," Evans said of Yabu's one-day visit.

Before joining the A's, Yabu recorded an 84-106 mark with a 3.57 ERA in 268 games (206 starts) for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League.

The Giants likely will announce the rest of their non-roster Spring Training invitees early next month.