Aaron Sanchez is also back.
The Mike Tauchman era is over for the San Francisco Giants. Ahead of Thursday’s finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants designated the outfielder for assignment. The move was made to make room on the roster for shortstop Brandon Crawford, who returns off the 10-day Injured List.
The Giants also reinstated RHP Aaron Sanchez off the 60-day IL, and optioned RHP John Brebbia.
ROSTER MOVES: IF Brandon Crawford reinstated from the 10-day Injured List.
RHP Aaron Sanchez returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the 60-day Injured List.
RHP John Brebbia optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
OF Mike Tauchman designated for assignment.
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 29, 2021
Tauchman was acquired earlier in the season in a trade with the New York Yankees, with the Giants sending LHP Wandy Peralta and prospect Connor Cannon to New York. The lefty outfielder had some incredible moments with the Giants, including a grand slam and a home run robbery that might be the best play of the season for the team.
But he struggled mightily with the bat, hitting just .178/.286/.283 in 175 plate appearances, with just 8 extra-base hits and a 29.7% strikeout rate.
Tauchman is a sensational defensive player, and still just two years removed from a season in which he hit .277/.361/.504, so it’s safe to say the Giants are hoping they can squeeze him through waivers and reassign him to AAA Sacramento where he can provide depth for the team.
To his credit, Tauchman seemed to take the impending DFA in stride.
Giants DFA’d Mike Tauchman, who seemed to know it was coming because he changed his walkup music to “The Final Countdown” last night.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 29, 2021
Back comes Crawford, an All-Star this year and one of the Giants best hitters. Thairo Estrada did a strong job in Crawford’s absence, but the lineup will certainly look different with DJ BC RAW back in it.
Brebbia was odd out of the bullpen, with a 6.60 ERA and 4.42 FIP, but 16 strikeouts to just 2 walks in 15 innings. It will be nice to see Sanchez again, after he had a 3.18 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 6 starts before being injured. With the Giants currently running a rotation of Kevin Gausman, Alex Wood, Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, and Johnny Cueto, and recently welcoming back Sammy Long, it’s unclear whether Sanchez will work out of the bullpen or kick someone out of the rotation.