Checking in on the guys the Giants let go

The Giants are doing well right now, but what if they could be doing ... better?

From the beginning of February through around mid-May, the roster churn was excruciating. Guys got DFA’d, guys got picked up off waivers, guys who had gotten DFA’d cleared waivers and then got traded for other guys who had gotten DFA’d...the news on slots 38-40 of the 40 man roster was non-stop.

But of all the guys who the Giants got rid of this year, who’s doing well? Some of them have to be, right? Well, I did my best to go through every guy who the Giants had and then got rid of (sorry Michael Reed, but you’re still in the organization so you don’t count) to figure out how they’re all doing.

The good

Matt Joyce, Braves (MLB): 100 PAs, .282/.390/.471, 3 HR, 126 wRC+

Cameron Maybin, Indians (AAA): 67 PAs, .216/.388/.275, 0 HR, 89 wRC+
Yankees (MLB): 133 PAs, .314/.391/.500, 5 HR, 137 wRC+
Currently on 10-day IL

Tom Murphy, Mariners (MLB): 135 PAs, .268/.304/.520, 9 HR, 117 wRC+

Joyce has been a pinch hitter extraordinaire for the Braves, and Maybin was inexplicably good for the Yankees before getting injured. Murphy has done a nice job for the Mariners, though the Giants have Stephen Vogt, who has been better.

The good, but in the minors, so who even knows what that means?

Drew Ferguson, Astros (AAA): 319 PAs, .294/.401/.461, 8 HR, 116 wRC+

Connor Joe, Dodgers (AAA): 283 PAs, .299/.438/.516, 10 HR, 138 wRC+

Breyvic Valera, Yankees (AAA): 222 PAs, .332/.399/.536, 9 HR, 138 wRC+
Also hit a single in 3 at bats with the Yankees in the majors

Erik Kratz, Rays (MLB): 17 PAs, .059/.059/.059, 0 HR, -80 wRC+
Yankees (AAA): 63 PAs, .315/.413/.556, 3 HR, 147 wRC+

Two returned Rule 5 guys, another Yankee miracle, and a small sample size from Erik Kraz. Even taking into account the levels they’re at, these guys are all doing what they’re supposed to do. But on the other hand, two of them were awful in the majors this year, one more couldn’t hit a lick in Spring Training, and as for Valera, well, the Yankees are just magic and it’s time we all admitted it.

Side note: lol remember how Erik Kratz was on this team this year? True story!

The fine

Hanser Alberto, Orioles (MLB): 304 PAs, .306/.325/.402, 5 HR, 91 wRC+

Jake Barrett, Yankees (AAA): 15.1 IP, 11.74 K/9, 2.35 BB/9, 1.17 ERA, 1.83 FIP, 3.17 xFIP
Yankees (MLB): 3.2 IP, 9.82 K/9, 4.82 BB/9, 14.73 ERA, 9.76 FIP, 6.98 xFIP
Currently on 60-day IL

John Andreoli, Twins (AAA): 185 PAs, .196/.324/.359, 6 HR, 78 wRC+
Mariners (AAA): 154 PAs, .289/.429/.479, 4 HR, 127 wRC+

Rene Rivera, Mets (AAA): 280 PAs, .270/.326/.500, 17 HR, 104 wRC+

CJ Hinojosa, Brewers (AA): 300 PAs, .259/.329/.357, 3 HR, 101 wRC+

Gerardo Parra, Nationals (MLB): 93 PAs, .250/.290/.455, 4 HR, 89 wRC+

Yangervis Solarte, Marlins (AAA): 55 PAs, .314/.345/.451, 1 HR, 91 wRC+
Left New Orleans for an opportunity in Japan

Aaron Altherr, Mets (MLB): 11 PAs, .100/.182/.400, 1 HR, 49 wRC+
Mets (AAA): 53 PAs, .262/.415/.452, 1 HR, 129 wRC+

Alberto could be in the first category, depending on how much you value an empty .300 average, and Barrett would be in the second if he was still on the field. Otherwise, you have guys who were good in one place and bad in another, or guys who are just, well, fine. The Kratz-for-Hinojosa deal didn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s not like Hinojosa is pushing his slugging percentage into that rarefied .375-and-up air. These are just guys who are basically doing about what they should be doing, which isn’t bad, but it also isn’t that good.

