The Giants have released 31-year old lefty swinging infielder Mike Fontenot. Fontenot played in 85 games for the Giants last year and he was 50 of 220 (.227 avg, .681 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 4 homers, 21 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He played in 113 games in his two years with the Giants and he was 70 of 291 (.241 avg, .671 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 4 homers, 26 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Fontenot should be able to find a new job soon, but the Giants won’t miss him too much….if at all.

The San Francisco Giants have their top six relievers returning for 2012, so they should have a very tight bullpen once again in 2012. Here is a look at how the bullpen stands for 2012 as of right now:

Closer: Brian Wilson: 29-year old righty Brian Wilson took a small step back in 2011. He pitched in 57 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 6-4 with 36 saves, a 3.11 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Wilson has now played in 313 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 20-20 with 170 saves, a 3.17 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. I look for Wilson to return to his old dominating self once again in 2012.

Set-Up Man: Sergio Romo: 28-year old righty Sergio Romo is one of the best set-up man in the major leagues. He pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 1.50 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP. Romo has now pitched in 207 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 16-7 with 3 saves, a 2.33 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Look for his dominance to continue in 2012.

Righties: Santiago Casilla: 31-year old Santiago Casilla has found a home in San Francisco. He pitched in 49 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 2-2 with 6 saves, a 1.74 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Casilla has now pitched in 101 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Giants and he is 9-4 with 8 saves, a 1.85 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has now pitched in 253 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 15-8 with 12 saves, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Look for Casilla to continue to rock in 2012 for the Giants.

Guillermo Mota: 38-year old Guillermo Mota pitched in 52 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 2-2 with 1 save, a 3.81 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Mota has now pitched in 108 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Giants and he is 3-5 with 2 saves, a 4.02 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Mota has now pitched in 717 games (0 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 39-44 with 10 saves, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Mota will be working in the middle innings for the Giants in 2012.

Ramon Ortiz: 38-year old Ramon Ortiz pitched in 22 games (2 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Ortiz has now pitched in 296 games (214 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 86-84 with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Ortiz might be able to help the Giants out as the long man in the pen in 2012.

Steve Edlefsen: 26-year old Steve Edlefsen got his first taste of the majors for the Giants last year and it didn’t go too well. He pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 0-0 with a 9.53 ERA and a 2.38 WHIP. He also pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in Rookie+AAA-ball last year in which he was 2-4 with 1 save, a 5.44 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Edlefsen will likely start the 2012 season in AAA and have to earn his way back to San Francisco.

Boof Bonser: 30-year old righty Boof Bonser will compete for the bullpen job this spring for the Giants. He pitched in 1 game (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Mets last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Bonser last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the A’s & Giants. Bonser has now pitched in 111 games (60 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 19-25 with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Bonser will need an outstanding spring if he’s going to win a bullpen job this spring.

Eric Hacker: 28-year old Eric Hacker pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 26 games (25 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 7-14 with a 6.10 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Hacker has now pitched in 5 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. He is a longshot to win a spot in the bullpen this spring.

Yusmeiro Petit: 27-year old Yusmeiro Petit pitched in 7 games (6 starts) in Mexico last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the D-Backs. Petit has pitched in 71 games (36 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 10-20 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Petit will be a big time longshot to make the Giants’ pen in 2012.

Lefties: Jeremy Affeldt: 32-year old Jeremy Affeldt will be the Giants’ top lefty in the pen once again in 2012. Affeldt pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 3-2 with 3 saves, a 2.63 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has now pitched in 194 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Giants and he is 9-7 with 7 saves, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Affeldt has now pitched in 554 games (42 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 35-35 with 25 saves, a 4.12 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. I look for Affeldt to have another very solid year for the Giants in 2012.

Javier Lopez: 34-year old Javier Lopez pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Giants last year and he was 5-2 with 1 save, a 2.72 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Lopez has now pitched in 97 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Giants and he is 7-2 with 1 save, a 2.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He has now pitched in 490 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 20-11 with 5 saves, a 3.96 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Lopez will likely have another solid year in 2012 as the lefty specialist for the Giants.

Dan Runzler: 26-year old Dan Runzler had a rough time in 2011 for the Giants. He pitched in 31 games (1 start) for the Giants last year and he was 1-2 with a 6.26 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Runzler has now pitched in 83 games (1 start) in his first three years with the Giants and he is 4-2 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Runzler will make the Giants’ pen in 2012 if they are comfortable with having three lefties in it.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: A

The Giants have signed 29-year old lefty starter/reliever Travis Blackley to a minor league deal. Blackley didn’t pitch at all in 2011. He last pitched in the majors back in 2007 with the Giants. He has pitched in 8 games (all starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Blackley is going to be a big time longshot to make the Giants’ pitching staff this spring.

The Giants have signed 38-year old righty reliever/starter Ramon Ortiz to a minor league deal. Ortiz pitched in 22 games (2 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 296 games (214 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 86-84 with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Ortiz will compete for the #5 job in the starting rotation or the long man in the bullpen this spring.

UPDATE: (3/26/2012) - The Giants have released Ramon Ortiz.

The Giants have designated 31-year old righty swinging outfielder Justin Christian for assignment. Christian played in 18 games for the Giants last year and he was 12 for 47 (.255 avg, .647 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 42 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 22 for 87 (.253 avg, .638 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 0 homers, 10 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Giants needed Christian’s roster spot for Ryan Theriot.

UPDATE: (2/15/2012) - The Giants have released Justin Christian after he cleared waivers.

UPDATE II: (2/16/2012) - The Giants have re-signed Justin Christian to a minor league deal. He will compete for a bench spot on the Giants this spring.