The Giants placed second baseman Thairo Estrada and lefty relievers Taylor Rogers and Tyler Matzek on waivers, report Grant Brisbee and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. They’re the latest veteran players known to hit the waiver wire as fringe contenders attempt to offload some salary.
Estrada, Rogers and Matzek were not designated for assignment. They can continue to play for the Giants pending resolution of the waiver process. If they go unclaimed, San Francisco can (and quite likely will) simply keep them on the roster for the rest of the season. However, waivers are irrevocable. If another team places a claim on anyone, the Giants do not have the ability to rescind the placement.
Of course, the Giants wouldn’t have placed the players on waivers if they weren’t hoping another team made a claim. This is strictly a move to try to shed payroll. Estrada probably stands the best chance of the group to be claimed. He’s playing on a $4.7MM arbitration salary. There’ll be roughly $810K to be paid from tomorrow through the end of the season.
The 28-year-old Estrada is generally well regarded for his defensive acumen. Defensive Runs Saved has never been keen on his performance, but he grades very highly by Statcast’s Outs Above Average. While that hasn’t changed this year, his offense has fallen off a cliff. Estrada was an average or better hitter during his first three seasons with the Giants, combining for a .266/.320/.416 slash. He topped 20 stolen bases and drilled 14 homers apiece in 2022 and ’23.
This season, Estrada has been one of the worst hitters in the game. He sports a .216/.246/.345 line through 374 plate appearances. While that’s partially due to a career-low .245 average on balls in play, Estrada has never walked much or had particularly strong batted ball metrics. Among hitters with 300+ plate appearances, only Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall have a lower on-base percentage.
That performance makes it likely the Giants will move on from Estrada next offseason even if he sticks on the roster for the remainder of the year. He’d be due a small raise on this year’s salary, likely into the $5-6MM range. The Giants have evidently determined they were going to decline to tender him a contract, so they’ll make him available to other teams a month earlier to see if they can shed the final month of his 2024 salary.
Rogers is having a much better season than Estrada, but he’d be a far costlier pickup. The veteran southpaw is in the second season of a three-year, $33MM free agent deal. It’s a backloaded contract that pays him $12MM this year and next. He’ll be due a little more than $2MM for the final month of the season. A claiming team would also need to absorb his $12MM salary for the ’25 season. That isn’t an outlandish amount for a reliever of Rogers’ caliber but represents a hefty sum to take on via midseason waiver claim.
The 33-year-old Rogers is a former All-Star closer with the Twins. He has remained effective over his two seasons in San Francisco. After turning in a 3.83 earned run average across 51 2/3 innings a year ago, he carries a 2.45 mark in 51 1/3 frames this season. Rogers has fanned an above-average 28.2% of opponents against a solid 7.7% walk rate. He has been generally solid all year yet hasn’t pitched his way into first-year manager Bob Melvin’s circle of trust.
By measure of leverage index, Rogers has been eighth on San Francisco’s bullpen hierarchy (among relievers with at least 10 innings). That hasn’t changed throughout the season despite Rogers’ numbers. It’s understandable the Giants wouldn’t want to pay $12MM next season to a reliever whom Melvin feels is best suited in the middle innings.
Matzek is the most affordable of the trio. Acquired from the Braves as a salary offset in the Jorge Soler deadline deal, he’s playing on a $1.9MM contract. Matzek was on the injured list at the time of the trade and hasn’t thrown a pitch as a Giant. He missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery. Matzek returned this season before landing back on the IL in May with elbow inflammation.
The 33-year-old southpaw had a tough first month in Atlanta, giving up 11 runs over 10 frames. The Giants sent him to Triple-A on a rehab stint a couple weeks ago. He has made five appearances, allowing four runs through 4 2/3 innings. Matzek should be able to return in September, though it’s not clear if a contender is willing to plug him into their bullpen after a five-month layoff.
Matzek is due around $330K for the rest of the year. His deal contains a $5.5MM team option for next season without a buyout. That’s unlikely to be exercised by the Giants or a hypothetical claiming team.
Don’t stop there! SF has DFA candidates coming through the window
They weren’t DFA’d tho…
I don’t see anyone that they would dfa, there isn’t any point.
