The Giants released veteran first baseman Jake Lamb from his minor league deal on Monday, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker. That’s tied to a move for their top prospect, as Bryce Eldridge has been bumped up to Triple-A Sacramento. Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the Eldridge move.
Lamb, 34, signed an offseason minor league contract. He hit .240/.352/.353 across 176 plate appearances. He walked at a strong 11.9% clip while striking out a quarter of the time. The lefty-hitting Lamb has accrued over eight years of MLB service and owns a .235/.326/.427 slash line in nearly 2700 big league plate appearances. His most recent MLB experience consisted of 19 games for the Angels in 2023.
Eldridge is a 20-year-old first baseman who was the Giants’ first-round pick out of high school two seasons ago. He made an eight-game cameo in Triple-A at the end of last year, a time when all of the organization’s lower level affiliates had already finished playing. There wasn’t any consideration to an MLB promotion at the time. A call in the coming weeks is much more realistic. After beginning this season on the shelf with a left wrist injury, Eldridge crushed Double-A pitching at a .280/.350/.512 clip in 34 games. He’s now back in Sacramento for a longer run than he got last season — unless the Giants feel compelled to call him to Oracle Park even more quickly.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey left the door open to Eldridge forcing their hand if he hits the ground running in Triple-A. “I think all of these decisions and conversations are fluid,” Posey said (link via Shayna Rubin of The San Francisco Chronicle). “Things can change. For Bryce, it’s best to get reps, but things change. So we’ll continue to have conversations and watch his progress.”
The Giants have had the worst first base production of any contender. They entered play tonight with .183/.291/.312 line out of the position. They’re last in batting average and slugging while ranking 21st in on-base percentage. Only the Pirates, Marlins and White Sox have received a lower OPS.
That mostly falls on LaMonte Wade Jr., who has a dismal .167/.275/.271 line after posting consecutive seasons with an OBP above .370 in 2023-24. Right-handed platoon partner Casey Schmitt hasn’t provided much either. Wade is day-to-day after being hit on the right hand by a Stephen Kolek pitch last night. Schmitt is starting against San Diego righty Ryan Bergert this evening.
Posey losing Patience. Like we all are. Need a new first basemen, Second Baseman, Right fielder, Catcher. DH maybe but Flores has been great. And Bench Roles. ASAP.
Fitz has done just fine at second, as has Yaz in right. Based on bWAR, Bailey’s excellent defense makes up for his terrible offensive, but just barely. He’ll need to do better at the plate if he’s going to stick around longer term.
For 2025, Wade is the obvious laggard. Eldridge simply isn’t ready yet for MLB. If Schmidt catches fire or they can arrange a trade for a rental player, that’s the only hope for meaningful improvement at first.
Zero runs a game. They’re doing terrible at these positions. They need Hitters. Pronto.
Adames is killing the Giants. These players all want that big contract and then stink under the pressure to earn it.
He’ll be fine. He’s just pressing.
The article ignores Jerar Encarnacion
Also, Brandon Belt has not officially retired (right?).
I am pleasantly surprised. I thought Posey would give Eldridge more time in AA. I was wrong.
Once Eldridge can be even league average defensively at first base, he’s up.
The Lamb man! Son of sheep, friend of goat, hangs with ewe.
That’s not baaad.
Years back, I thought for sure Jake Lamb was going to have an amazing career, back to back excellent years, and then he was never the same guy again after that, he became just an expendable nothing player always bogged down by injuries.
Funny (but not actually funny) how that happens.
Seemed like he always raked against the Giants back then.
Same against the dodgers. It never mattered what his season looked like otherwise, he always seemed to do well against them.
The shoulder injury he suffered with AZ sapped most of his power and consistency. Never fully recovered, but kudos to him for making every effort.
I remember people clamoring for a Jake Lamb-Andrew Susac prospect swap at the time. They both fell off pretty hard
Nice to see a team just plain wanting the best players playing. Tired of the political side of baseball of time manipulation, or money owed to guys or coaches playing favorites.
Best pitching in baseball
This is kinda ironic in that the Giants have the worst first basemen in the league and yet they just released Jake Lamb who they were too lazy to call up and give a chance.
To be fair he was stinking it up in AAA. Didn’t exactly force his way to the Majors.
Casual SF fans need to understand that Wade WILL be DFAd any day now, and the only reason he hasn’t already been is they don’t have any better options. Don’t get caught up in what he did in the past because he’s been at rock bottom all year, and this actually started last year.
You absolutely called this one.
Tear it up Bryce !
SFG needs you. This is your chance to get to the big leagues and set your family up for life. Oh, and wake the F up Luciano !
Younger prospects are passing you by.