Breaking down Giants' flurry of roster moves in wake of trade deadline

San Francisco Chronicle​

9 hours ago

NEW YORK — After moving three longtime regulars at the trade deadline Wednesday and Thursday, the San Francisco Giants had to do a little bit of roster shuffling Friday before their game at Citi Field.
Up came outfielder Grant McCray, taking right fielder Mike Yastrzemski's spot; McCray was on the bench to start the game against the Mets. Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng also was promoted from Triple-A Sacramento and will start Saturday's game. José Buttó, acquired in the deal that sent reliever Tyler Rogers to the Mets, also joined the team, and infielder Christian Koss, who'd been out with a hamstring strain, came off the injured list and replaced Brett Wisely.
McCray, 24, is a left-handed hitter, so conceivably he could get the bulk of at-bats if in a platoon with Luis Matos, who started Friday night against lefty David Peterson with McCray on the bench. San Francisco faces right-handers Kodai Senga and Frankie Montas on Saturday and Sunday. 'Could be some sort of split,' manager Bob Melvin said. 'We'll see how it goes.'
McCray hit .202 with five homers, 56 strikeouts and six walks in 37 games with the Giants last year, but he looked like a strong roster possibility after hitting .294 and scoring 10 runs in 34 at-bats in March, swiping five bases in that time.
'I mean, it's a little frustrating,' McCray said. 'I thought I was going to make the team out of camp, but that's not my decision. I've still got to handle my job, handle my business, come to the field ready to play. And I'm not one of those guys who's going to dwell on it and be like, 'Oh, poor me.' I want to play, so if I'm not going to play here, then I'll play in Sac.'
McCray's currently ranked the Giants' No. 13 prospect, according to Baseball America, and he brings the team a speed element they've had little of since Tyler Fitzgerald was demoted, especially with Koss on the IL.
'I've been paying attention to that, I've seen that we haven't really been as aggressive on the bases,' McCray said, 'I really would love to be the guy that can spark that.'
Teng, 26, gave up 15 hits and 12 runs in 11 innings with San Francisco last year, but he's been solid at Sacramento this season, with a 3.67 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 54 innings. He was particularly impressive in July, with an 0.52 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 17⅓ innings, plus a WHIP of 0.81 and an opposing average against of .119.
'He's throwing strikes,' Melvin said. 'His breaking stuff's always been really good, he's commanded his fastball a lot better, and he's throwing the breaking ball for strikes and getting ahead. He's always had good stuff.'
'Kai-Wei's been really polished this year,' McCray said. 'Last year he had a tough go. This year he's come back and his stuff looks electric. Honestly, watching him from center field has been fun.'
Teng hasn't made a start since July 13. His last time out at Sacramento was 1⅔ innings in relief, but that was only because the Giants had considered bringing him up for the appearance that went instead to Carson Whisenhunt. 'We were keeping our options open,' Melvin said.
Koss hit .409 in 22 at-bats during his rehab assignment, and he'd just started heating up at the plate when he was injured, hitting .310 in June with San Francisco.
Several players obtained in the Giants' trades this week could be considerations at some point, including right-hander Blade Tidwell and outfielder Drew Gilbert, who came over from the Mets in the Tyler Rogers deal, and catcher Jesus Rodriguez, who was one of the four players the Yankees sent in exchange for Camilo Doval. All are currently on Sacramento's roster.
An offensive-minded catcher such as Rodriguez is exactly what the Giants need if he can hit at the big-league level. Giants catchers are batting a league-low .201 with five homers, tied for worst in the majors.
'There's a lot to like,' Melvin said of Rodriguez. 'He's hit everywhere he's been. He's got a good throwing arm. … I don't think anything's out of the question.'