Affeldt is First Free Agent to Sign

From the Associated Press:

Reliever Jeremy Affeldt became the first of 171 free agents to agree to a contract, striking a two-year deal Monday with the San Francisco Giants.

One of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's offseason priorities was to bolster his club's inconsistent bullpen, so adding the left-hander helps in that process. The Giants, who haven't reached the playoffs since 2003, often had problems in the middle innings between their starter and getting to reliable closer Brian Wilson.

The 29-year-old Affeldt pitched for the Cincinnati Reds last season, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in a team-leading 74 appearances. He struck out 80 and walked 25 in 78 1-3 innings. The 6-foot-4 Affeldt, originally drafted by Kansas City in the third round in 1997, recorded a 2.23 ERA in his final 34 outings of 2008.