The Giants set their Opening Day roster, announcing that they’ve acquired first baseman/outfielder Matt Beaty from the Royals in exchange for cash and selected him directly to 40-man roster. He’ll be with the club for Opening Day. San Francisco also selected the contract of catcher Roberto Perez and granted non-roster outfielder Stephen Piscotty his release.
Additionally, the Giants optioned righty Sean Hjelle to Triple-A and placed outfielder Luis Gonzalez (back surgery) and lefty Thomas Szapucki (left arm neuropathy) on the 60-day injured list. Outfielders Mitch Haniger (oblique strain) and Austin Slater (hamstring strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list, and righty Luke Jackson (recovering from 2022 Tommy John surgery) has been placed on the 15-day injured list.
Beaty, 30 in April, was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2015, so he and current Giants president of baseball ops Farhan Zaidi — formerly the Dodgers’ GM — overlapped in Los Angeles. He hit fairly well in parts of three seasons with L.A., batting .262/.333/.425 in 556 plate appearances, but a 2022 trade to the Padres didn’t yield the results San Diego hoped. In just 47 plate appearances last year, Beaty went 4-for-43 and drew just two walks, resulting in a .093/.170/.163 batting line. He signed a minor league deal with the Royals and hit .343/.378/.629 in 37 plate appearances.
Perez will join Joey Bart and Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol as catching options for manager Gabe Kapler, and he’ll in fact get the start in Opening Day (with Sabol lining up in left field). The 34-year-old is a premium defender behind the plate but has never provided much with the bat, outside of a 24-homer showing during 2019’s juiced-ball season. That season accounted for 24 of Perez’s 55 career home runs, and he’s batted just .171/.269/.295 in 97 games since that time. He opened the 2022 season as the Pirates’ primary catcher but wound up being limited to 21 games after a torn hamstring required season-ending surgery in May.
Piscotty, 32, had a big showing this spring, hitting .320/.270/.440, albeit in a small sample of 27 plate appearances. The longtime A’s outfielder has seen his production drop off in recent seasons, with just a .214/.270/.352 slash over the past three seasons. Injuries have played a significant role in that downturn, as Piscotty has time with ankle, wrist and calf issues along the way. His peak season came in 2018, when he batted .267/.331/.491 with a career-high 27 home runs for Oakland. He’ll now be free to explore other opportunities in free agency.
So much for Farhan saying “we fully expect to stay internal”
So much for Farhan saying he’d sign a star in the offseason
And for Beaty? And to do that, they sent Bryce Johnson down. This is not a move I want to see on Day #1. Too reminiscent of past years.
Honestly the kids need a chance, why is Yaz still with the team, or Villar and Flores on third when Schmidt is there, and sending Hjelle down? Really these are not veterans of the kind of caliber that they deserve that kind of honor.
Stephen Piscotty? We hardly knew you.
#forevergiant
Serious question: why would we give Piscotty a non-roster invite to camp, then give him limited ST plate appearances…..but the ones he gets he performs well….and we release him anyway?? I didn’t think he was gonna be the comeback player of the year, but, didn’t he give us a good showing at Spring training? I don’t get it…..
My guess is that it was a similar situation to Perez. They needed convincing on their health and how much they would be available to contribute. It might be that Piscotty failed that test.
Just to clarify. He went missing with an injury mid to late spring. Hence the limited appearances.
@foppert, oh geez, my bad. Didn’t realize he had missed time due to injury this spring. Makes a lot more sense. I shoulda done my research
Baty must be regarded as a better player. He can play 1st base and the outfield.
Honestly wouldn’t mind seeing piscotty come back as outfield depth at triple A for the cards.
He’s got to be looking for a major league deal right? I think if he can’t get on a major league roster he goes to NPB but I do believe he could play for a couple of teams in the majors.
He asked for a trade to return to the Bay Area, that’s why he was with Oakland. I know that situation has passed but I have to believe he would rather not go to Japan, and likely has made enough to retire even here in CA.
Sorry Bryce, you got beat out by a guy not even on the roster. I feel for these guys. Would have preferred him to start over Yaz in the outfield.
Agreed. Yaz needs to step up this year or risk being DFA’d.
He probably won’t be DFAd as he still has minor league options to use. He could be traded – Boston might want him?
Beauty was red hot this spring so maybe he’ll provide some nice pop. Having to choose between Joc or Beaty’s defense is still an unpleasant choice.
Really ! That’s a disappointing read. I was just thinking “I wonder if this guy can cover centre field ?” Ha ha. Thanks for the answer.
Yaz looked awful today. The same problem: he swings at he high outside pitches and never makes contact.
Didn’t take long for Haniger to find his normal spot on the IL.
Really good talent, just rarely healthy.
Was excited about Bryce Johnson making the team after a great spring.
