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Casey McGehee happy to be 'back home' with Giants

Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Casey McGehee was born and raised in western California and spent his childhood idolizing Will Clark and Matt Williams, two players who enjoyed memorable stints with Bay Area clubs. The 32-year-old was understandably elated when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Friday.

"I've found myself just walking around with a smile on my face," McGehee told Alex Pavlovic of the Mercury News. "I couldn't be more happy to be in the organization that has had the success it has had, but also it’s a chance for me to get back home."

McGehee revived his MLB career in Miami last season after spending the 2013 campaign with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League. A former 10th-round pick, McGehee hit .287/.355/.357 (99 OPS+) over 160 games in 2014, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy remains enamored with his offensive skills.

"He's just a great fit for us with what he can do with the bat," Bochy said. "I thought he did a great job protecting (Giancarlo) Stanton for the Marlins down there. He's a guy that puts the ball in play and uses the whole field, and he really has become a very smart hitter."

Bochy added that McGehee is poised to hit in the middle of San Francisco's lineup while taking over for Pablo Sandoval at third base after the longtime fan favorite signed a five-year deal with the Boston Red Sox earlier this winter.

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