The Giants have acquired infielder Daniel Robertson from the Rays in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Robertson has been assigned to the Giants’ alternate training site. To clear 40-man roster space, outfielder Hunter Pence has been designated for assignment, reports Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter).
Robertson was designated for assignment himself earlier this week. The 26-year-old looked like a solid rotational piece back in 2018, when he hit .262/.382/.415 (128 wRC+) in 340 plate appearances while playing all across the infield. Unfortunately, Robertson’s power completely disappeared last season, as he stumbled to .213/.312/.295 line (71 wRC+) in 237 plate appearances. Still, as a versatile, optionable 26-year-old one year removed from a quality offensive season, it’s easy to see the appeal for San Francisco. Indeed, that the Giants affirmatively swung a trade suggests the front office feared he’d get claimed had they tried to wait out the waiver wire.
The Robertson acquisition marks the end of Pence’s second stint with S.F. Thanks at least partially to swing adjustments he made in the 2018-19 offseason, Pence made a remarkable return to form with the Rangers. He hit .297/.358/.552 (128 wRC+) in Texas last season, earning an improbable All-Star bid. That set the stage for the fan favorite to return to San Francisco, where he shined for the better part of eight seasons.
Unfortunately, the 37-year-old has gotten off to a terrible start this year. He’s hitting just .096/.161/.250 with two home runs through 56 plate appearances. That likely wiped out any hope the rebuilding Giants would’ve had of flipping him to a contender before the August 31 deadline.
Assuming he’s amenable, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Pence latch on with a minor-league deal elsewhere if he’s eventually released. There’d be little harm in bringing the amiable veteran to an alternate training site to see if he can recapture his 2019 form at the dish.
so long, sweet Pence
Hard to believe Pence goes and Whale, sorry I mean Panda, stays…
you saw it coming hunter
Panda….. you are next!
Yeah I mean I root for him but sadly he has not been good at the plate and his weight is keeping his def down
Pablo Sandoval has been declining since 2012. He must be a nice guy or something cus he sure isn’t a good major leaguer
He had a really nice year last year, given the diminished expectations. But it’s clear that the end of the line has come for him.
He actually wasn’t that bad in 2019. But I’m aware Red Sox fans are still upset he took you for a 90 million dollar ride.
Actually Sandoval was one of the best pinch-hitters in the whole NL last season before he went down with an injury. He had an overall OPS of .820.
This is so crazy I don’t understand it unless there’s an injury or something. Pence was amazing last year and then just fell off the map. How does something like this happen? Can’t say, oh it’s cuz he’s 37. Well he was 36 last year LOL. I guess it’s just one of the crazy things in sports. Caught lightning in a bottle last year.
He’s hurt by the short season. If this was a full 162 I’m sure the Giants would’ve given him 50-60 games before making a decision like this but the fact is that he just never got it going this year.
Plus with no fans in attendance his popularity and the chance he’d sell some tickets isn’t an issue.
Hitting versus lefties in a bandbox like Texas v. hitting in San Fran, plus a layoff and an extra year older. It happens.
Texas was great at spot starting him vs lefties and weak righties –
Once he got rolling they kept it that way to ensure trade value (albeit still minimal)
He never fit SF but I guess the valued the insurance
Thank you Hunter for all the memories. Great career. You’ve got a lot to be proud of and many fans who will always remember your contributions to the game, and to the Bay Area. Good luck.
Hitting in Texas is a little easier than SF. Even so, he must be battling an injury.
The Marlins are calling.
You had a great run Mr. Pence. Thank you for all you did during the World Series years. You will always be a fan favorite and never be forgotten. My daughter still has your orange Friday jersey!! Best of luck my bro!!
To be fair, I doubt he’s reading this
“And here’s to you, Daniel Robertson…”
“Heaven holds a place for those who pray…hey hey hey”
I still think someone could pick him up.
If Pence wasn’t injured as often as he was he would’ve been the type of guy to play till he was 45. He’s always working in the offseason and he looks better physically every year. Sucks that he’s probably dealing with an injury right now or something.
Might be better to call it quits this season and possibly look to DH next year. He’s still got some pure talent.
He was great until Bochy let him do his whole iron man streak of consecutive games played or whatever…he got run down and injured and except for last year has never been the same player.
Still, sad to see him go, always gave 110%, but he’s not hitting at all this year
That wasn’t it. It was the broken arm that changed him. After he got hit by a pitch in spring training and broke his arm he wasn’t the same.
Thank you Hunter for being the guy I could point to and say to my son “watch this guy, he plays the game right.”