Kind of surprised the Giants are going down this road since they’re still in the hunt. As a Guardians fan I wouldn’t mind trading our rotation to SF for theirs. Looks like Yaz will survive the season, but do any Giants fans realistically see him returning in ‘25?
This comes across as Farhan waiving the white flag… self-admittance that they aren’t really “in the hunt” anymore. I’ll step out to let Giants fans respond to your further query.
“Waiving the white flag”….trying to off load a well below average player in Thairo Estrada, is not exactly “waiving the white flag” in my opinion. I’m guessing the Giants do not see much of a role for him going forward, so they’re doing their due diligence to see if someone else wants him. Trimming fat is not exactly a foreign concept in business or sports.
mlb fan, Estrada is not “…a well below average player …”. He’s having a well below average season, but prior to this season, his career in SF he’s been above average. A decent defender, in an up-the-middle-position, hitting 5% better than League average, is not well below average.
“He’s having a well below average season”…What’s the difference, really?….A well traveled guy, who’s played 6 seasons with 4.4 W.A.R accumulated is not exactly HOF worthy.
mlb fan, Please, no one even hinted that he was “HOF worthy”.
What I did say is he’s had an above player career until this season. Even counting his below average partial seasons at the start of his career, he went into this season with a career 101 OPS+ and 4.9 bWAR.
Since becoming a fulltime player when he got to SF, going into this season, he’s had a career 105 OPS+ and 4.7 WAR for those 3 years.
Clearly he has been above average. By you rolling this season’s -0.5 bWAR, along with the 0.2 bWAR in his early partial seasons, into what you inaccurately call a 6 year career, does not mis-prove my point.
Gwynning, I was relating to Brew a few days ago my idea that Snell would be put on waivers prior to 9/1 and the Padres claim him.
The money saved from Yu’s restricted list easily allows them to cover a month of salary.
Fingers crossed!
Gwynning, As a Giants’ fan I agree. 3 -4 weeks ago, I was glad to not see them throw in the towel. But they needed to play better than they have since then. 13-10 in the month of August isn’t bad, but not good enough. Though not mathematically eliminated they just aren’t playing well enough to catch and pass the teams in front of them.
LTC- You, Brewer and I would pick up Snell at Lindbergh if the G-men did that… but it doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t see Farhan waive him when he knows he should have traded him, if that makes sense.
mlb- I agree more with Jean’s take, but there’s wiggle room enough to see your point. He also Waived two lefties though, and why deplete your ‘pen if you’re in the hunt? I think Farhan thinks he can get all 3 Claimed. We’ll see! Cheers all
Saving 6 mil now is at least a little saving grace even though the trade would have gotten a prospect. These 3 guys aren’t very likely to be claimed. Snell, pre 9/1 is almost a guarantee to be claimed. It would be solely money saving move.
Correct, but SF sneezes money. It’s not an issue, and the CBT isn’t in play. It just don’t smell right, but I hope my nose is wrong! *crosses fingers*
Shoot, I’d have my mom and aunties whip up some “Welcome Back” lumpia platters for Blake if he somehow hit waivers and went back to the Friars
If my aunties get involved, I hope Blake likes dinuguan!
Yep. His money and his team = his decision! If he wants to shed salary (indicated by these 3 waivers) try waiving a large salary that will actually get claimed but, owners don’t have to make the moves that make sense!
Sure Fernando, I suppose we could agree on that being a baseline principle to be acted upon at all times. With that being said, how does putting Snell on Waivers help the G-men? I say it doesn’t, but I absolutely could be wrong. We’ll see by the end of today!
Gwynning – I don’t see Ringworm anymore as a premise for my response to you. The only benefit is the approx 5-6 mil savings in payroll if he is claimed. If that is good enough for owner then, ok. If he had rather see Snell in Giants Uni for 5-6 more starts then, ok too.
There is no other, for sure. If you could you could guarantee SD would claim him and doing so would help knock out LA later, that could be a reason but crap, LA could end up being the one to claim him and that would suck.
Everybody who’s out of it should be using waivers. I remember this move done by a few teams recently.
Fair points, all around Fernie. Being cut loose to pursue a ring might enamor a player with a franchise/FO instead of the opposite effect. Like I said, we shall see soon.
