SF Giants Promote Luis Alexander Basabe, Option Daniel Robertson

The SF Giants promoted outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe on Tuesday and optioned infielder Daniel Robertson to the alternate site in Sacramento.

Prior to the start of their series against the Seattle Mariners, the SF Giants promoted outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe to their active roster. To clear a spot for Basabe, they optioned utilityman Daniel Robertson to the organization’s alternate site in Sacramento.

The Giants acquired Basabe for cash from the Chicago White Sox prior to the trade deadline. Once a consensus top-100 prospect, Basabe remains a toolsy outfielder with some projection. For the Giants right now, he offers above-average to plus defense in the outfield corners. His defensive versatility is especially valuable since right fielder Austin Slater is limited to DHing while he works back from an elbow injury.

Aside from a defensive substitution during a Giants doubleheader earlier this season, Basabe has never played above Double-A. In seven professional seasons, the 23-year old has posted a .248/.345/.398 line with 40 triples, 44 home runs, and an impressive 12.1 percent walk rate.

Robertson, another deadline acquisition, shares Basabe’s top-100 prospect pedigree, but has a more extensive big-league resume. With sporadic playing time over the past four seasons, Robertson has produced a .231/.340/.350 triple-slash in 846 plate appearances.

While Robertson has played some left field, he’s a stronger defensive infielder (capable of playing shortstop, third base, and second base). With Mauricio Dubon on the active roster capable of serving a similar role, a stronger defensive outfielder like Basabe makes more sense until Slater can handle the field again.

Basabe’s best ability at the plate is to work long at-bats. His patient approach tends to come with some punchouts but there is some above-average raw power as well. It’s never consistently shown up in games, but it’s given Basabe some exciting highlights. In perhaps the signature moment of Basabe’s career, he homered off Cincinnati Reds prospect Hunter Greene at the Futures Game.

Once Slater can handle right again, Basabe will probably be optioned in favor of Robertson. However, given Slater and Alex Dickerson‘s injury issues, Basabe may have a longer stay than currently scheduled.