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Robbie Ray Robbie Ray Placed on IL
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 4:26 PM
The Giants placed Ray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Ray's 40-man roster spot will be given to Austin Warren, who signed with the Giants on Wednesday. Ray underwent Tommy John surgery in May and has recently been cleared to throw three times per week, but he is not expected to join the Giants' rotation until the second half of the season. |
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Austin Warren Austin Warren Signing with San Francisco
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 4:18 PM
Warren (elbow) agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants on Wednesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Warren was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Angels last week, but it didn't take long for him to latch on with a new team. The right-hander missed most of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, so he's likely to also be sidelined for the first half of 2024. |
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Jung Hoo Lee Jung Hoo Lee Projected as full-time leadoff man
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 11:03 AM
Manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that he "would be shocked" if Lee didn't open the season as the Giants' leadoff man against both right- and left-handed pitching, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: A rough adjustment period to North American pitching during spring training could alter the Giants' plans for Lee, but San Francisco brought in the 25-year-old outfielder from Korea on a lavish six-year, $113 million deal with the full expectation that the high-contact rate and on-base skills he displayed in the Korea Baseball Organization would immediately translate to MLB. Lee didn't consistently hit for power or flash elite speed during his time in the KBO, but he should be a plus source of batting average and a strong source of runs if he ends up sticking atop the lineup permanently in his first season with the Giants. He's expected to play regularly in center field to begin the campaign, as Lee has already made a full recovery from the surgery he underwent on his left ankle last summer. |
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Kai-Wei Teng Kai-Wei Teng Battling oblique strain
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 10:50 AM
The Giants announced Wednesday that Teng will miss at least the first 2-to-3 weeks of spring training with a left oblique strain, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Teng was added to the Giants' 40-man roster over the winter, but even if he wasn't sidelined for the start of camp with the oblique injury, he wouldn't have been a serious candidate for a spot in the big club's Opening Day rotation. Once he moves past the oblique strain, Teng will likely head to Triple-A Sacramento, with whom he tallied a 4.22 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 96:48 K:BB in 79 innings last season. |
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Robbie Ray Robbie Ray Throwing three times per week
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 10:43 AM
Ray (elbow) said Wednesday that he's been cleared to throw three times per week as he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Ray was limited to just one start in his second season with the Mariners in 2023 before requiring the major elbow procedure. He was dealt to the Giants in January and appears to be on track with his recovery, though he's not expected to be available to make his San Francisco debut until sometime around the All-Star break. |
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Austin Slater Austin Slater Nearing end of rehab
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 10:39 AM
Slater (elbow) reported to spring training with no restrictions as a hitter, though he'll still need to finish his throwing program before being cleared to play in Cactus League games, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Slater is working his way back from offseason surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow and is behind the Giants' other outfielders, though his availability for Opening Day doesn't look to be in jeopardy at this stage. Until he's cleared for full outfield work, Slater could be deployed as a designated hitter in Cactus League games so as to get in enough competitive at-bats to prepare himself for the start of the regular season. Slater is projected to serve a short-side platoon outfielder as he heads into his eighth season with the Giants. |
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Alex Cobb Alex Cobb Nearing mound work
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:29 AM
Cobb (hip) said Wednesday that he hopes to be cleared to throw off a mound soon, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Analysis: Coming back from October left hip surgery, Cobb began throwing on flat ground a few weeks ago and is eager to take the next step. The goal is to progress to facing hitters before the end of spring training with an eye toward rejoining the Giants' rotation before the All-Star break, although any timetable at this juncture is tentative. |
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Daulton Jefferies Daulton Jefferies Full-go at start of camp
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:00 AM
Jefferies (elbow) will not have any restrictions at the beginning of spring training, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Jefferies has been sidelined for the past year and a half while rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, but he's fully recovered now and will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. The right-hander inked a minor-league contract with the Giants in December and seems likely to open the 2024 campaign in Triple-A Sacramento's rotation. |
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TJ Hopkins TJ Hopkins Designated for assignment
Tue, Feb 13, 2024, 2:10 PM
Hopkins was designated for assignment by the Giants on Tuesday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Otto Lopez. Hopkins was acquired from the Reds earlier this offseason and now could be on the move again. |
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Otto Lopez Otto Lopez Heading to San Francisco
Tue, Feb 13, 2024, 2:09 PM
Lopez was acquired by the Giants from the Blue Jays on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Analysis: Lopez was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, and the Giants opted to acquired him via trade rather than risk losing out on a waiver claim. The 25-year-old utility player has just eight big-league games under his belt and struggled offensively at the Triple-A level last season with a .258/.313/.343 slash line in 84 contests. |
