The Giants have designated left-handed pitcher Travis Bergen for assignment and have recalled infielder Abiatal Avelino, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com.
Bergen, 25, was selected by the Giants in last December’s Rule 5 Draft after spending the first four years of his professional career in the Blue Jays organization. If he clears waivers, the Giants will need to offer him back to his former employer—of course, the Blue Jays are not required to accept Bergen back into the fold, in which case the Giants could keep Bergen in their organization.
In his first taste of Major League action, Bergen has appeared in 21 games for the Giants, striking out 18 batters in 19 2/3 innings. Those numbers have in part led to a 5.55 FIP, which backs his overall 5.49 ERA. With Bergen no longer on the roster, top prospect Logan Webb looks like a good bet to stick around for an extended look, especially after an impressive debut.
Meanwhile, Avelino is slated to make his first big league appearance of 2019 after a six-game Major League stint in September of 2018. One of the fruits of the trade that sent Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees, the 24-year-old Avelino has spent the entire season in Triple-A. With a .771 season OPS, he’s regarded as the Giants’ No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline, which touts his arm strength from the shortstop position and his defensive versatility.
worth it for any non-contender. he only needs a few more weeks on the roster.
Okay, why not designate Suarez instead of Bergen ? Both lefties and neither have a decent ERA or Whip but Bergen’s is better (unless I haven’t had enough coffee and am confused). I think I suffer from Suarez fatigue. Does it have to do with options?
Suarez has the ability to start or be a swingman (if needed) also has options so he wouldn’t get DFA’d
Suarez has way more potential. You have to look past current ERA as they both don’t have significant innings. Suarez is better suited for the rotation, but I’m sure will get more adjusted to the swingman role. Biggest thing, by far, Bergen just not flexible. Farhan has said he was going to take advantage of option players to keep pitching fresh, and has done just that. Can’t do it with a rule 5 guy.
Bryan Reynolds turning into Abiayal Avelino. One last Bobby Evans parting gift.
On one hand, I understand the Giants trying to reload that year, but Bryan Reynolds and Crick were an overpay.
Story of the old regime.
Yep, that terrible, three-time world series championship regime
it was after 2014 that the FO just made a lot of bad decisions – a lot had to do with evans more than anything. It wasn’t that specific decisions were good or bad ones – he had both but the overall philosophy of repairing the loudest broken thing while not paying attention to the overall organization’s health has been a major issue, and why you see so many small moves going on
don’t they have to just offer him back to the jays since he is a rule 5 guy?
he has to clear waivers first
Jalyn Davis
Cant wait for that kid to get a shot. Should be soon.
Davis isn’t on the 40 man roster. Someone would need to be DFA’d to make room.
i have some good news for you buddy.
Someone please help me out here…
Travis Bergen was a rule 5 draft pick they acquired from the Blue Jays right? Don’t they have to offer him back to the Blue Jays instead of DFAing him? Help me out please!
I believe if another team claims him, that team will have to carry him onto their active roster. If he doesn’t go claimed he will have to be sent back to Toronto.
Thanks!
“If he doesn’t go claimed he will have to be sent back to Toronto.”
He has to be offered back, not necessarily sent. It’s up to the Jays if they want him back. Not every team has taken back guys that have been offered back that they lost through the Rule 5 draft.
I should’ve just waited a little while longer and then they would’ve posted that piece of information!
A big 10-4 on the Davis call-up!
Jaylin Davis needs a shot. Dude is hitting tanks in AAA and looks like a stud.
Too bad Haylin doesn’t play the middle infield. Our outfield has put up positive numbers since june 1st. Middle infield is atrocious. I’d like to see Dubon at short, Slater at second, and Davis in outfield against righties and to give Dickerson more rest. Please just bench Belt and give Posey and Shaw first base in September! (Just wishing over here lol)
It’s doesn’t seem very smart to sit Belt for an inferior player just because you have a personal animus toward the guy. The only reason you want Shaw is because he isn’t Belt. But I’ve seen far too much of Shaw that I hope he never gets the call, unless it’s September as a bench guy. Shaw is not MLB caliber and doubt he ever will be.
What’s wrong with Shaw other than his 450+ bombs he hits every few games? The dude is a legit power house. Definitely a upgrade over the overrated Belt. Belt’s ops ranks at the bottom for his position. He turning into a LH Mark Reynolds
Posey brings gold glove defense and pitchers love working with him. You want to slide a .700 OPS to 1st base? As a catcher that’s fine, but as a 1st baseman it’s terrible. and you’re also taking a gold glove defenseive player away from 1st when you do that. I realize Belt is toast but I don’t suggest moving Posey because it hursts two positions.
