The Giants have recalled top prospect Joey Bart and optioned starter Logan Webb to Triple-A, per MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado (via Twitter).
With Buster Posey landing on the 10-day injured list, it certainly stands to reason that Bart could have the opportunity for some playing time. Actually, however, this move appears to be at least as much about getting Webb some work in Triple-A during the All-Star break as it is about replacing Posey on the roster. Both means are likely to be short-term placements, suggests Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter).
As much as fans might want to get a look at Bart, the second overall pick of the 2018 draft, this isn’t likely to be the promotion that earns him regular playing time, though he is slated to start tonight’s ballgame. Only two games remain before the All-Star break, however, and Curt Casali offers a more than suitable short-term stand-in for Posey. They also have Chadwick Tromp on the roster.
Bart, 24, has one plate appearance this season to go with 111 trips during the 2020 campaign. He has hit .231/.286/.317 for his career up till now. He’s done more than enough to prove his worth with the Sacramento River Cats this year, however, slashing .338/.400/.581 in 150 plate appearances in Triple-A.
As for Webb, the 24-year-old right-hander has spent much of the year in the rotation, making 11 starts to a 3.63 ERA/3.15 FIP over 52 innings. Webb has been somewhat on the outside of the rotation picture for much of the season, but as much as the Giants have wanted to try him out in a multi-inning relief role, injuries have kept Webb in the rotation as long he he’s been healthy. It will be more than a week until the Giants need a fifth starter again, however, so Webb will be able to get some work in over the All-Star break while with Sacramento.
In other Giants news, outfielder Mike Tauchman will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A today, notes Guardado. Tauchman has been out since June 30th with a sprained knee.
Tease him for a trade for a controllable starter. Zaidi drafted Patrick Bailey in the first round for a reason. I think that since Bart is an Evans product, he’s likely to be traded whilst Posey returns next year and Bailey gets the job in 2023.
Pretty sure other teams are aware of Joey Bart prior to this call-up. A 10 game showing is not going to change an organizations’ grades on a guy.
It will if he can hit at a better than 230 rate. He still projects out at a much better than average hitter for a catcher. Show you are ready to do that and teams will be ready to pounce.
Giants need a stud in that 2 hole way more than another starter. Go get story and marquez. Bart ++ can get that done.
Story is pointless with Crawford being a G
story’s numbers at oracle suck and he’s a rental who for the reason given likely won’t sign with giants
Can Story play 2b? Or even 3rd?
If you can play SS, you can play 2B. It is a demotion. It’s like asking if a good closer, can pitch the 8th inning. It is only an easier version of what you are already asked to do.
Giants could use a high end reliever, a starter and a right handed masher. Marquez would be an awesome acquisition but the Giants don’t need Story st this time.
He’s going to rake sooner than later. He like most flopped on his initial call up but he’s going to be fine and have a long big League career.
Zaidi is also coming From the dodgers, who have done the same thing with over drafting catchers
It’s a hard position for teams to develop and it has a very high flame out rate. And even when you develop a starter, he’s not starting 160 games. More high end guys gives you a good chance at developing one starter, and if they all work out, you have a heckuva valuable trade asset.
Teams have been calling LA for Keibert Ruiz for probably 3 years now, since Smith broke in and they haven’t traded him yet. If Posey re-signs maybe they look to trade Bart. But coming into the year I think they planned to give the gig to Bart next year, thank Posey for his time, and let someone else pay a mid 30s catcher starting money
BeforeMcCourt:
I mostly agree. You’re spot on about developing catchers, and other teams wanting to pry Ruiz away.
But I doubt the Giants let Posey go with a simple thank you. He’s enormously popular in SF, the face of the Giants, much as Kershaw is for LA. The Dodgers have kept Kershaw despite signs of decline, and the Giants will try to retain Posey.
Plus I think it will be Posey and Bart for at least one year. I don’t think they’ll trade Bart. At least not anytime soon, and not until they know better of what they have in Bailey.
I could see a scenario where the Giants won’t overpay a lot to re-sign Posey, if he should ask for the moon. But I doubt that happens.
Unless Posey retires, he will be resigned by the Giants and possibly moved to 1B or at least play there more often. Him and Crawford, and possibly
Gausman, will be the only Fa’s resigned in offseason. Belt will be going bye, bye!! Casali is signed thru next season so he will be back as well.
I wouldn’t count on Belt’s departure. He’s underrated by many fans, but Zaidi operates differently. Belt has a very good sabermetric profile, and I think he’s the type of guy that Zaidi likes.
