Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that he envisions using Petit as a "super reliever" during the upcoming season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that he envisions using Petit as a "super reliever" during the upcoming season, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Analysis:

The Giants' signing of Ryan Vogelsong earlier in the day appears to have knocked Petit out of the competition for the No. 5 rotation spot, as that battle will now be decided between Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum. Instead, the versatile Petit appears primed to see both high-leverage and long-relief work out of the San Francisco bullpen to start 2015, a capacity he thrived in last season. Petit produced a 1.84 ERA and surrendered a lone home run over his 49 innings in relief, but saw those numbers skyrocket when injuries and Lincecum's ineffectiveness enabled him to pick up 12 starts. He could be tapped for a starting job at some point if an opening is created later in the season, but it appears the Giants would rather not have him pitch in that role on a long-term basis.