Giants Rumors

Giants Place Alex Wood On COVID-19 Injured List

By Anthony Franco | August 31, 2021 at 6:32pm CDT

AUGUST 31: Cueto has been activated from the IL to start this evening’s game against Milwaukee, the team announced. Quintana has also been activated after reporting to the club, with Vosler and Brebbia optioned in corresponding moves.

AUGUST 30: The Giants announced they’ve placed starting pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto on the COVID-19 injured list. Infielder Jason Vosler and reliever John Brebbia have been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take their places on the active roster.

Wood has tested positive for COVID-19, manager Gabe Kapler told reporters (including Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area). Cueto has not tested positive, but he’s feeling virus-like symptoms. The Giants will conduct an impromptu bullpen game tonight against the Brewers in place of Cueto, who had been scheduled to take the ball. The team remains hopeful Cueto could be back as soon as tomorrow.

Regardless of Cueto’s status, the Giants will be without Wood for the near future. San Francisco’s rotation depth is one of the team’s few question marks, particularly after Tyler Beede recently suffered a serious back injury in Triple-A. The Giants’ top five starters of Wood, Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Logan Webb has remained remarkably healthy for much of the season. Sammy Long and the since-released Aaron Sanchez are the only other pitchers to log at least ten innings out of the San Francisco rotation.

Long could be an option to shoulder a heavier workload over the coming days, and San Francisco did just add José Quintana off waivers from the Angels. Matt Shoemaker is on hand as a potential option in Sacramento, but he’s struggled since signing a minor league deal earlier this month. San Francisco can ill-afford any sort of letup over the final few weeks of the season. While the league-best Giants are a lock to make the playoffs, they hold just a two and a half game lead over the Dodgers in the National League West.

Giants’ Ron Wotus Retiring From Coaching After 2021 Season

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 2:14pm CDT

Longtime Giants coach Ron Wotus is stepping down as a full-time coach after the season is over, as per a team announcement. Wotus first joined the team’s coaching staff in 1998 as a third base coach, and served as bench coach for the next 19 seasons before returning to third base duties prior to the 2018 season. Wotus could remain with the organization, as he and the Giants are currently talking about a role in the baseball operations department going forward.

In a statement, Wotus said, “It’s been the privilege of my life to work 34 years for the greatest organization in baseball. I never imagined I’d have the career I’ve had — coaching in four World Series, coaching homegrown players like Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and so many others, and watching them develop into the best players they can be. They are why you coach.

“It’s time for a bit more balance in my life. My wife, Laurie, and my family have been there for me through all the ups and downs, all the travel and long hours, and now I want to be there for them.”

Wotus’ tenure in the San Francisco organization dates back to 1988, when he spent his last two seasons as a player suiting up with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. (Wotus’ career as a big league player consisted of 32 games with the Pirates in 1983-84.) From there, Wotus moved on to become a manager in the Giants farm system, working his way up the ladder from 1991-97 and managing at the Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels.

From there, Wotus was promoted to the staff of then-manager Dusty Baker, starting what became the longest run of any coach in Giants franchise history. Wotus worked under four different managers during his time on San Francisco’s coaching staff, best known as Bruce Bochy’s chief advisor on the Giants’ World Series championship teams in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

As one might expect, Wotus received some managerial consideration himself over the years. A mystery team (rumored to be the Rockies) checked in on Wotus following the 2016 season, and the Giants interviewed him for their own managerial vacancy before Gabe Kapler was hired during the 2019-20 offseason. That same winter also saw Wotus become a candidate for the Mets’ bench coach job.

Though this outstanding coaching stint may yet have some more memorable postseason moments remaining, we at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Wotus on his tremendous career, and wish him the best on his next endeavors.

Giants Sign Wyatt Mathisen To Minor League Contract

By Mark Polishuk | August 31, 2021 at 9:26am CDT

The Giants signed infielder Wyatt Mathisen to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com’s official transactions page. Mathisen was in the lineup last night for Triple-A Sacramento, going 2-for-4 with a double in his organizational debut.

The Mariners released Mathisen on Friday, so it wasn’t a long stint in free agency. The Giants represent Mathisen’s fourth team within the last four months, as he began the season with the Diamondbacks and was subsequently moved to the Rays and Mariners in trades. The 27-year-old’s only big league playing time this year came in Arizona, as he had only a .445 OPS over 51 plate appearances. Originally a second-round pick for the Pirates in the 2012 draft, Mathisen made his MLB debut last season, hitting .222/.364/.444 over 33 PA with the D’backs.

