The Athletics traded outfielder Cal Stevenson to the Giants in exchange for cash, per announcements from both teams. Oakland had designated Stevenson for assignment late last week. San Francisco designated lefty Sam Long for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Stevenson has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Stevenson, 26, appeared in his first 23 big league games with Oakland last year but managed only a .167/.261/.217 output in 71 plate appearances. Oakland picked him up alongside minor league righty Christian Fernandez in a trade that sent catcher/first baseman Christian Bethancourt back to Tampa Bay. Thus far, that hasn’t panned out in the A’s favor, though Fernandez is out to a nice start in High-A this season.
Stevenson has been an on-base machine in the minors, with more walks (240) than strikeouts (222) through 1471 minor league plate appearances. He’s spent parts of two seasons (2023 included) at the Triple-A level and posted a combined .289/.397/.414 batting line, showing plus plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills but minimal power. He’s never turned in a double-digit home run total in a professional season, though he did pop nine long balls in an injury-shortened 2021 Double-A campaign that saw him tally just 365 plate appearances. He has ample experience in both center field and in left field. Stevenson also has two minor league option years remaining (2023 included).
As for Long, the 27-year-old southpaw has spent parts of the past two seasons in the Giants’ bullpen but opened the 2023 campaign in Sacramento, where he’s gotten out to a rough start. Through 10 Triple-A innings, Long has been tagged for 11 runs on the strength of 14 hits and five walks with just seven punchouts.
Long tallied a career-high 42 1/3 Major League innings last season with San Francisco, pitching to a 3.61 ERA with a sharp 7.7% walk rate but a well below-average 18.2% strikeout rate. He averaged 94.5 mph on his heater but was also exceptionally homer-prone despite a spacious home park, serving up an average of 1.70 big flies per nine innings pitched. Metrics like FIP (5.07) and SIERA (4.31) felt he had some good fortune to keep his ERA so low, which is likely the case to some degree, given a fairly low .248 average on balls in play.
This is Long’s final minor league option year, so he can freely be shuttled between Triple-A and the big leagues for the remainder of the season but not in 2024. The Giants will have a week to trade him or attempt to pass him through outright waivers.
I’m still waiting for a Giants/Twins Nick Gordon trade. Man has speed, plays CF, 2B and some SS. The CF defense would help, and the ability to play 2B/SS would let the G’s keep Villar from playing 2B and prevent them from rushing Casey Schmidt to the bigs if Crawford gets hurt.
I’m not sure how his SS defense is, but Estrada is fine at SS and I’d rather see Gordon at 2B than Villar, Davis, or Wilmer Flores. Plus Gordon and Bryce Johnson are the same age, yet Gordon has more experience and again, the versatility on defense.
Not sure what the Twins would want for a struggling Gordon, though I’ve heard he’s the odd man out in Minnesota.. How’s one(1) Will Wilson, a PTBN, and that journeyman utility player named “Cash Considerations”.
Jorge Polanco would probably need to get healthy for them to consider trading out of capable depth.
I don’t think the Twins view Gordon as an odd man out, and his early struggles seem pretty fluky. He’s 0-for-19 on grounders for instance, which isn’t going to continue of course, and he’s only struck out three times in 42 plate appearances.
On the shortstop question, the defense isn’t particularly good, which is why the Twins moved him to second base and eventually into his current 2B/LF/CF role. That’s not to say he can’t handle the odd game or two at short, but I imagine most teams don’t view him as a viable regular there.
there is no reason to do that, slater is performing in his rehab stint and yaz has actually been playing well in CF. – also there is more than enough depth for SS with wisely that just came up wilson who for some reason you think should be in this trade and schmitt who has been performing.
I thought of this in the off season, but I’m not sure the Twins are ready to let go of Gordon. Last year’s stats were pretty solid.
still waiting for a Giants/Twins Nick Gordon trade. Man has speed, plays CF, 2B and some SS. The CF defense would help, and the ability to play 2B/SS would let the G’s keep Villar from playing 2B and prevent them from rushing Casey Schmidt to the bigs if Crawford gets hurt.
I’m not sure how his SS defense is, but Estrada is fine at SS and I’d rather see Gordon at 2B than Villar, Davis, or Wilmer Flores. Plus Gordon and Bryce Johnson are the same age, yet Gordon has more experience and again, the versatility on defense.
Not sure what the Twins would want for a struggling Gordon, though I’ve heard he’s the odd man out in Minnesota.. How’s one(1) Will Wilson, a PTBN, and that journeyman utility player named “Cash Considerations”.
I hope Long clears waivers and stays with Sacramento. He’s off to a bad start this year but he can pitch.
I remember his MLB debut against Texas, great curveball, he K’ed 7. Just thinking about it makes me think he won’t clear waivers. I wish him the best.
yeah I always root for the guy
He’s a good dude. I wish him the best!
hey Not, first time seeing your username. It’s awesome. Good one.
Me too. Great curve and a former Fire Fighter what else do you want?
He’s kind of fallen off the last couple of years. I saw him last Sunday in AAA and he got torched. Good guy though, I’m sure he’ll catch on with someone.
So Long, Long
At least he doesn’t need to move. Pay a bit more in toll fees. Just reprogram the GPS to stadium on the other side of the bay.
Does he pitch? cause Giants need RP depth
no one on the A’s pitches
Underrated move to get Cal from the A’s
Nice! Guy’s gonna rake in SF.
I thought Cat Stevenson changed his name for religious purposes to Yusuf Islam.
So another guy Farhan drafted with the Dodgers who hasn’t amounted to much. Seems like the Dodgers are doing just fine without all they guys they let walk, including Farhan. There is probably something to that.
did you expect the entire Dodger org to collapse after Farhan left?
He built something that is still working in LA. It’s more impressive it still works and he isn’t there to run it.
Pretty sure Friedman had something to do with the dodgers success and Farhan rode coat tails. Probably more telling how little he has been able to build over here in 5 years than what he did under one of the better baseball execs over in LA.
Bingo
Pretty sure he rode the coat tails of a massive budget/top market in the country.
Another Zaidi dumpster dive (and past Dodgers/Zaidi connection) who will be gone once Conforto, Haniger, Johnson & Slater return.
Don’t forget about Joc too, but my guess is Ruf is DFA’d, Johnson gets optioned to the minors as well as Ramos, and you’ll probably see a pitcher get demoted to make room for the third spot. Unless there’s an injury between now and when they’re all healthy. .
Well, yeah. Don’t forget about Wood and Jackson. Certainly a pitcher or 2 will be going somewhere.
An organization can always use lefty help in the bullpen it seems whether its depth or you straight up only got one guy. I’d like Boston to claim Long off of waivers and put him in Triple A with the WooSox. The way Cora uses his bullpen I can see Long getting some MLB innings in this year if he joined the Sox.
I’m a big Sammy Long fan. I think the Giants are hoping his rough start will prevent him from getting claimed. He has one of the most impressive curveballs I’ve ever seen plus a 95+ mph fastball from the left side.
And has a great comeback story.
I hope we don’t lose Sam Long
Scott Harris and Detroit, hope you make the move to land Sam Long!