Also I wouldn’t count on Posey playing 1B. His greatest value is still behind the plate. This season he’s played 55 games, every single one of them at catcher.
Kapler doesn’t like playing him at first when he’s supposed to be getting an off day. I think that’s part of the reason, along with being healthy, for his resurgence. With a Posey re-signing, expect the same as we’re seeing this season.
@tad – Posey has a team option next year. He’s as good as signed.
bigj, it’d be wonderful if you even tried to pay attention.
1. Posey hasn’t played a single game at 1B this year. Even with all the injuries. they refused to play him there. The “Posey at First” idea is so old I’m surprised there’s still people talking about it.
2. Casali isn’t signed through next year. He signed a 1-year, 1.5M deal.
3. I’d bet my right nut Brandon Belt is a Giant in 2022.
@Before – Posey has a team option for next year. He’s not going anywhere. Hopefully we have a universal DH so they can give Bart more reps and isn’t limited to playing every third day.
I doubt the Giants pick up that option. It’s $22M. I think he’ll re-sign for something less.
@tad – I was going to say the only way they don’t pick up the option is if both sides agree to a multi year extension (probably 2) for less AAV.
Zaidi will pick up that option without hesitation. It’s not much more expensive than offering the QO which is what Zaidi did with Gausman.
That’s what I was thinking too. Maybe to the Cubs for Bryant and Kimbrel?
Lol Joey Bart can’t hit big league pitching . Another Frisco first round BUST
There’s plenty of major league pitching in 3A and dudes hitting 340
Imagine the idiocy of a Padre fan throwing shade on any team’s draft history, when they have yet to show much good judgement.
Since 2012 their #1 picks have been guys like Walker Weikel, Eric Lauer, Hudson Potts, Travis Jankowski, and Cal Quantrill. They did draft some ML talent in guys like Trea Turner, and Max Fried, but with their lack of good judgement those guys are playing on other teams.
And it’s funny how a Padre fan, without a single guy among their starting position players, having been drafted by SD, is laughing at SF who won 3 WS titles with a core of homegrown players.
And how can he rag on Bart when Mackenzie Gore is looking like a bust: 5.85 ERA, 10.8 H/9, 5.4 BB/9. 1.5 SO/BB, 1.800 WHIP, at AAA. I don’t hold out much hope for Tyler Beede, but even he has better numbers at AAA than Gore.
Seriously, if this guy was any more clueless about baseball, he’d be non-sentient. Dumb as a bag of hammers..
You seem to be in all the Giants comments section but not in the Padres ones? The Madres are a joke. Win a championship first.
I wonder which side says no to a deal built around Berrios for Bart.
Baseball 1600:
That Bart was drafted by Evans, and Bailey by Zaidi, is a completely irrelevant aspect. Zaidi isn’t that stupid to prefer one guy over another, because of who drafted who. It will be who is the better player.
Teams draft by best player available. How key a position is, like SS, P, or C, can play a role as deciding factor, but they never draft for need. Nor do teams have long range plans to play, or trade prospects until they’re close to MLB ready, and they have better idea how guys have developed.
Bart is more highly ranked than Bailey. Fangraphs has Bart as the #2 prospect, with a 50 FV, and Bailey at #6 with a 45+. Right now I see Bart as Posey’s heir-apparent, but time will tell. No one, not even Zaidi knows who will be the guy after Posey.
Bailey got demoted to rookie ball last week. Bart is way ahead of him.
Not a giants fan but it only took them two years to go from DOA to the most relevant team in the Bay Area possibly the Only relevant team in the Bay Area with one of the Athletics former key executives! Neat. I guess
Yes. It is neat/awesome!
Just speculating but Giants could be giving the Nats a look at Bart before a Scherzer deal. Stranger things have happened…
I would love that!
Scherzer/Boras is on record saying he’s not waiving his trade rights unless the new team gives him a new contract.
Idk if I’m giving scherzer a 3-5 year extension and giving up prospects to get him.
But after dishing out huge contracts to Melancon, Cueto, Samardjza giving one to Scherzer at 36/37 would be a giants thing to do.
I Beg To Differ:
It was Evans that gave out those contracts. The Giants have an entirely different FO. In Zaidi’s first 3 seasons, there is no evidence that he will operate as the last regime did.
Yaz and a couple of prospects for Aaron Judge?
That is the stupidest trade proposal I’ve ever heard.
Aaron Judge is a DH at best !! and the Dodgers of the east can keep him.
