The Giants announced Tuesday that right-hander Reyes Moronta has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Sacramento. He’s no longer on the 40-man roster.
It’s a bit of a surprising move on a number of levels. San Francisco didn’t formally designate Moronta for assignment, so there was no public indication prior to this announcement that he’d been placed on waivers and made available to the other 29 teams. Beyond that, Moronta once looked like a future high-leverage option for the Giants, though he’s seen several miles drop off his fastball since returning from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder late in the 2019 season.
From 2017-19, Moronta pitched 128 1/3 innings out of the Giants’ bullpen, working to a 2.66 ERA with a strong 29.8 percent strikeout rate. His 13.6 percent walk rate was well north of the league average and a clear area for potential improvement, but Moronta’s average fastball velocity of 97.1 mph and that lofty strikeout rate were obvious sources of intrigue for what he could become with better command of his pitches. President of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi even suggested last season during Moronta’s recovery that he had closer potential.
That surgery indeed wiped out all of Moronta’s 2020 season, and he missed a good portion of the current campaign rehab with a flexor strain. He didn’t require surgery this time around, but Moronta was only activated from the 60-day injured list late last month. He hasn’t pitched particularly well since coming off the IL, either, working to a 7.98 ERA with more walks (18) than strikeouts (13) through 14 2/3 frames of Triple-A ball.
The decision to remove Moronta from the 40-man roster could very well spell the end of his time with the organization. Players with more than three years of MLB service who are outrighted off the 40-man roster during the season can become free agents at the end of the year. It’s technically possible that the Giants could add Moronta back to the 40-man between now and that point, but if that were in the plans, they probably wouldn’t have placed him on waivers in the first place.
In 132 1/3 innings at the big league level, Moronta has a 2.65 ERA and 3.44 FIP with a 29.5 percent strikeout rate and a 13.3 percent walk rate.
Mets Mets Mets… I hope the Mets can grab him for next year, however that works.
This guy looks like he could be a winner, why would the Mets be interested? He’s too young for FO material, or is he?
He’s been cleared and assigned to Giants AAA team. Just not on 40 man roster
hello Dombro?
How does a poor team not pick him up? Even if his arm has been destroyed by injuries, he’s much better than the bottom of the barrel guys some teams are trotting out.
He’s got such a high ceiling as evidenced by his stat line above. I really like him hope he gets another shot, the injuries have derailed a productive career bummer.
Someone can pick him up, but they will have to weigh his speed against his lack of control. He’s a pretty wild thrower, and if TJ surgery wrecked his speed, there’s not much of interest there.
He didn’t have TJ. He had a torn labrum. It seems with some good off-season rest and a slow but determined build up in the spring may help Moronta to come back. He’s been great for the Giants in the past. I hope he can revive himself!!
Don’t know why people keep thinking he’s available, are you not reading the article? He’s cleared waivers and been assigned to triple A. No longer on 40 man roster.
Anybody could have had him for free and decided not to claim him.
As we know, but other comments above were thinking he’s still available.
He could be available in the off season. All depends on what the Giants decide to do.
I see the Giants continuing to rehab him, and then have him rest over offseason and see how he is spring training. Then I think if he doesn’t regain form, let him go or trade him. Never know with Zaidi.
Yea I agree, it’s hard to believe that the Giants would give up on him just yet.
Such BS that the Giants DFA’ed Tromp. They could have made the Moronta move a few weeks ago, cleared a 40 man spot and not lost Chadwick. So stupid. And the Braves snatched him up to boot.
Tromp wasn’t good and we didn’t need him
Yeah, it’s not really a big loss. Giants can resign Casali if they want to in the offseason, and it’s a given that Buster is going to sign a 1 or more likely 2 year deal. As for Bart, it’s time to $hit or get off the pot.
When I saw the picture I thought it was Pablo Sandoval
A shame about Moronta’s injuries. Anyone who saw him throw when he was healthy, saw a future closer. I hope he can rehab. And I’m glad he’s still a Giant.
As a Met fan I’m hoping the Giants give up on him and we can pick him up. I’ve been a fan of his for years.
Agree