FEB. 11: Basabe cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets.
FEB. 4: The Giants have designated outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe for assignment, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to infielder Tommy La Stella, whose three-year deal with the Giants has now been officially announced.
Basabe, 24, was originally signed by the Red Sox but flipped to the White Sox as one of the secondary pieces — behind Michael Kopech and Yoan Moncada — in the blockbuster that brought Chris Sale to Boston. Basabe struggled at Class-A Advanced in 2017 and bounced back with a nice showing between High-A and Double-A in 2018, but he slumped again at those same levels in 2019.
The Giants picked up Basabe in exchange for cash during the 2020 season and afforded him the opportunity to make his MLB debut late in the year. He appeared in nine games and went 2-for-14 with four walks, five strikeouts and a pair of stolen bases.
Basabe was at one point a rather well-regarded prospect — a potential regular in center field who was seen as having a high floor due to above-average range and a strong throwing arm. Another club in need of some center field depth could give him a look based on that defensive prowess, though Basabe is also out of minor league options, so a new team would need to either carry him on the Opening Day roster or again designate him for assignment. A rebuilding club willing to take on a center field project could make some sense, but it’s also possible that the Giants will be able to retain Basabe by passing him through waivers. They’ll have a week to either go that route or trade him now that he’s been removed from the 40-man roster.
I’m searching the city for sci-fi Basabe!
Luis Alexander Basabe is actually a twin, and his twin plays in the D-backs’ organization; his name is Luis Alejandro Basabe. Their cousin – Osleivis Basabe – was in the Rangers’ organization, but he has recently been traded in the Nate Lowe transaction. Big baseball family.
It seems odd to give identical twins the same first name, and even their middle names are virtually the same. Very odd.
My brothers are twins (I’m not), and even though they have the same initials, they have different names. I’d assume that those two go by their middle names if I had to guess.
There are the Rougned Odor’s – not twins.
The Red Sox had both Alexander and Alejandro in its system at the outset of their careers. You’d have to have been a follower of the Red Sox minors to remember this, but Arizona sent Brad Ziegler to the Sox in 2016 for Luis Alejandro Basabe (and another minor leaguer), and the story came out not long after that they thought they were getting Luis Alexander Basabe. I think there is some truth to this, although I’ve never seen a definitive account of the alleged confusion.
I would have rather they DFA Duggar instead. He’s already 27 and will never be much better than he is now. Basabe can still turn into a decent regular.
I was originally thing it wouldn’t be bad for Bloom to dumpster dive here. Then I realized it was the Giants who need outfielders who gave up on him.
Do the giants really need more outfielders though? Yaz is a VERY good outfielder. Dickerson is serviceable. Plus Jaylin Davis is loaded with pure pop. Heliot Ramos is one of their top prospects, a top 100 in baseball. He could get called up this year. And Longoria, flores, la stella, and Solano are all infield exclusive which bumps dubon to centerfield. Centerfield is the only outfield spot that basabe’s bat could potentially play at.
I love the Yaz story but it’s still a short sample size and I want to see more. While he isn’t the first late bloomer, it’s still surprising. There was nothing like seeing his HR his first at bat at Fenway. Everyone watching that game was rooting for him.
Greatest September Ever. Carl Yaz 1967.
MIke Yaz is the real thing. When you watch him everyday, there’s no question he’s an all-star that does everything well.
While Sox fans are probably really excited at this news. Basabe was someone they had been pinning their hopes on, due to all the false hype being thrown their way by the likes of Merkins, Hawkeroo, Stoney and other shills.
White Sox fans were never “hyped” about Basabe. Casual fans have absolutely no idea who he is. Those of us who follow a bit more closely, always looked at Basabe as nothing more than a throw-in with Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech. Last I checked, the White Sox rebuild is going pretty well without the services of Mr. Basabe. Hawk is now in the Hall of Fame and Steve Stone is on his way there.
Harold Baines is in also, tell me how that happened?
Wah. I have no life or adult friends so I seek adulation by making obscure posts about anyone related to the Chicago White Sox. Wah
This from a guy who was probably running his mouth for years about Felix Pie lol.
Dogbone wrong again. Dogbone bad. Bad Dogbone.
Whitesox fans were never hyped over basabe. His bat has only projected to play in center every day. And Luis Robert is the guy that they have known would be their centerfielder for years
Dogbone wins every time he gets 8 replies from White Sox fans… Guys, can we collectively agree to ignore? He might… might… go away?
I will try Big Hurt but he is entertaining and sounds just like the Cub fan friends I grew up with.
But he’s fun to mock.
So is Dogbone’s fat hairy sister.
Duggar has a MiLB option left. Basabe would have had to make the roster
I agree. Basabe is younger and hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself yet, meanwhile Duggar failed that opportunity/opportunities
i think the idea was to designate to sneak him through rather than give up a guy you may trade or move around., As he was out of options, Basabe was unlikeley to be claimed since he would have to be kept on a roster
Basabe has been very very bad to him…if you remember this, you’re old, like me!!!
That would be “Basabe has been Bery Bery Bad to him”….
I know you’re old, Bob LOL…I wonder where/if I can find a Chico Escula rookie card LOL…good times!!
Hopefully goes unclaimed and he ends up in AAA this year for Sacramento. I’d like to see more of him.
I would too. We didn’t get to see much of him in 2020 even though he was on the roster
I seem to remember that he has a very strong arm. But maybe not so accurate?
This looks like the type of situation the Pirates need to be involved in.
They can’t. Minimum is $587,000.00. Basabe makes $587, 002.25.
Gotta watch payroll.
I hope he gets a change to play in 2021.
Or a change of underwear
Had potential. I think he’s definitely got a future in the league as a defensive replacement, and potentially even a starting OF given his speed and base running capabilities.
I think this kid could be a good fit on the Rangers, Tigers, Pirates or even the Rockies; teams who are not looking to seriously compete this year and can make room.
I liked what I saw from Basabe in 2020. A switch hitter who needs more seasoning. He should a willingness to take pitches and work an at bat.
If he doesn’t get snatched up love to see the Giants keep him for depth.
Would be a nice pickup for the Orioles for depth at AAA. Hayes and Mullins are pretty solid in CF.
Great, good piece for AAA
Fantastic depth piece. I liked his at bats last year. Glad the Giants can stash and develop. A few more switch hitters would be nice too.
Glad the Giants were able to retain him..I have a good feeling about this guy..plus CF depth is essential