The Giants avoided a salary-arbitration hearing with left-hander Jack Taschner, who signed a one-year, $835,000 contract Tuesday.

Taschner, the lone arbitration-eligible Giants player, earned $400,000 last season while finishing 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA in a career- and team-high 67 appearances.
With Affeldt going to be the main left-handed setup man, Taschner along with Alex Hinshaw will help from the left side. Taschner has to do a better job than he did last year. Lefties hit .279 against him. The Giants haven't had to go to an arbitration hearing since 2004 with AJ Pierzynski.