Major League Baseball

Giants finalizing deal with reliever Mota

Published Dec. 15, 2011 12:52 a.m. ET

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The San Francisco Giants were working Wednesday to finalize a $1 million, one-year contract with free agent reliever Guillermo Mota to bring him back for a third season.

The sides had agreed to terms and were waiting to complete a physical and final paperwork. Giants general manager Brian Sabean is committed to keeping his talented pitching staff intact - and not just aces Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, who he hopes to lock up in long-term deals.

Mota, a 38-year-old right-hander, has become a reliable option for manager Bruce Bochy. He went 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 52 outings last season for the NL West runners-up.

Mota's 80 1-3 innings last season were his third highest in 13 big league seasons and most since 2004, when he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Marlins.

Mota made one appearance against Texas during the 2010 World Series, when the Giants wrapped up the franchise's first championship since moving West in 1958.

With Mota returning, Bochy has much of his bullpen intact. In late October, San Francisco gave left-handed reliever Javier Lopez an $8.5 million, two-year contract and also picked up the $5 million contract option for fellow lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt.

On Monday night, the Giants tendered contracts to two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Lincecum, fellow starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong and relievers Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla.

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