HUNTER PENCE will always be a
“FOREVER GIANT”
Aside from throwing right ? Also love the guy!
@talking baseball didn’t they get him from the Phillies who got him from the Astros? That explains how Giants won in 12,14 since he was a cheater
He has Tribe written ALL over him! This is the kind of scraps they like.
Nah, the only way I could see CLE picking him up is if their OF + depth pieces were all injured/falling apart. The guy just wasn’t hitting this year, and OFs like that are a dime a dozen on the waiver wire.
Another Zaidi dumpster dive?
Looks like it there VT. Other dumpster dives: Yaz, Solano, Flores, Tyler Anderson, Gausman, Rogers, jarlin Garcia, etc.
Yeah sure, guarantee the Rays were reluctant to DFA this future hall of farmer Robertson
Hello?
The point, since you’re struggling with my post, is that Zaidi has picked up several players that other teams haven’t want. Some have proven to be good pickups, like the ones I list previously. Some have not. You never know.
You don’t get basehits if you don’t swing the bat. Btw, the hall of Famer comment was pure brilliance, as long as we’re sharing sarcasm
Muncy, Chris Taylor, Kiki hernandez also unwanted players picked up by Zaidi. None are future hall of famers tho.
It’s funny how that so many people credit Zaidi with moves made by Friedman. Zaidi was little more than Friedman’s intern as far as decisions were made when he was with the Dodgers organization. It’s generally just wishful thinking from Giants fans, though.
Rays fan here and this he looked like he could be the next Ben Zobrist a couple years ago. Above average fielder all over the infield, decent power, and lots of walks.. He broke his hand last year and stunk it up when he returned, I know the Rays have a ridiculous amount of infield depth but I’m shocked they didn’t get anything for him.
Ok, you want to delete the Dodger pickups from Zaidi’s resumé to fill some Zaidi hatred need? Hate on Chief Wishes he Needed 2 Hands to…. Check out todays box score. Holy hell when does the obvious kick in for Chief One Tweezer? Yaz, Dickerson, Cahill, Rogers, Garcia. Dumpster Divees.
Claude I don’t see how people can be so blind. Normally I would say f***** stupid but I’m trying to be nice here. You don’t normally get something for nothing. And the 2 best hitters on the Giants currently were picked up for nothing at positions of grave need. The trajectory Booby was on had us not competing until at least 2024.
It’s always sad when an old veteran player’s skills erode to a point where he can no longer contribute. But they love the game, so clubs kind of have to rip the uniform off of them.
Hunter is a much loved guy and hope he lands somewhere and gets back on his feet. I believe he will want to play wherever he can, even in the minors, because he loves to play. He’s someone I root for wherever he might be. Once his career is over as a player (whenever that might be) I hope he comes back to be on the Giants staff because of his enthusiasm, kindness and knowledge. Hell I’d give him Kapler’s job!!!
just send Pence to Tampa
Pemce is now on the fence
Hunter Pence will make a great manager one day. The passion and leadership he brought to the Giants in the championship years is well documented.
I wish Zaidi would have canned Kapler and let Pence become a player/manager.
Mice get bu SF.
Might not work, but a nice get.
that’s one pence out of a job, now to get rid of another in november (let’s send that one home to mother, folks).
You mean heels up harris, ? Enough of the harris’ too
Daniel Robertson was drafted by the A’s back in 2012, 1st round, 34th overall. So Farhan is definitely familiar with him and may have even been the guy who chose him then, making this trade all the more plausible.
Sad about Hunter but I’m sure he understands more than anyone. He just wasn’t producing and with Darin Ruf looking more than serviceable, Pence was the odd man out. I’ve got a Hunter Pence bobblehead on his scooter. Good luck Hunter! Come back next year as a coach.
Can the PTBNL be Longo?
You actually wrote that, read it and hit SEND. No more airplane glue for you Bob
So, Hunter’s career with the Giants is officially….
Tast Pence !!
Time to hang them up, Hunter. You had a good career.
Hunter Pence was a good ball player.
Zaidi loves anyone that he has some connection to in the past, and here comes another one. Hopefully they end up sending cash to the Rays and not another player for someone the Rays planned to lose anyway.
Thanks to the max for you Hunter helping to bring us those titles. Somehow if Farhan knew this would be a 60 game season, he might not have signed Pence? Now the question is, are we in the pennant race or not Farhan? If we are, we need a closer and could use another bat like Puig, just to torment the Dodgers if for no other reason. Adding a Puig and now Bart could really produce some offense.
Farewell, again, Underpants…