The Giants announced Tuesday that they’ve claimed right-hander Jose Lopez off waivers from the Reds. In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, San Francisco designated left-hander Josh Osich for assignment. Cincinnati had designated the 25-year-old Lopez for assignment Monday after signing Zach Duke.
A year ago, Lopez was considered to be one of the more promising pitching prospects in Cincinnati’s system. The righty was fresh off a 2.57 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 44 percent ground-ball rate in 147 innings between Class-A Advanced and Double-A and was added to the Reds’ 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. In 2018, however, Lopez turned in a 4.47 ERA with 7.5 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.21 HR/9 and a diminished 29.1 percent ground-ball rate in 141 innings at the Triple-A level. As noted at the time of his DFA yesterday, Lopez’s relative youth, success in the upper minors and remaining two minor league options made him unlikely to clear waivers.
Lopez will add a potentially useful arm to the upper levels of a San Francisco organization that has been thin on pitching depth in recent seasons. He’s not likely to crack the roster to open the season with Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija, Dereck Rodriguez, Derek Holland, Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Suarez all ahead of him on the depth chart. However, Bumgarner, Holland and Pomeranz could all become free agents next winter, which could present Lopez an opportunity to eventually emerge as an option (as could injuries elsewhere on the roster in 2019).
Osich, 30, has spent time with the Giants in each of the past four seasons, though he’s struggled increasingly at the MLB level dating back to 2016. In 120 1/3 innings, Osich has a 5.01 ERA with 7.9 K/9, 4.6 BB/9, 1.50 HR/9 and a 51.8 percent ground-ball rate. Osich has a minor league option remaining and averages about 95 mph on his heater, but his struggles in recent years make it plausible that he could clear waivers and remain in the Giants organization. Last year in Triple-A, Osich posted a 4.96 ERA with a 42-to-18 K/BB ratio in 45 1/3 innings.
Good farm move
This could be a great signing. His HR rate will go down in SF. Rags helped Dyson rediscover the ground ball.
I think you mean Curt Young
No. Dyson was with the Giants in 2017. Righetti’s last season as pitching coach.
Down from what? Do you think he was in GABP?
Quality depth move. Guy has upside and options remaining, and Osich has shown enough to get passed on at this point. It’s fairly easy to find some veterans trying to bounce back for spring invites and AAA depth, but it’s a boon to find a 25-year-old with upside to fill that role.
so glad osich is dfa’d, hope someone grabs him.giants really should have traded high on him after his rookie year when they were getting offers for him
Wolf Chan. Is your foresight as good as your hindsight?
Nice
Odd combo for Osich. >50% of the balls put in play against him were grounders yet he managed a 1.5 HR/9 rate while pitching in the spacious AT&T park. Not normally what you’d see there.
Osich is gone! Woo! Please take Okert with you when you go.
EXACTLY!
So you two want to get rid of a 27 year old left hander who has pitched a whopping 48 major league innings? Please go play GM for the dodgers.
Did you not get the memo? The Giants love Dodger GM’s so much, they just had to hire one.
Get your nose out of the state book and show up to a game and you will understand Okert must go
i dont think sfgiants4ever has ever been to a game
Krukow told us all last season that Osich was the real deal…
Why?
Another low risk, potential high reward move. Keep stocking up.
well good job O’s…
Osich is better than Okert. Osich looked good last spring and in April before his injury, I’d rather we let go of Okert than Osich.
they both need to go!
They both suck so doesn’t matter
You guys need to figure out how to evaluate a young pitcher. 27 year old lefty with 48 innings in the majors and you geniuses want to get rid of him.
Show up to a game
Osich got hit pretty hard in Sacto to, albeit in the PCL.
Fire….osics…pro…needs control.
Good signing
All in all.
Win win,if Osich passes through Waivers you retain Lefties that throw 95 in the Minors hoping they return to when he was successful,don’t forget he was lights out his first year
Nice sign
osich “lights out” his first year give me a break he pitched a total of 28 innings in perfect lefty matchups
Homeunderdog, you understand that is what being a reliever is about, being put in situations that you’re supposed to succeed in.
Nailed it from the thread where he was put on waivers just couldn’t figure who they were gonna DFA.
This shows the typical poor front office management! Why DFA when he had two options left! Wake up call for Castellini you need to get get rid of Williams and Kroll
I was wondering the same thing.
Easy… he isn’t very good
No claim to Osich yet or it will take a week or so? Maybe Zaidi thought he would clear and could store him in Sacramento until he’s needed again or at the very least it was worth the risk of possibly losing him to get Lopez , Osich had a good season but couldn’t ever find consistency in the games I saw him play.