No sooner did I put up an update of the Giants catcher position but it gets thrown into chaos with an unexpected DFA. As long expected, the Giants finally formalized the Michael Conforto OF signing but the corresponding DFA was Austin Wynns C leaving Joey Bart as the only C listed on the 40-man roster. Rule 5 draftee, Blake Sabol, has played some catcher but is listed as an OF. Sabol has no MLB experience but his AAA batting line looks promising and he does bat lefthanded. I have to say I saw him more as a 5'th OF/3'rd C than a full-fledged back up C which I assumed is why the Giants list him as an OF.
The Giants did make a couple of minor league signings which suddenly seem more significant now.
Brett Cumberland is a switch-hitting C out of Cal with unimpressive minor league stat lines.
Clint Coulter is a 29 yo OF who has done some catching in the minors among multiple positions. He slashed .297/.377/.533, 9 HR, in 207 PA's for AAA Memphis in the Cardinals organization last year.
And the Giants still have Ricardo Genoves C and Ford Proctor 2B/C on the AAA Sacramento roster.
There may be more moves coming.
Seems surprising. I thought Wynns performed very well and seemed promising as a backup. Maybe he was just their secret weapon to sign Aaron Judge (teammate at Fresno St.) and is being released for failing to reel in Judge. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
ReplyDeleteI would like to see Wynn clear waivers/ not elect for free agency and sign a minor league deal. I believe his overall defence and modest ( number of timely hits down the stretch) offense makes him still a viable back up to Bartie!!
ReplyDeleteRichard in Winnipeg
P.s. Belated Happy New Year Doc etal!!!