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Giants Outright Luis Alexander Basabe

By Steve Adams | February 11, 2021 at 4:00pm CDT

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.

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San Francisco Giants Transactions Luis Alexander Basabe Tommy La Stella

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View Comments (42)
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42 Comments

  1. Lloyd Emerson

    4 years ago

    I’m searching the city for sci-fi Basabe!

    Reply
  2. Rangers29

    4 years ago

    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.

    3
    Reply
    • C-Daddy

      4 years ago

      It seems odd to give identical twins the same first name, and even their middle names are virtually the same. Very odd.

      5
      Reply
      • Rangers29

        4 years ago

        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.

        Reply
      • mrdave

        4 years ago

        There are the Rougned Odor’s – not twins.

        Reply
    • Horace Fury

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
  3. thecoffinnail

    4 years ago

    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.

    3
    Reply
    • looiebelongsinthehall

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • 123redsox

        4 years ago

        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.

        1
        Reply
        • looiebelongsinthehall

          4 years ago

          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.

          Reply
        • PeteWard8

          4 years ago

          Greatest September Ever. Carl Yaz 1967.

          2
          Reply
        • Pete'sView

          4 years ago

          MIke Yaz is the real thing. When you watch him everyday, there’s no question he’s an all-star that does everything well.

          Reply
    • Dogbone

      4 years ago

      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.

      Reply
      • Very Barry

        4 years ago

        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.

        2
        Reply
        • Dogbone

          4 years ago

          Harold Baines is in also, tell me how that happened?

          Reply
        • Dumpster Divin Theo

          4 years ago

          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

          Reply
      • CalcetinesBlancos

        4 years ago

        This from a guy who was probably running his mouth for years about Felix Pie lol.

        3
        Reply
        • PeteWard8

          4 years ago

          Dogbone wrong again. Dogbone bad. Bad Dogbone.

          2
          Reply
      • 123redsox

        4 years ago

        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

        1
        Reply
        • Big Hurt

          4 years ago

          Dogbone wins every time he gets 8 replies from White Sox fans… Guys, can we collectively agree to ignore? He might… might… go away?

          1
          Reply
        • PeteWard8

          4 years ago

          I will try Big Hurt but he is entertaining and sounds just like the Cub fan friends I grew up with.

          Reply
        • CalcetinesBlancos

          4 years ago

          But he’s fun to mock.

          1
          Reply
        • Sliderdownandin

          4 years ago

          So is Dogbone’s fat hairy sister.

          Reply
    • crumpy24

      4 years ago

      Duggar has a MiLB option left. Basabe would have had to make the roster

      1
      Reply
    • PutPeteRoseInTheHall

      4 years ago

      I agree. Basabe is younger and hasn’t had the opportunity to prove himself yet, meanwhile Duggar failed that opportunity/opportunities

      Reply
    • pustule bosey

      4 years ago

      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

      1
      Reply
  4. sascoach2003

    4 years ago

    Basabe has been very very bad to him…if you remember this, you’re old, like me!!!

    1
    Reply
    • bobtillman

      4 years ago

      That would be “Basabe has been Bery Bery Bad to him”….

      1
      Reply
      • sascoach2003

        4 years ago

        I know you’re old, Bob LOL…I wonder where/if I can find a Chico Escula rookie card LOL…good times!!

        Reply
  5. GoGiants2021

    4 years ago

    Hopefully goes unclaimed and he ends up in AAA this year for Sacramento. I’d like to see more of him.

    2
    Reply
    • PutPeteRoseInTheHall

      4 years ago

      I would too. We didn’t get to see much of him in 2020 even though he was on the roster

      Reply
    • Pete'sView

      4 years ago

      I seem to remember that he has a very strong arm. But maybe not so accurate?

      Reply
  6. Very Barry

    4 years ago

    This looks like the type of situation the Pirates need to be involved in.

    2
    Reply
    • bobtillman

      4 years ago

      They can’t. Minimum is $587,000.00. Basabe makes $587, 002.25.

      Gotta watch payroll.

      1
      Reply
  7. CalcetinesBlancos

    4 years ago

    I hope he gets a change to play in 2021.

    Reply
    • tom brunanskys black sock

      4 years ago

      Or a change of underwear

      1
      Reply
  8. Baseball 1600

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  9. davemlaw

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  10. Orioles Fan

    4 years ago

    Would be a nice pickup for the Orioles for depth at AAA. Hayes and Mullins are pretty solid in CF.

    Reply
  11. Balk

    4 years ago

    Great, good piece for AAA

    Reply
  12. davemlaw

    4 years ago

    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.

    Reply
  13. dubtastic

    4 years ago

    Glad the Giants were able to retain him..I have a good feeling about this guy..plus CF depth is essential

    Reply

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