SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the surface, it appears that the Giants are getting a bunch of old Padres together. Drew Pomeranz. Rene Rivera. Yangervis Solarte. Cameron Maybin.
Put perhaps the real link among most the free agent additions is a player who has years of experience facing the Padres.
Solarte, who checked into camp Sunday, said he spent the offseason working out with Pablo Sandoval at the Bommarito gym in Miami. Parra and Rivera also worked out there, along with Dereck Rodriguez, Sandoval’s prized recruit last offseason. Manager Bruce Bochy said Sandoval encouraged him to add his workout partners, all of whom are here on minor league deals, as Rodriguez was last spring.