The Giants recently signed right-hander Kyle Tyler to a minor league contract, according to the transactions tracker at MLB.com. He elected free agency after being outrighted off the Padres roster for the second time earlier this month.
Tyler, 25, has had a tumultuous past few months. A former Angels draftee, he reached the big leagues with the Halos late last season. Los Angeles designated him for assignment coming out of the lockout, kicking off a series of transactions. Tyler went to the Red Sox, Padres, back to the Angels then back to the Padres on waivers within a span of three weeks. He finally stuck on the Friars 40-man roster for a couple months, but he was again designated for assignment in early June.
After passing through waivers unclaimed, Tyler was assigned outright to Triple-A El Paso. San Diego reselected him to the majors a few days later but eventually DFA him again. Tyler again cleared waivers, and the second outright afforded him the right to head to free agency rather than return to El Paso. He did so and will now try to pitch his way back to the big leagues in San Francisco.
Tyler has seven MLB appearances under his belt: five with last year’s Angels, two with the Padres this season. He’s allowed only four runs through 16 1/3 innings, but he owns a mediocre 8:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has averaged just 91 MPH on his fastball in that time. To his credit, Tyler has typically posted excellent numbers in the minors, a big reason he reached the majors only three-plus years after falling to the 20th round in the draft. He posted a 3.38 ERA with a solid 24.3% strikeout rate and a modest 7.3% walk percentage through 15 appearances (12 starts) in Double-A last season.
This year, Tyler has run into some uncharacteristic control woes at the minors’ top level. He’s walked more than one-fifth of opponents through 21 2/3 frames in El Paso. Strike-throwing had been a strength before this season, however, and the Giants will see if he can get on track in a new environment. Tyler has worked mostly in relief this season but has a fair bit of pre-2022 starting experience, so San Francisco can keep him as a depth option in either role.
Another exciting Farhan deal!
That’s similar to what some said when FZ signed Junis, and claimed Gonzalez. This guy probably won’t be much to get excited about, but I love the diligence FZ shows in looking at so many possibilities. And, as the track record shows, there are successes.
Plus, I have no idea why a no risk signing, or claim, would bother so many people.
@tad, you’re right. I have been a huge Z supporter and love his methodology. I agree that the finds in Yaz, Wilmer, Junis and Gonzalez speak for themselves. And yet, I was disappointed with the lack of an impact signing or two this last offseason and now that our aggressive platooning isn’t working as well as last year, I’m having a hard time getting excited about the Giants right now. My comment above reflects my frustration, and, I agree with you that it probably isn’t warranted. I would sure love to see Z and Co go big at/before (now) the deadline and/or in FA this upcoming offseason.
Yeah, I also wanted to see more FA activity by the Giants, although we should be happy with the Rodon signing. That was an impact signing. But I can understand why there wasn’t more.
I really wanted FZ to sign Seiya Suzuki, but that was a huge overpay. Gausman too was an overpay, though a little more reasonable. But I try to keep in mind that the Giants know Gausman better than anyone, and if they didn’t think Gausman was worth what the Jays offered, who am I to disagree.
I think FZ will spend for the right guy. I’m just waiting for the right guy to come along, and it is frustrating.
Again, I agree on all fronts. I really wanted Suzuki too, but now, maybe that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I won’t be too disappointed if we don’t make a move at the deadline but if we don’t make a push this offseason, I might change my attitude toward Z (and our ownership group). We’ll see!
After drafting 30 pitchers in the last 2 drafts, you would think Farhan had enough pitchers. Apparently, pitchers are like toilet paper during Covid- must hoard.
Have you looked at the stats from the people Farhan has drafted? Literally one bust after another.
His first draft was 2019. Then, all 2020 minors games were cancelled. And leaving aside the fact that minor league prospects are apt to have their ups and downs anyway (just like big leaguers do) is the obvious fact that FZ’s picks “literally” haven’t played enough games yet, to draw any sweeping conclusions about whether his drafts are “busts” or not.
We’re still a year or two of away (at least) from having enough info to conclude anything meaningful about his first two drafts – let alone this year’s or last year’s drafts.
To conclude otherwise is just silly.
Willing to bet you’re completely ignoring the fact that Kyle Harrison has future big league ace written all over him.
To save time, MLBTR should really just do a weekly Giants article detailing the team’s DFA/Minor League signing merry-go-round.
Another Zaidi dumpster dive. Don’t expect Zaidi to actively pursue Soto.
“has averaged just 91 MPH on his fastball” – Giants will obviously judge him close up to FIX control issues — if they feel they cannot change him – am sure they will release him – no harm done to Giants here. 91 mph = control pitcher or has big mix of pitches otherwise that 91 will be pounded.