The Giants positioned 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 newest veteran gamers recognized to hit the waiver wire as fringe contenders try to dump some wage.
Estrada, Rogers and Matzek weren’t designated for task. They’ll proceed to play for the Giants pending decision of the waiver course of. In the event that they go unclaimed, San Francisco can (and fairly seemingly will) merely hold them on the roster for the remainder of the season. Nonetheless, waivers are irrevocable. If one other staff locations a declare on both participant, the Giants do not need the power to rescind the location.
After all, the Giants wouldn’t have positioned the gamers on waivers in the event that they weren’t hoping one other staff made a declare. That is strictly a transfer to attempt to shed payroll. Estrada in all probability stands one of the best probability of the group to be claimed. He’s taking part in on a $4.7MM arbitration wage. There’ll be roughly $810K to be paid from tomorrow by means of the top of the season.
The 28-year-old Estrada is usually nicely regarded for his defensive acumen at second base. Defensive Runs Saved has by no means been eager on his efficiency, however he grades very extremely by Statcast’s Outs Above Common. Whereas that hasn’t modified this yr, his offense has fallen off a cliff. Estrada was a median or higher hitter throughout 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 many worst hitters within the sport. He sports activities a .216/.246/.345 line by means of 374 plate appearances. Whereas that’s partially resulting from a career-low .245 common on balls in play, Estrada has by no means had significantly robust batted ball metrics. Amongst hitters with 300+ plate appearances, solely Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall have a decrease on-base share.
That efficiency makes it seemingly the Giants will transfer on from Estrada subsequent offseason even when he sticks on the roster for the rest of the yr. He’d be due a small elevate on this yr’s arbitration wage, seemingly into the $5-6MM vary. The Giants have evidently decided they have been going to say no to tender him a contract, in order that they’ll make him out there to different groups a month earlier to see if they’ll shed the ultimate month of his 2024 wage.
Rogers is having a a lot better season than Estrada, however he’d be a far costlier pickup. The veteran southpaw is within the second season of a three-year, $33MM free agent deal. It’s a backloaded contract that pays him $12MM this yr and subsequent. He’ll be due a bit greater than $2MM for the ultimate month of the season. A claiming staff would additionally want to soak up his $12MM wage for the ’25 season. That isn’t an outlandish quantity for a reliever of Rogers’ caliber however represents a hefty sum to tackle through a midseason waiver declare.
The 33-year-old Rogers is a former All-Star nearer with the Twins. He has remained efficient over his two seasons in San Francisco. After delivering a 3.83 earned run common throughout 51 2/3 innings a yr in the past, he carries a 2.45 mark in 51 1/3 frames this season. Rogers has fanned an above-average 28.2% of opponents in opposition to a stable 7.7% stroll charge. He has been typically stable all yr but hasn’t pitched his approach into first-year supervisor Bob Melvin’s circle of belief.
By measure of leverage index, Rogers has been eighth on San Francisco’s bullpen hierarchy this season (amongst relievers with a minimum of 10 innings). That hasn’t modified all through the season regardless of Rogers’ stable numbers. It’s comprehensible the Giants wouldn’t wish to pay $12MM subsequent season to a reliever whom Melvin feels is greatest suited within the center innings.
Extra to return.