Mathisen has strong numbers (.251/.359/.474 with 37 homers in 824 PA) at the Triple-A level over his career, and given the Giants’ penchant for unlocking potential in less-heralded players, it can’t be ruled out that some of this production could translate over to the majors. Mathisen also adds to San Francisco’s multi-positional depth, as he has played mostly third base but also has some experience at first and second base in recent years.

Giants Claim Jose Quintana

By Steve Adams | August 30, 2021 at 11:02pm CDT

The Giants have claimed veteran left-hander Jose Quintana off waivers from the Angels, per a team announcement from the Halos. The Giants themselves yet to announce the claim or a corresponding move, although they have an open 40-man roster spot after designating Tyler Chatwood for assignment this weekend.

Quintana, 32, signed a one-year, $8MM contract with the Angels over the winter in hopes of bouncing back from 2020’s injury-ruined season. However, the left-hander labored through just 10 starts before being ousted from the rotation and dropped to the bullpen. Fourteen of his past 15 games have come in relief, and the one spot start he made since that initial demotion went quite poorly. He’s still owed about $1.5MM between now and season’s end, and by claiming him on waivers, the Giants are assuming the remainder of that commitment.

In a total of 53 1/3 innings this season, Quintana has pitched to a 6.75 ERA with a career-worst 11.4 percent walk rate, but his secondary numbers paint a brighter picture. He’s sporting a 3.90 SIERA and career-best marks in strikeout percentage (28.7), swinging-strike rate (11.9 percent) and opponents’ chase rate (32.6 percent). His 45.6 percent ground-ball mark, meanwhile, is his best since back in 2015 with the White Sox.

Quintana has been rocked in the majority of his starts this season, but he holds a 3.93 ERA, a 28.6 percent strikeout rate and a tiny 3.9 percent walk rate in 18 1/3 frames as a reliever. It’s obviously a very small sample, but the vastly improved control he’s shown when working in relief perhaps encouraged the Giants to take a flier on a veteran arm who was at one point one of the most consistently solid starters in Major League Baseball.

From 2013-18, Quintana pitched at least 174 innings and made at least 32 starts per season. His ERA along the way was a rock-solid 3.58 — a number that was largely supported by metrics such as FIP (3.56) and SIERA (3.85). Quintana was a consummate source of reliable, above-average innings throughout that span and an often-overlooked name in All-Star and awards voting. Despite his consistency, he made just one All-Star appearance and only garnered Cy Young votes on one occasion: a 10th-place finish in 2016.

A return to his peak form probably shouldn’t be expected, but Quintana will give the Giants another lefty who is stretched out enough to at least throw a couple of innings per relief stint. And if he can maintain the output that he’s posted as a reliever to this point in the season — or perhaps improve upon it — he’ll be a fine addition to the team’s relief corps down the stretch. By claiming Quintana prior to Sept. 1, the Giants have ensured that he’ll be eligible for their postseason roster. He’s not a lock to be included, of course, but we’ve seen the Giants help turn around the careers of many pitchers to date and Quintana could surface as yet another data point on that growing list.

Giants Reinstate Anthony DeSclafani, Designate Tyler Chatwood For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | August 29, 2021 at 12:10pm CDT

The Giants announced several roster moves today, reinstating right-hander Anthony DeSclafani from the injured list and first baseman Brandon Belt from the paternity list. To make room for those two, infielder Thairo Estrada was optioned to Triple-A and right-hander Tyler Chatwood was designated for assignment.

It’s a quick turnaround for DeSclafani, who went on the IL on August 19th. That’s great news for the Giants, as the righty has been tremendous for them this season. Over 132 2/3 innings, he has an ERA of 3.26, producing 2.1 fWAR already on the year. With Johnny Cueto also having recently returned from the IL, the Giants rotation is in great shape for the stretch run, as they try to hold off the Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants are currently atop the pennant race by 2 1/2 games.

It’s potentially the end of a very short tenure in San Francisco for Chatwood. He was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays in July after struggling with command issues. In 28 innings out of Toronto’s bullpen, he had an ERA of 5.46, thanks in large part to a bloated walk rate of 16%. (League average for all pitchers is 8.7%.) The Giants then signed him to a minors deal April 7th and added him to the big league roster 10 days later. In two games for the Giants, Chatwood racked up four innings with six strikeouts but also allowed five runs (three earned) with one walk and one hit-by-pitch. The 31-year-old will now go on waivers and, if unclaimed, will be able to elect free agency. If he joins a new organization before the end of the month, even if it’s a minors deal, he will be eligible to play in the postseason for that club.