Yes, the Pads retain Waiver rights sooner than the Doyers… and I also believe they claim him. What teams might beat us to the punch though?
mlb.com/standings/mlb
Waiver Order is inverse standings. So who makes a move? SEA? Surely one of BOS, NYM or HOU grabs Snell, right? MIN may pass and claim financial hardship, which leaves ATL. They need rotation help, especially TOR…
It’s all a fun exercise, and as a fan it’s equally fun to watch unfold. No need to keep receipts on posters, brah! We’re all here just enjoying the magnificent game and prognosticating with our best “educated” guesses!
Go Pads
All good LT! I just don’t think he falls to the Pads, nor do I think he gets Waived- in this hypothetical exercise, of course.
Me too!
I do agree that he isn’t likely to fall to SD if this should happen. Mets or Atl surely would claim him.
Sol
“Giants are going down this road since they’re still in the hunt. ”
Giants’ playoff chances are 3% per FanGraphs.
The NL is basically set with the Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers, Padres, DBacks and Braves. The Mets have slim hopes of catching the Braves. Anyone else needs lightning to strike.
Yaz has generally put up 1.5 to 2.5 WAR per season. An average starter. Teams could do a lot worse.
@solaris602: I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see Yaz back on the Giants in ’25. Great defense and an above average bat, plus he’s still going through arbitration
spliffTONE, I like Yaz a lot, but I think his bat might be the weakest part of his game. He a good defender with a strong accurate arm. He has power as well as good speed. If he had better bat to ball skills, not striking out 98 times against only 27 walks this season, he could have been an AS.
Giants blew it that series against the Braves.
Not really in the hunt, more floundering hope, it was kinda over once they blew the series against the braves.
They might look to trade Yaz in the off-season, but they also don’t have many options. Lee and Ramos are penciled in next year. McCray and Matos are probably the next two options.
Yaz will almost certainly be back if they don’t acquire someone better. He’s a slightly above average hitter on the long side of a platoon, he plays right field at Oracle Park as well as anyone I’ve seen, and he’s got just one more reasonable arbitration salary left before free agency.
He’s not the kind of guy they’re going to let block a stud, but he’s also a useful piece for 2025 with little risk attached.
I’d say it’s doubtful on Yaz.
They are going to have to win like 3/4 of their games to have a chance and with Bailey, Ray and Hicks down in the last week it doesn’t seem likely that it happens
Bailey will most likely be back next week, but just like their season he’s cooked. Hopefully they find a good backup catcher.
Yeah but the absence was at the wrong time. Even though his offense fell off a cliff towards the end of the season he suppresses the running game and since he has been gone it is super noticable and already led to a couple of losses where walks end up on third and knocked in. I think honestly he needs some major rest, he didn’t have a long road to the bigs and this is the second year where he was amazing for like 3/4 of the season and then is just totally out of stamina
No to Yaz.
Yaz has a good personality and will be a good 4th outfielder if a prospect steps up. But Matos may not be ready. Conforto is gone, Lee will be back. Luciano at 2B over Schmidt and Wisely. Fitzgerald and Ramos are great. Snell opts out, Chapman signs extension
As a Giants fan I can tell you they are not “in the hunt,” unless it’s for their socks.
Yaz will be a terrific 4th outfielder . . .for somebody, maybe SF.
Yes.
I’d love to see the Yankees claim Rogers but I doubt he’ll get that far through waivers
He’s been good, but he’s not worth the salary. He’s still owed another 12 mil next year
Yes you’re correct. I wrote that before I realized his contract.
The Yankees could use a lefty reliever. The salary isn’t ideal but worry about that next year if it means making the team better now
I wouldn’t be so sure of that. He’s a solid lefty reliever with a good strikeout rate. A contender could definitely use him down the stretch
We’ll find out soon enough
With no consideration I. return, Boston should consider Rogers. Even if they don’t make the playoffs, it gives them Hendricks and Rogers in the back of the pen for 25.
Hendriks. Damn auto correct…
You cannot ethically or anatomically separate the Rogers brothers from the Giants bullpen. They either go together or they don’t go at all. It would just seem contrary to nature and you just don’t wanna irritate the Baseball Gods if you can help it.
Ignorant sob, easily the only correct take here lol.
There’s relief pitchers for the Mets, slim hope left lol
I’m surprised they put Estrada on waivers but the others I’m not
Braves get matzek back!!!