The struggling

Josh Osich, White Sox (MLB): 33.2 IP, 6.68 K/9, 1.38 BB/9 (!!!), 5.88 ERA, 5.83 FIP, 4.87 xFIP

Cameron Rupp, Tigers (AAA): 79 PAs, .254/.329/.366, 1 HR, 80 wRC+
A’s (AAA): 63 PAs, .204/.302/.426, 3 HR, 72 wRC+

Jordan Johnson, Reds (AA): 38.2 IP, 9.08 K/9, 6.75 BB/9, 6.98 ERA, 4.75 FIP, 4.86 xFIP,

Tyler Herb, Orioles (AA): 12.2 IP, 9.95 K/9, 2.84 BB/9, 9.94 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 3.10 xFIP
Orioles (AAA): 69.2 IP, 7.49 K/9, 4.39 BB/9, 6.46 ERA, 7.02 FIP, 5.27 xFIP

Jose Lopez, Reds (AAA): 50 IP, 7.92 K/9, 4.68 BB/9, 6.84 ERA, 7.13 FIP, 6.10 xFIP

Merandy Gonzalez, Cardinals (AA): 24.1 IP, 7.77 K/9, 7.77 BB/9, 7.40 ERA, 7.33 FIP, 5.99 xFIP

Chris Stratton, Angels (MLB): 29.1 IP, 6.75 K/9, 5.52 BB/9, 8.59 ERA, 6.21 FIP, 5.78 xFIP (as a SP)
Pirates (MLB): 20.2 IP, 7.84 K/9, 1.31 BB/9, 3.92 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 4.11 xFIP (as a RP)

Alen Hanson, Blue Jays (MLB): 48 PAs, .163/.229/.163, 0 HR, 1 wRC+ (Yes, one. Not a typo)
Blue Jays (AAA): 146 PAs, .187/.231/.284, 3 HR, 25 wRC+

Derek Law, Blue Jays (AAA): 10.2 IP, 14.34 K/9, 2.53 BB/9, 1.69 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 2.88 xFIP
Blue Jays (MLB): 31.1 IP, 11.49 K/9, 5.17 BB/9, 6.89 ERA, 5.80 FIP, 4.18 xFIP

Malique Ziegler, Twins (A+): 55 PAs, .146/.255/.188, 0 HR, 41 wRC+

Andrew Moore, Mariners (AAA): 19.1 IP, 4.66 K/9, 2.79 BB/9, 9.31 ERA, 8.56 FIP, 7.07 xFIP
Also made one ML start with the Mariners, going 4.2 innings, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 HR allowed

Mac Williamson, Mariners (MLB): 87 PAs, .182/.276/.299, 3 HR, 61 wRC+
Outrighted to AAA Tacoma

Franklin Van Gurp, Padres (A+): 14.1 IP, 9.42 K/9, 7.53 BB/9, 6.28 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 6.07 xFIP

You can quibble about a couple of these placements if you want — Stratton has been perfectly decent as a reliever, and Law did a nice job in the minors — but the Giants are looking at every player on this list and thinking, “Thank u, next.” (Topical reference alert!)

Right now, the Giants really don’t miss anyone they let go. Joyce, Maybin, and Murphy are the only ones performing at a major league level, and they’re still all in the small sample size zone, plus the Giants have filled their positions anyway. The outfield is younger and more versatile than what Joyce can give them and less injured than Maybin, and the team is certainly happy to have Stephen Vogt as backup catcher.

Farhan Zaidi and the Giants have gone through a whole lot of players since the beginning of the year, but you have to take a lot of shots to find an Alex Dickerson. The team is better because he was so relentless about taking looks at guys who might help, because eventually he found one. But boy, it sure took a lot of moves to get there.