While I have no love for that trade proposal, you’re clearly off the mark in regard to Judge. He’s not a DH, He’s actually an excellent fielder. He’s even played 60 innings in CF this season without screwing up. Over his career so far he has 54 DRS in RF.
And he has an 18 OAA putting him 4th in all MLB since 2016 in RF. Only Betts, Heyward, and Kepler are better.
@Talking – I wouldn’t like that deal as a Giants fan, but Judge is well above average in the field. Weak take.
Do the Nats not have a Pro-scouting department?
Wild Card game, season on the line, I’d love to have Scherzer on the mound..
Zaidi is not trading Bart for a rental.
Yeah, the Giants aren’t trading Joey Bart for three months of Max Scherzer.
Bart for Crochet. Get it done!
Nobody wants Bart…Haha . He can’t hit
Padres fans might be the worst now. You guys have literally NEVER won anything, yet talk sooooo much shiz. Hundreds of millions spent on weak hitters like Machado and Hosmer, and you clowns will still finish in 3rd place. But yes, please tell us more of your scouting report on Joey Bart…..and then like your own post again. SMH
NEVER won anything? You mean like the San Francisco Giants booking 4 consecutive back to back below .500 losing seasons the past 4 years. Right ??
You mean like the San Diego Padres booking 9 consecutive back to back below .500 losing seasons up until the last 2 years. Right ??
You’re in a battle of wits with an unarmed man
You’re about as good at trolling as the Padres are at winning postseason games.
Enjoy your third place team, Sparky.
Seriously. This was one of the most bizarre trolls jobs ever. I don’t think this kid even knows how to troll yet.
I wonder if it would work to have Posey and Bart share Catcher and First Base in 2022 and beyond (assuming Bart can play a passable 1B defense). They would each have the pitchers that they catch regularly. It would keep them both fresh and the Giants wouldn’t have to spend a roster spot on the dreaded backup catcher.
I was wondering about something similar, but that could also depend on what they plan to do about Brandon Belt. If they want to re-sign him and/or if there is universal DH next season, then everything could work out.
The key to Bart’s future is dependent on Belt. Is Bart the long term solution for 1B? Putting Bart at 1B makes a lot of sense since Posey can probably play next year while Bailey or Genovese are the future. Bart’s defense and handling of pitchers are questionable. Doubt if Giants resign Belt.
It’s unfair to judge Bart on what we’ve seen in SF. He had 0 games at AAA, and only 22 games at AA. He just needed more development.
And, if Bart is the talented catcher that he’s purported to be, moving him to 1B is a total waste. It’s a lot easier to find someone to play 1B, than it is to find a good defensive catcher that can hit, as Bart is expected to.
They’d be better off trading Bart than moving him to first. They could get something of higher value in return than simply a guy that can play first.
I wouldn’t put much stock on Bailey right now. He was so aweful in low-A that they recently demoted him to the Giants’ rookie league / instructs level in Arizona. Ouch.
I don’t trust Cueto down the stretch…
I agree, Look at his numbers after he returned from injury. They’re awful.
Much has been made of the Giants’ need to improve their pen, but I think they should get a mid-rotation starter. If that pushes Webb to the pen then so be it.
@Sabean – I’d rather see Cueto bumped to the pen honestly. He would have to swallow some pride though.
I’m interested in seeing what Zaihdi does at the trade deadline. This is his first one with the Giants in real contention. And probably a year earlier than most expected.
Will he stand pat, trade low level prospects for short term rentals or trade higher end prospects for controllable pieces? And remember, the Giants have alot of expiring contracts this off-season.
Is Bryce Harper regretting not signing with the Giants?
I’d have to think he is. The rumors are that he’s not happy in Philly. Not sure he gets along with Girardi that well.
Harper is from Las Vegas and the Giants are on the rise. Makes me wonder if Zaidi would take him if the opportunity ever was there? Kris Bryant is also from Las Vegas and they are good friends.
Both could be great with the Giants..
I honestly think FZ and the Giants feel like they dodged a bullet with Harper. The team chemistry/culture is so strong right now. At the time, they just needed a big name to engage the fanbase.
Eh, who knows. Harper seems like the kind of player that’s never going to be happy anywhere.
I don’t think Harper is a team first player.
I think maybe that was true when he was young and headstrong, but he seems to have humbled over the years.
I wanted him in SF when the Giants were initially trying to sign him, but I don’t think they need him now.
Hope it works out for him in Philly…he’s going to be there a LONG time…
Excellent post. I also wanted him, but agree with you on that point, and everything else.