Not gonna lie, this dampens opening day a bit. A win over the Yankees will erase that. Enthusiasm is hard to come by with a last minute trade for a Dodger cast off.
Still Opening Day, Go Giants!
I was really hoping we’d see them let Bryce play and have a shot at a regular role. It’s a shame but I guess we have to “trust the process” a little bit here.
#Dan I was hoping to see Joey Bart hit an opening day HR, for the second year in a row. He might as a pinch hitter, but not seeing our #2 overall pick in the lineup, in favor of a guy who can’t hit disappoints me. I don’t understand why Kapler seems to dislike Bart on a personal level.
I don’t think Webb likes throwing to him. Wynns was mostly catching Webb towards the end of last year.
#dave Haven’t you noticed? Farhan loves old Dodgers castoffs. He seeks them. How many are on the team now? Beaty, Stripling, Alexander, ect, ect
Yeah. A shiny new fast toy would have been good to see. Never mind. Now the big test. How does he respond.
I’m not thrilled about this move. I don’t like that just last night the team informed Wisely that he hadn’t made the team, causing his family to cancel their flights and miss his MLB debut. Way to take care of your players Farhan. Smh.
I also don’t understand why Kapler seems to hate Bart so much.
Oh the inhumanity of it all. Here’s a tip. They aren’t missing his debut, if he is not making his debut. It’s complicated, but if you give it time and some deep thought, you might get your head around it.
#foppert Wisely made his debut today. His family missed it, because of Giants management. There’s multiple articles about it. Nice try bud.
The Giants org pays for every family to fly in to see their son’s MLB debut. Does every team in baseball do that? I don’t think the players have any issue with how the team takes care of them.
#tad If that was true Wisely’s family wouldn’t have been the one’s cancelling their own tickets
Honestly I’m a little with FF on this. I’m disappointed Perez starts over Bart that’s nuts to me. We have a lot riding on Barts potential to fill the everyday catcher role and he deserves more of a shot than this. I was mostly hoping we’d see Sabol worked into the backup role as quickly as possible and he could play the outfield and infield as necessary. Sending Johnson down is just flat out a bad move imo. He’s arguably our second or third best outfielder.
Webb might prefer Perez. Bart is still striking out too much. He started Spring ok on that front but then I think he finished with 6 on the trot. I think Joey might be in trouble. Sabol being lined up as the new Bart. Just a blind guess but there comes a point when enough is enough.
Don’t get me wrong I agree Bart strikes out far too often (which is HIGHLY correlated to draft picks busting btw) but I don’t think he’s had enough run to justify sitting him just yet. Sabol is awesome I’m extremely pro Sabol I don’t care where they put him so long as he gets a real chance to stick in the lineup.
Fair enough. I want Bart to succeed as much as the next Giants fan. It’s just got an ominous feel about it.
Enough is enough. Bart has yet to play 1 full season in the majors. SF isn’t contending anyway, so let’s see if Bart & Villar can play at this level
One game not starting is nowhere close to denying Bart a legitimate shot. There are multiple reasons, that only those in the clubhouse know, for starting Perez. No catcher catches 120 games anymore so it’s ridiculous to start this after one game. Complaining one game into the season does put you with firefarhan, in assuming what’s going to happen going forward.
Your opening day lineup tends to come with some implications, that’s all I’m saying. And while catchers don’t catch every game I still think it’s a little early to give Bart a break, don’t you? He’s got the draft capital invested in him, not the 34 year old defense first guy we picked up in the off-season. If you want to extrapolate and project about me because of my concerns that’s fine but I don’t think I’m being irrational here. Keeping him out of the opening day lineup sets a tone and I don’t think that can be ignored.
tad, as we know, the backup catcher typically catches the same pitcher. So we likely should assume that Barts off days will be on Webb games. There’s no continuity if the 2nd catcher catches a different pitcher each game he catches. And, depending on Barts success, he might get spelled on 2 games of 5.
You’re assuming Bart not starting is him getting a break. Like I said, there are plenty of reasons why Bart did not start game one. And, like Claude says, maybe Perez will be catching whenever Webb pitches. Then again it could be a message to Bart. Maybe they’re letting him know that his spot is not guaranteed, hoping to motivate him. And maybe it’s something else. Who knows? Just my opinion, but I think you’re reading far too much into him not starting one game, especially when we don’t know why.
Perez didn’t help and will not help much I can guarantee it. Selling out Bart like this is a testament that the powers that be simply do not believe in him and if that’s the case we are in DEEP trouble.
That’s your opinion that Perez didn’t help, and you’re entitled to it. But I couldn’t disagree more. A catcher does so much that fans don’t see. Catcher is probably the most important defensive position on the field. Because of that, catcher is one of the few positions I generally prefer the better glove to the bat.