Giants Notes: Gausman, Bryant

By TC Zencka | August 28, 2021 at 4:11pm CDT

4:11PM: Bryant’s MRI came back clean, manager Gabe Kapler told reporters (including Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group). Bryant could make his return to the lineup tomorrow and Kapler said Bryant might even be available to pinch-hit in today’s game.

11:13AM: Kevin Gausman has had hip discomfort since an incident way back on April 24, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. He tweaked it during a play at first base last night, but managed to stay in the game and work through it. The Giants ace should continue to take his turns in the rotation.

Kris Bryant, meanwhile, was removed from the game after experiencing tightness in his side during his first at-bat of the game. He is going to be evaluated today. For the Giants, they have the depth to be cautious with Bryant, even if it doesn’t result in a stint on the injured list. Bryant has a history of these ticky-tack injuries that aren’t severe enough to make him miss time, even if his productivity can suffer. He has a .268/.318/.549 line in 22 games with the Giants.

At this present moment, they are a little thin, however, with Evan Longoria and Donovan Solano currently out. Still, Wilmer Flores can spend some time at the hot corner while Darin Ruf looks to continue his solid season at first. Flores has put up 1.3 rWAR while moving between first, second, and third base.

West Notes: Giants, Diamondbacks, A’s

By TC Zencka | August 26, 2021 at 8:22pm CDT

The Giants made a number of roster moves tonight, including placing Brandon Belt on the bereavement list following the passing of his grandmother, per The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (via Twitter). Donovan Solano also went on the injured list today, with no reason specified. He has tested positive for COVID-19 and is likely to miss 7-10 days, tweets the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Shea.

To replace them on the roster, the Giants added Chadwick Tromp and Thairo Estrada, per MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado (via Twitter). Tromp will provide some coverage for the banged-up Buster Posey, though it doesn’t look like Posey will spent any time on the injured list. Elsewhere out west…

Jordan Lawlar, the Diamondbacks’ top pick in the 2021 amateur draft, will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The sixth overall pick suffered a posterior labrum tear in his left shoulder that will likely take around seven months of recovery time. Arizona hopes to have him ready by the beginning of next season.
Stephen Piscotty will undergo surgery on his wrist tomorrow, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com (via Twitter). Piscotty had been bothered by his wrist for much of the year, attempting to play through the injury. The Athletics outfielder struggled to a 79 OPS+ through 188 plate appearances.

Health Notes: Tucker, Escobar, Longoria, Carlson

By Anthony Franco | August 24, 2021 at 9:41pm CDT

The Astros activated outfielder Kyle Tucker from the COVID-19 injured list before this evening’s game against the Royals. Fellow outfielder Chas McCormick landed on the 10-day injured list with left hand soreness in a corresponding move. Tucker, who has been out since August 14, confirmed to reporters (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com) he’d tested positive for the coronavirus. The 24-year-old has had a stellar season at the plate, hitting .272/.334/.519 with 22 homers over 420 plate appearances. McCormick has also had a quality year, positing a .260/.319/.466 line and earning a larger share of playing time in center field following Houston’s trade of Myles Straw to the Indians at the deadline. Fellow rookie Jake Meyers looks likely to handle center while McCormick’s out of action. The Astros hold a four-game advantage over the A’s in the AL West.

More on other notable health situations around the league:

The Brewers placed infielder Eduardo Escobar on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain this afternoon. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com) the expectation is that Escobar will be sidelined for around two weeks. Escobar has continued to perform well since being traded from the Diamondbacks to Milwaukee, hitting .280/.337/.451 over 89 plate appearances. Luis Urías should step back in at the hot corner on a daily basis while Escobar’s sidelined. Milwaukee holds a comfortable seven and a half game lead over the Reds in the NL Central entering the clubs’ series this week.
The Giants activated third baseman Evan Longoria from the COVID-19 IL to instead place him on the 10-day IL with a right hand contusion. Longoria had only been on the COVID IL for a couple days after experiencing vaccine side effects, but he’s now in line to miss at least a week and a half with his current hand issue. Longoria just made it back from a two-month absence due to a shoulder strain last week, but he was hit by a pitch during last Wednesday’s game. When healthy, Longoria has been fantastic this season, hitting .289/.382/.526 with ten homers across 199 plate appearances. His performance has been among the reasons for San Francisco’s three-game advantage over the Dodgers in the NL West. To temporarily open 40-man roster space for Longoria, the Giants placed Kevin Gausman on the COVID IL. Gausman is dealing with vaccine side effects himself, but there’s no indication he won’t be ready for his scheduled start on Friday against the Braves. San Francisco will need to make a 40-man transaction at that point.
The Cardinals welcomed outfielder Dylan Carlson back from the injured list today. The 22-year-old missed just under two weeks with a right wrist issue. Carlson has had a nice rookie season, hitting .261/.341/.419 while seeing action at all three outfield spots. With Harrison Bader healthy, Carlson can stick in a corner role for which he’s better suited. St. Louis trails the Reds by four and a half games for the National League’s final playoff spot, so continued above-average offensive output from Carlson would be a boon if the Cards are to make a surprise playoff push over the season’s final few weeks.