I think it signals that they will non tender him, same probably with yaz. I expect that you will see Ramos, McCray and Lee in the of to start the year and Fitzgerald in the infield. If ha seong Kim doesn’t get extended I’m they will probably pursue him in FA. Fitzgerald would be able to slide to second if that happens and Estrada is moved on from. They are probably doing some moves as to how 2025 is going to go rather than the end of this season
Do you think the giants are ok with McCray as a starting outfielder? Even as a 4th platooned guy? I think they keep yaz at least for one more season
bag o ballz —
Here comes Bo Bichette in an off season trade to play 2B next to Fitzgerald.
Fire Farhan and Bob Melvin
Melvin seems disengaged and laconic ever since leaving the A’s. It’s like he could care less about baseball. I dunno at least that’s the impression he gives off to me.
Totally…..Bob has got to go……..so does he need to look in the mirror?
Kapler would have had this team over .500 Melvin is asleep at the wheel. He has cost us probably 10 games with his mismanagement, including last night. I was always suspicious why the Pads let him walk. Now I know. And FZ doesn’t love the game. He’s an accountant. Dump the whole lot of them. Massive firing of coaches that can’t seem to teach hitting, situational hitting, base running, holding runners on, etc. The good that will come from this season is the emergence of some young talent, but that could’ve happened with the confines of actually winning more games.
SF fan for life, but even I am done with the 2024 team. In the words of my grandmother, “Good night nurse!”
TiG
“Kapler would have had this team over .500 Melvin is asleep at the wheel. He has cost us probably 10 games with his mismanagement, ”
Yeah no
That’s not how baseball works
In fact that’s exactly how baseball works.
T8G
Nope
But, go qheqd. Support your assertion.
Then you can learn why you are wrong
Oh that’s right, you’re a Dodger$ fan. So I guess the way baseball works is by having won just ONE full-season World Series since 1965? Got it. Lesson learned.
TiG
Present your evidence, troll
Ouch
Was physically sick when Gabe announced as manager….what took them so long to realize their mistake…..
And yet he has a better record than Bomel.
Mike Elias should enter the chat
The Angels should try to claim Rodgers. It be one less reliever they need to get this offseason
Matzek back to the Braves confirmed.
Nah they dumped him as a salary offset
Estrada was very good last year, but it’s looking like an outlier
Estrada would be the second best offensive force on the Mariners squad. Jerry Sign Him Up!!!
Wouldn’t be a bad pickup
Conforto next
Yes please. Let Matos take over LF
Estrada has been a quality player. In his previous 3 seasons since coming to SF he’s been 5% above league average with the bat by both OPS+ and wRC+.
He can’t stop swinging at balls a foot outside. If they had a good lineup you could bat him down the order. Just barely average.
So your saying he’s better than half the players?
stymeedone,
“So your saying he’s better than half the players?”
I’m not saying it. I’m only conveying what the stats on BB Ref and Fangraphs say.
Giants fan. Who knows what they’re doing. I’ve thought Zaidi needed to go for 2 years. If you’re waiving a semi-solid lefty bullpen arm and a serviceable 2Bman, you’re not “in the hunt”. They need a miracle to make the postseason. Collapses by the Cubs, Mets, Braves and probably Dbacks and Pads, plus winning minimum 20 out of their last 29, including tonight against Milwaukee. I’ll always be a Giants guy, but man, are they frustrating.
Padres fan, but can’t see how Zaidi keeps his job after another poor showing. Had another manager hire and lots of money to spend this year and hardly changed anything. It’s felt like a team in no-man’s land for awhile
I agree. I can’t think he survives another +/- .500 season like ‘22 and ‘23. Mediocrity is baseball purgatory.
@2183281:
1) a semi-solid lefty arm that they had no trust of in high leverage scenarios and is owed $12MM next season
2) Estrada has been far from serviceable in ’24
Looking at the numbers, Rogers has been good not great. Whip is higher than a high leverage guy, sure. For 12 million, I don’t want a 1.2 whip from a guy they signed to be a high leverage reliever.
Estrada has had a tough year. He’s been hurt quite a bit but given the past two seasons, and the small amount of money he’s owed, I think he’ll get claimed.
Pretty clear to me. They are drawing a line under the season and moving on. Did the same thing last year. What happens now will be about next year.