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Amir Garrett Amir Garrett Receives NRI from San Francisco
Mon, Feb 12, 2024, 5:20 PM
Garrett signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Murray says Garrett will receive a $1.35 million salary if he's in the big leagues. The left-handed reliever holds a 5.06 ERA with 81 walks over 117.1 innings since the beginning of the 2021 season. He also has 138 strikeouts across that span, though, and is still just 31, so he seems worthy of a dice roll on a non-guaranteed deal. |
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J.D. Davis J.D. Davis Wins arbitration hearing
Thu, Feb 8, 2024, 4:26 PM
Davis will make $6.9 million in 2024 after winning his arbitration case against the Giants on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Davis slashed .248/.325/.413 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI across 544 plate appearances in his first full season with San Francisco -- good enough to earn himself an extra $350,000 over what the Giants offered him. Davis appears in line to serve as the Giants' starting third baseman again in 2024 and is slated to enter free agency next winter. |
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Ethan Small Ethan Small Moved to San Francisco
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:25 PM
Small was traded from the Brewers to the Giants on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Small put up solid numbers at Triple-A Nashville in 2023, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with a 61:24 K:BB across 51 innings, but it didn't translate to the big leagues in what was a small sample size. He surrendered five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six across four frames. Small will likely be in a position for a mid-season promotion with his club if he continues to fare well in the minors. |
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Michael Conforto Michael Conforto Slated for designated hitter duty
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 10:49 AM
Conforto is in line to serve as the Giants' primary designated hitter in 2024, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: San Francisco wants to improve its outfield defense, which led to the signing of Jung Hoo Lee and its apparent plan to use Luis Matos in left field and Conforto at DH, at least against righties. Conforto made 104 of his 115 starts last year in the outfield but finished in the 22nd percentile in Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant. |
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Luis Matos Luis Matos Favorite to start in left field
Fri, Feb 2, 2024, 10:44 AM
The Giants plan for Matos to be their starting left fielder this season, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Baggarly writes that San Francisco is content with a "semi-stable" outfield of Matos in left, Jung Hoo Lee in center and a platoon of Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater in right. That would leave Michael Conforto as the primary designated hitter against right-handers, with Wilmer Flores getting most of his starts versus lefties. Blake Sabol could also be a factor in left field against tougher righties. Matos posted a .661 OPS in 76 games in 2023, but he just turned 22 and slashed .331/.401/.543 between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. |
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Robbie Ray Robbie Ray Throwing from 120 feet
Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 5:03 PM
Ray (elbow) will throw from 120 feet Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Ray hopes to begin throwing off a mound early on in spring training and said a return around the All-Star break would be a "best-case scenario." Acquired from the Mariners via trade earlier this month, Ray underwent Tommy John and flexor tendon surgery last May. The lefty has an opt-out clause in his contract after this season, but he wouldn't commit one way or another Friday to exercising it or not, saying his main focus is just to get healthy. |
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Tommy Romero Tommy Romero Gets minors pact from Giants
Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 1:00 PM
Romero signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday.
Analysis: Romero, 26, spent 2023 at Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization, collecting a 5.44 ERA and 82:61 K:BB across 87.2 innings of work. The right-hander has mostly been a starter in his pro career but it's unclear whether he'll be in the rotation or bullpen at Triple-A Sacramento. |
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Alex Cobb Alex Cobb Begins throwing program
Mon, Jan 22, 2024, 9:00 AM
Cobb (hip) began a throwing program Thursday, Evan Webeck of The Mercury News reports.
Analysis: Cobb played catch from 60 feet in what was his first bit of throwing since he underwent left hip surgery in October. The veteran right-hander is hopeful of rejoining the Giants' rotation prior to the All-Star break, although there's no clear timetable for him at this point. Cobb held a 3.87 ERA and 131:37 K:BB over 151.1 frames for San Francisco in 2023. |
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Jordan Hicks Jordan Hicks Will be conventional starter
Thu, Jan 18, 2024, 3:45 PM
The Giants plan to use Hicks as a conventional starter this season, Danny Emerman of KNBR 680 San Francisco reports.
Analysis: The goal is for the right-hander to be ready to throw five innings and/or 75 pitches at the start of the season. Hicks totaled just 66.2 frames between the regular and postseason in 2023 and his professional high is 105, which came back in 2017 when he was last used as a regular starter. Therefore, his workload will almost surely have to be managed at some point. The Giants could always reverse course at some point and put Hicks in the bullpen if starting doesn't work out, but for now they're committed to him being a member of their rotation. |
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Alex Cobb Alex Cobb Hopes to begin throwing soon
Thu, Jan 18, 2024, 10:59 AM
Cobb (hip) hopes to begin a flat-ground throwing program in the next few days, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Cobb underwent surgery in late October to repair a torn labrum and remove three bone chips from in his left hip. He's been keeping his arm in shape by throwing plyo balls from his knees and hopes to play catch soon. Cobb thinks he'll be able to return sooner than expected, although there's no clear timetable for when it might happen, with the right-hander saying only that "I fully expect to be back in the first half." The 36-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2023 after posting a 2.91 ERA in the first half, but he stumbled to a 5.25 ERA after the break while dealing with nagging hip pain. |
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