The Giants today acquired Osleivis Basabe IF from the Rays for cash. The Rays DFA'd Basabe earlier in the week:
Osleivis Basabe IF. DOB: 9/13/2000. B-R, T-R. 6' 1", 165 lbs.
2023(AAA): .296/.351/.426, 4 HR, 16 SB, 7.3 BB%, 15.5 K%, 426 PA.
2023(MLB): .218/.277/.310, HR, 6.4 BB%, 26.6 K%, 94 PA.
2024(FCL): .270/.404/.541, 2 HR, 2 SB, 19.1 BB%, 2.1 K%, 47 PA.
2024(AAA): .248/.293/.336, 5 HR, 4 SB, 4.9 BB%, 18.0 K%, 330 PA.
Basabe is a longtime minor leaguer since originally signed as an international free agent in 2018 by the Rangers. He was acquired by the Rays in 2020 by trade and as recently as 2023 was listed in Rays top 10 prospects lists. Basabe is rated as a solid defensive player who can hold down SS. He's put up decent offensive numbers in the minors but his swing-heavy approach may not hold up at the MLB level a la Casey Schmitt. Basabe will joint the competition and depth chart for reserve MI. He has one option year. Oh, and he is Luis Matos' cousin as almost everybody seems to be. Also cousin for Forever Giant Alexander Basabe.
The Giants also signed Lou Trivino RHP to a minor league deal. Trivino last pitched in the majors in 2022 and has battled injuries since. He recently had a throwing session for scouts which the Giants attended. Bob Melvin managed Trivino in Oakland where he was a serious reliever and racked up 22 Saves in 2021.
I have no problem with these. The two of these are depth pieces and low risk.
ReplyDeleteOn reflection it doesn't surprise me that Buster has made so few moves this winter and spring. Somewhat unusually, he has a ton of AAA-ML borderline players to evaluate, mostly pitchers. E.g., just look at the starting rotation and AAA depth going into spring training:
ReplyDeleteWebb
Verlander
Ray
Hicks
Harrison
****************************
Birdsong
Roupp
Black
Beck
McDonald
Whisenhunt
Seymour
Ragsdale
Bertrand
There may be more, and those are just the SP options. Buster's got to test all these guys and see if they can perform in the Show or pretty much let them go. And that is just the collection of starting pitching. I have to figure that two or three of these guys end up ML-rotation quality.
In the IF, there's still the ongoing issue of Schmitt and Wisely. Need to either keep them or cut them. And now another Basabe.
In the OF, Matos is knocking on the door and I suspect will make the squad out of spring training as part of a RF platoon. Again, its sink-or-swim for him.
I suspect Luciano gets more time in AAA and will be learning corner OF; odds are by the second half he'll be tested again. By late season they'll likely need to test Hunter Bishop to see if his tools can finally translate. McCray may have a little more time but he didn't look entirely out of place in MLB last year.
All in all, I suspect this glut of high-AAA type players is causing Buster to pause to see what he actually has. The least depth appears to be in the IF (hence Basabe) and catching, and one could imagine more moves there. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise everyone and land Bregman for 2B and make Fitzgerald the new everywhere player. But most likely we're looking at Basabe-level transactions until at least mid-season.
I agree. I see it as Buster made prudent additions as positions that needed immediate upgrading the most. He can make more prudent additions with midseason trades or next Hot Stove League. At less critical positions he can take some time to evaluate what he already has within the organization. I would much rather he proceed this way than either trying to "fix it" all at once or doing a complete teardown.
DeleteAs it stands now, the Giants are $23 mil under the luxery tax according to cots contracts.. They'll have the payroll flexibility to make mid season trade acquisitions if they choose. As it stands their total 2026 payroll commitments add up to $122 mil according to cots. They'll have $ to spend on 2026 roster, so they'll be in a good place payroll wise.
DeleteDepth pieces are both, neither Basabe or Trivino is invited to ST
ReplyDeleteBasabe is on the 40-man roster and I am quite sure Trivino will be invited.
DeleteBrady Kloffer:
Delete"Bryce Eldridge, Carson Whisenhunt highlight Giants non-roster invitees"
Left-handed pitchers (8)
Raymond Burgos
Miguel Del Pozo
Antonio Jimenez
Joey Lucchesi
Helcris Olivarez
Enny Romero
Ethan Small
Carson Whisenhunt
Right-handed pitchers (6)
Miguel Diaz
Justin Garza
Juan Mercedes
Joel Peguero
Kai-Wei Teng
Cole Waites
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2025/2/7/24361091/giants-spring-training-non-roster-invitees-bryce-eldridge-carson-whisenhunt