Semi-solid lefty relief arms can definitely be found for less than 12 mill for next season lol.
You can probably get 3-4 relievers for 12 million
No one is taking Rogers on that contract
Agreed on Carne Estrada but…
Rogers owed $15MM total now thru ’25
The replies here a perplexing, it’s as if no one read the full article or understood the context. The Giants don’t consider any of the trio to be of significant importance for the final month plus. They have others in their system to fill the roster spots. In the case of Estrada and likely Maztek, neither will not be tendered contracts in 2025.
Let’s not forget they are above the CBT or at least projected to be so and with the new trade rules, this is the only way for other teams to add MLB talent and in theory SF shed $’s. There is no downside for SF making these moves to these players at this time.
The next three days will determine if Conforto is out there. I suspect however they will not put Yaz on waivers unless they determine his arbitration $ is too rich for what they’d like to pay a 4th OF. This is about players not under team control in 2025
I think with the emergence of Ramos and McCray and conforto an impending free agent, yaz gets non tendered
2025 OF consists of Ramos, Lee and TBD. I do not think SFG wish to roll out an OF of McCray, Ramos and Lee as it’s light on power. On a really good team, Yaz is the perfect 4th OF, not a starter. The identity of who they get as their 3rd OF, what hand he hits, etc will determine how well Yaz fits the 2025 roster.
SSS for McCray at this point but after having CF be a black hole for the Giants organization for decades (Chili Davis) it would be promising if a Matos, McCray gets developed, even if that means one gets moved in a trade to suppliment the roster elsewhere.
No posts have suggested the SFG can get under the CBT so these moves are purely for 2025 + any nominal $ savings for 2024.
Farhan is getting canned….he has had enough time to build something, he didn’t
Didn’t they just extend him recently? Idk why, I’d want him gone too if I were a Giants fan
Rogers could help a team win for sure
Rogers gets claimed. Dodgers?
Doubtful the Dodgers are interested unless something is going on with Hudson that we don’t know about. He isn’t on the IL but he hasn’t appeared in a game in over a week.
But I kind of like the sound of Rodgers the Dodger. Longtime fans will get the reference.
DS
“Farhan is getting canned”
Wanna bet?
I think your correct DB. The owner loves Farhan, he’s not going anywhere.
Farhan will at least get one more try in order to “complete his vision” and see what a full season of healthy Lee can do.
As a Giants fan, I hope not.
The Farhan Fun Factor has run its course.
Estrada hasn’t been the same since he broke his hand last year. Strange to weaken your bullpen, especially with Hicks out, if they were still “in the hunt”.
I’m interested in Estrada to play 3b for the A’s next year in Sacramento. I see a big uptick in his numbers . If A’s can get him on a $1.7 mil 1 year show me contract .
Maybe someone claims Estrada, unlikely anyone claims rogers. Hard to see a team willing to pay that 12m next year. There are several teams that could use him so maybe someone says it’s worth it for a chance to improve this year.
Surely someone will pickup Thairo I believe he’s still a good player he shouldn’t be owed to much the rest of this year and could probably be had for next year on less than he made this year.
Twins desperately need Rogers. Will the spend the money? Probably not. Thanks Pohlads.
Giants are an embarrassment.
Sounds like they finally waived the White Flag and threw in the towel. Now Fire Zaidi !!
Ok then. That was a frustrating year. Lots of waiting waiting waiting with a couple of “here we go” stretches that fizzled out quickly.
Hated it tbh. Be interesting to see and hear the reaction to it all from the men that matter.
Can the Giants stop being stupid and PUT SNELL ON WAIVERS ALREADY!?
Next year’s team looks about the same. Thank you three in five!
They probably want him back.
I’m done with Farhan. Signs Soler as a DH in offseason, only to get rid of him by midseason. Signed Taylor Rogers to 3 year deal, and he’s having a very good year, better than 2023, yet now F is looking to drop him. $$$ is not an issue for SFG , who own their stadium. Under F, the Giants aren’t a team, more of a bunch of rental players on short term contracts, many with player opt outs. Even guys on 3 year deals are shown the door early. They all know they can go at any time, they don’t get to know & trust each other as player because they don’t play together long enough, so they never form into a productive team.
Rogers seems like a solid pitcher this season. Good ERA. He’ll get picked up/claimed.
They probably want him back