Giants Place Anthony DeSclafani, Evan Longoria On IL

By Darragh McDonald | August 22, 2021 at 4:18pm CDT

The Giants have placed Anthony DeSclafani and Evan Longoria on the IL, per a team announcement. Longoria is going on the COVID IL because of vaccine side effects, per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic. DeSclafani’s placement, retroactive to August 19th, is due to right ankle inflammation. The two roster spots will be taken by lefty Sammy Long and righty Jay Jackson. Additionally, Reyes Moronta was activated from his rehab assignment and optioned to Triple-A.

For Longoria, he should be able to return in a day or two, once he feels better. (The COVID IL has no minimum stay.) The loss of DeSclafani, however, is the more worrisome news for the Giants as he has been a solid member of the rotation this season. After a down year with Cincinnati in 2020, San Fran scooped him up for a one-year, $6MM deal, getting tremendous value for that outlay. Desclafani’s tally of 132 2/3 innings is second only to Kevin Gausman on the club this year. His ERA of 3.26 over that span is the 14th-best mark in all of MLB. He’s recently hit a bit of a snag, however, going on the IL for the second time this month. He endured a minimum stay starting August 4th because of shoulder fatigue and will now go back on the shelf because of this ankle inflammation.

It’s unclear how long the hurler is expected to be sidelined, but even another minimum stay will be impactful. After an off-day on Monday, the Giants will enter a stretch of playing 16 days in a row. They are also without Johnny Cueto, who recently went on the IL himself, whittling the rotation down to Gausman, Logan Webb and Alex Wood. This all comes as the Dodgers have crept up on the Giants in the standings, narrowing the gap to 1 1/2 games going into today’s action.

Sammy Long will likely slot into the rotation at some point during the next few weeks. He’s just recently been getting stretched out after his own IL stint but was able to throw five innings in his most recent Triple-A start. In eight games at the MLB level this year, four starts, he’s absorbed 28 1/3 innings with an elevated ERA of 5.72, but more a more palatable 3.84 xERA, 3.96 SIERA and 3.63 FIP.

Cueto is eligible to return at any point now, though it’s unclear if that’s expected. Without him, the club may have to turn to its depth, though that also just took a hit with Tyler Beede being placed on the 60-day IL just a few days ago. The Giant signed Matt Shoemaker to a minor league deal a few weeks back, though he’s having a nightmare season. Released by the Twins after posting an ERA north of 8.00, his time in the Giants’ org hasn’t improved things. In a small sample of three appearances with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, his ERA is 9.45.

NL Notes: Bryant, Cubs, Mets, Baez, Lindor, Longoria

By Mark Polishuk | August 21, 2021 at 10:37pm CDT

The blockbuster trade between the Mets and Cubs on deadline day was almost even bigger, as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes that Kris Bryant was also part of talks between the two clubs. The actual trade saw Javier Baez and Trevor Williams go to New York in exchange for top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, but Rosenthal reports that the larger version of the swap would’ve also seen the Mets land Bryant and another player off of Chicago’s big league roster. In exchange, the Cubs would have received not only Crow-Armstrong, but also “a prospect they regarded even more highly and a major leaguer under multi-year club control.”

However, the Mets learned of Jacob deGrom’s injury setback on deadline day, which likely made the team wary of making too big of an all-in move. Given how the Cubs were very busy in reshaping their team at the deadline, it’s possible the mystery player could have been any of the players instead dealt elsewhere (i.e. Craig Kimbrel, Jake Marisnick) or possibly someone who is still in a Cubs uniform today. It’s probably safe to guess that one of Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, Matthew Allan, or J.T. Ginn was the blue-chip Mets prospect in question, unless the Cubs were intrigued by someone outside of the upper tier of New York’s prospect rankings.

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