But also, regarding today’s game, look at all the SOs. 16 total. Webb’s 12 set a Giants opening day record. The book on Perez is he’s about the best there is in getting called strikes. Perez also went 1 for 2. I wouldn’t say he didn’t help.
I’m not sure Gabe hates Bart, but with Gerrit on the mound, I’d rather have Perez—at least we get defense. Joey would have a 4 strikeout day.
Joey may have had 3 strike outs & 1 hr. At least with Joey you know he can once in a while crush one. SF isn’t contending anyway, so let’s at least see if the kids can play
FireFarhan. I see that Wisely did make his debut. Apologies. I take that insult back. My bad. The jokes on me.
The article said Piscotty had a spring slash line 0f .320/.270/.440. Maybe I’m mssing something, but how does a guy bat.320 and have a .270 OBP.? Maybe one of you stats geeks can explain it to me. OPENING DAY!!!!!!!!
Jlin it’s a typo. His obp was .370
FZ has not made one of these additions all preseason. I didn’t expect something like this so I’m pretty disappointed. In house players were the go to all spring. Beaty over Johnson essentially. And Johnson did everything to earn his roster spot. BUT, in 2 weeks it’s all moot when Haniger and Slater come back.
Watching SFs offense today was painful. Since we’re not going to contend anyway, PLEASE start Bart & Villar so we can see what they can do. What’s the point of playing average old dudes. Flores & Perez won’t be here in a couple years, but let’s see if Bart & Villar belong
1 game in. Not sure a caps “Please” is warranted. Pretty sure they will get their chances.
Great take! What’s the point of having Perez on the team. I know the pitchers love him & he’s a great defender, but SF is not contending, therefore, play Bart, Villar, & get Schmidt up here & let’s see what they can do. Our offense is atrocious. We don’t have 1 batter the opponents are even somewhat scared of. After another failed off-season to bring in a big name, it’s time to clean house in the front office. At least Sabean brought in guys like Longoria, McCutchen, Pence, & Morse. This FO makes half ass attempts at big names so the fans think they’re trying, but they’re not. If you wanted Judge, you could’ve made him an offer so ridiculous, the players union would make him sign it. They could’ve brought in Abreu, JD Martinez, or traded for a big bat. I mean LaMonte Wade at first base? Gimmie a break. It’s going to be a long year
Geez. Ok. Ummm……try and enjoy the year ?
BondsAway, Giving up on the season already? Maybe they won’t contend for the division, but 12 teams will make the PS, and that’s a reasonable goal. I’m not giving up on their chances this early. I don’t want them throwing in the towel, and treating the next 161 games as an extended ST to assess players. What an awful prospect that would be.
TAD..couldn’t be much more awful than what we’re going to see. Average to below average veterans giving us what they’ve given their whole career… mediocrity at best. Perez isn’t going to all of the sudden start raking. LaMonte Wade isn’t going to be the next Paul Goldschmidt. Yaz peaked 3 years ago. But we don’t know what Joey, Villar, or Schmitt can do given a full MLB season, so why not throw them into the fire & see how they respond? At least with Villar & Joey, we know they are capable of stepping into one every now & then. I bet if Joey & Villar got 900 abs between the 2 of them, they would at the very least hit 35 hrs (combined). Can you say the same for Perez & any other average vet the Giants put out there?
BondsAway, I disagree that this is a lost season. Catcher is not a position where you just give it to the better hitter. A good defensive catcher can prevent more runs than the best hitting catcher can produce.
And again, Bart is going to have plenty of chances. The 5th most innings played by a catcher last season was 917 by 25 year old Cal Raleigh. He appeared in 119 games.
You’ve already decided what this team is, and how they’ll perform. I disagree. They may fail to do much, but it’s far too early to know. Seriously, they’ve played all of 1 game.
Fair enough
Yep, I gave up on them this off-season when they failed (again) to bring in a big name. And don’t say they tried. Try harder then. Offer Judge a contract so lucrative the players union wouldn’t let him say no. I’m sick of SF front office saying “we tried.” In my work if I don’t perform but said I tried, they’d laugh & I’d be fired. SF is a big market team acting like a small market team & as a life long fan, I’m over it. Our offense doesn’t have 1 guy the other team is somewhat scared of. They should’ve at least brought in a Bobby Abreu or made a trade for a big bat. The offense is atrocious. LaMonte Wade at first base, give me a break. So no they’re not contending, therefore, play Bart, Villar, & get Schmitt up here & see what they got.
#BondsAway Spot on 100%
I hope I’m wrong & you’re right.
Piscotty hits .320 in a small sample size and fails to make the team? A team that scored ZERO runs in its first game? I have only followed Piscotty’s career from afar, but if I was a GM and someone was hitting.320…I’d give them more ABs before releasing them.