SF Giants make several roster moves, DFA Luis González

Aug 15, 2023, 9:09 AM

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 01: San Francisco Giants left fielder Luis Gonzalez #51 makes a ...

(Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times via Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The San Francisco Giants made a series of roster moves before Monday night’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, with some new faces arriving and others departing.

Outfielder Wade Meckler, the Giants’ 11th-ranked prospect, was called up for Monday’s game, where the 23-year-old went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Meckler appears to be in line for an extended look while veterans Mitch Hainger (forearm) and Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring) work their way back from the injured list, while fellow rookie outfielder Luis Matos was sent down to AAA Sacramento to make room for Meckler on the active roster.

Meckler’s moment 🔜 pic.twitter.com/VpDFO4IulC

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 14, 2023

The Southern California native batted .379 with five home runs and 46 RBI while posting a .463 on-base percentage and .522 slugging percentage over 69 games with San Francisco’s A+, AA, and AAA levels.

Matos, who burst onto the MLB scene in June, had struggled over the past couple of weeks. Since August 1st, Matos held a .161 batting average while showing an uncharacteristic spike in strikeouts. The Giants opted to send Matos down to AAA affiliate Sacramento to re-discover his offense while Meckler and others joined the big league squad.

Joining Meckler on the ride from Sacramento to San Francisco was veteran infielder Johan Camargo, a 2021 World Series champion with the Atlanta Braves.

Over 416 games at the MLB level, Camargo holds a .255 batting average with 37 home runs, 159 RBI, and 312 hits while logging innings at third base (199 games), shortstop (95 games), second base (47), and the outfield (17 games).

In 39 appearances with San Francisco, Kansas City, and Detroit’s AAA affiliates this season, Camargo is hitting .260 with eight home runs and 22 RBI while walking 17 times versus 27 strikeouts.

Camargo can play all around the infield, providing the Giants with insurance at multiple positions behind Brandon Crawford, J.D. Davis, and Thairo Estrada.

First game in the black and orange 👏 pic.twitter.com/EoPaTXLpYE

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 15, 2023

To make room on the active roster for Camargo, San Francisco sent down recently acquired utility man Mark Mathias, who had posted two hits in 10 at-bats since being called up on August 7th.

Rounding out the Giants’ laundry list of roster moves, San Francisco moved starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani to the 60-day injured list, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster. DeSclafani is not expected to pitch again this season.

The Giants also had to say goodbye to an old friend as the team designated outfielder Luis González for assignment.

González played in 98 games for San Francisco in 2022, batting .254 with four home runs and 36 RBI while stealing ten bases. Although González, 27, is under team control through 2027, the Giants prioritized the 40-man roster spot for infield depth as the organization has several young outfield options in Matos, Ramos, Meckler, and Blake Sabol.

If you’re lost by all of the moves, here’s a summary of what changes the SF Giants made on Monday:

Called up infielder Johan Camargo from AAA Sacramento
Called up outfielder Wade Meckler from AAA Sacramento
Optioned outfielder Luis Matos to AAA Sacramento
Optioned infielder Mark Mathias to AAA Sacramento
Transferred pitcher Anthony DeSclafani from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list
Designated outfielder Luis González for assignment