I think it depends on bart next year. if you have bart and voght sticks around you can carry 3 catchers and use posey in spots @ 1st and voght @ spots in left and it may be an experiment to see if the rest from catcher lets posey’s hips recover to let him drive the ball more, though someone with more analytics on his current mechanics could debunk me on that
Where’s he going to play? The outfield is pretty settled right now, can’t believe I can say that with a straight face. If he comes up, you got Dickerson, Pillar, Yaz, Slater and Davis. If he can play 1b, that would be nice. They’d have to go back to 13 pitchers and 12 position players for that to work. Problem remains Crawford and Belt and their continued struggles. Slater is a bit more versatile and could play 1b but having 5 OF’ers means really only Solano as a back up infielder because you gotta carry 2 catchers. If any outfielders go down, bring him up. Short of that, probably have to wait for the roster to expand in September
I’m ready to give him some of Dickerson’s playing time. He’s been a blessing for us, but that back simply won’t hold up. If we’re playing for the future, he deserves a chance.
Dickerson looks like he could have used another 10 days away. Bat looks slow, no smoothness to his swing. Makes sense why they’d rush him back though.
Davis hits right and Dickerson left. What I was trying to say is the OF isn’t the problem. The problem is Crawford and Belt. Posey and Longoria have gotten better as the year has gone on. 2B has been and still is a problem. Scooter is not good defensively and isn’t hitting all that well. The SP beyond Shark and Bum has been bad for the most part. Long story short, I like Davis, but I think he’s a September guy and then he can fight it out for next year. If Dickerson has to go back to the IL, then bring him up
Why not give Rickard’s spot to Jaylin Davis? I’m not sure why Rickard is even on the 40 man.
september aint what it used to be – next year callups only give you 2 extra guys
They need to just make Slater a utility guy and play him more in the IF. That would make room for davis
Agreed on working Slater more at various positions. That would help. Would also help if Crawford, belt and Scooter could all just hit .250 with a few HR’s sprinkled in. Slater could be a super utility guy and really help out. I’m guessing they spend a lot of time this offseason upgrading his defense and working him at multiple positions
Agreed. He could turn out to be a marwin gonzalez type playing IF and OF with 15-20 homers a year and a 800 OPS. They have Solano and Sandoval now but doubt theyre gonna stick around for the future. That would really help and open up a pure OF spot for Davis. Slater played every position this year in the minors so idk why they haven’t tried home everywhere in the majors as well instead of purely OF
Gobbysteiner Slater will never average 15-20 home runs. He’s more of a 5-10 home runs with a .250-.275 average
You’re crazy he definitely can hit 15-20 in a full season. Also, walk about 75-85x a year too. Slater has consistently hit for avg, drawn walks and increased power since 2nd yr in minors. He’s a 15-20 hr 30+ 2b .270-290 avg 360-400 obp .800-850 ops type of player
That’s why I said could, and 10 homers out of a utility guy with a 350-400 OBP is still very valuable. But with his swing changes and launch angle changes Slater could very well hit 15-20 through a full season, it’s still early but he’s slugging over 500 on the season.
Jaylin Davis is not on the 40 man roster. If Bergen gets claimed, or the Jays take him back when offered, that would open up a spot. But otherwise they would need to DFA someone before they can call Davis up.
even if Toronto didn’t want him back (virtually impossible) he would be outrighted. there’s your spot right there.
Brandon Crawford. Problem solved.
Toronto should accept him and give him a chance. They could use another lefty bullpen arm and this time give him an opportunity next year.
The Slater hype is ridiculous.
You’re ridiculous
I don’t get this move at all. Bergen has been beat up his last 2 outings and the Giants are weary of him. Fine. But why not just put him on the DL and wait for September? The Giants can call it whatever they want (dead arm, whatever). Keep him on the DL until September 1 and activate him when rosters expand.
A young Left Handed pitcher with swing and miss stuff who’s making the league minimum and the Giants can’t make a few maneuvers to keep him? Sorry, but this was a mistake by Zaidi.
They needed to open a 40 man spot for I’m guessing Davis. It wasn’t about the 25 man spot.
He’s not that great TBH. Swing and miss stuff ? He’s not lightning it up at all. Avg 90mph on FB and he don’t even avg a k per inn. 18ks in 19inn with 9bb isn’t that great.