Melvin explains why Giants cut unclaimed Estrada from roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — It was a surprise when the Giants placed Thairo Estrada on waivers earlier this week. But Friday’s move may have been even more shocking.
Estrada came through waivers, but instead of letting him go as they did with left-hander Tyler Matzek, the Giants sent the second baseman to Triple-A Sacramento. A potential building block a year ago, Estrada will now spend the next month in Triple-A with seemingly little chance of making it back before the end of the year. He was cut from the 40-man roster and the Giants plan to look at younger options in the major leagues.
“Look, he’s had a tough time this year with his hand and wrist (injuries) and hasn’t performed like he has in the past,” manager Bob Melvin said before Friday’s game. “I think it’s more about trying to give some (other) guys some opportunities and the fact that maybe the performance wasn’t there. I mean, it’s hard not to like Thairo. He’s a great guy and plays hard every day, he never makes excuses, he’s a great Giant. Unfortunately, this is the decision we made.”
Estrada batted just .217 in his fourth year with San Francisco. Among players with at least 300 plate appearances, his on-base percentage (.247) was the fourth-lowest and his OPS (.590) was the fifth-lowest. Taking him off the active roster made perfect sense, but some in the locker room were mystified as to why the Giants didn’t just let him go and give him a chance to play elsewhere in September.
The organization has clearly made up its mind about Estrada’s long-term future. He is arbitration-eligible this offseason, and there was little doubt even before Friday’s move that Estrada would not be tendered. He has likely played his last game in orange and black, though he will play for the organization’s Triple-A affiliate for the next month.
Meanwhile, Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely will split time at second base. San Francisco could also call up Marco Luciano when rosters expand on Sunday, though Melvin said those discussions haven’t happened yet.
“Right now it’s the guys we have here now,” he said. “We’ll see what it looks like if we can add another player in September.”
Schmitt was in the lineup Friday after hitting just twice in the past 12 days. The Giants are hoping one of their young second basemen can emerge in the final month of the season. It’s a position they never expected after the way Estrada has played the past three seasons.
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