SF Giants: Veteran Reliever Clears Waivers, Sent to Triple-A

The SF Giants placed a veteran reliever on waivers last week and he passed through without being claimed.

Trevor Gott will remain with the organization after clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A, the SF Giants announced via Twitter on Friday.

SF Giants veteran reliever clears waivers, sent to Triple-A

Gott was originally traded to San Francisco in exchange for cash by the Washington Nationals in February of 2019. For years, the right-handed hurler flashed electric stuff that included a mid-90’s fastball with curveball, changeup, and slider, but he struggled to command his arsenal.

At first, the acquisition of Gott looked to be a shrewd addition by the Giants front office as he registered a 4.44 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.10 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, and a solid 3.35 SO/W ratio across 52.2 frames in 2019.

It looked like he was beginning to find that consistency that had eluded him earlier in his career, but the 2020 season was a different story. Last year, he converted his first four save opportunities, but hit a disastrous stretch where he yielded 11 earned runs in 1.1 innings while blowing two key saves.

He finished the year on the shelf with elbow inflammation, but not before he posted a 10.03 ERA in 11.2 innings. In fairness to Gott, his struggles were magnified in a pandemic-shortened season and he could have certainly rebounded if it were a normal season.

That said, the Giants did surprisingly tender Gott a contract for 2021 for $700,00 and they are still on the hook for a pro-rated portion of that salary.

It is not too surprising that Gott cleared waivers after he struggled so much in 2021, but the 28-year-old will remain with the organization for now. Team president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi was hoping that Gott would clear waivers so that they could retain him and help him rediscover the form that made him so effective in 2019 as Mark Sanchez of KNBR notes.

After a shortened, 60-game season in 2020, pitching depth will be tested in 2021. The Giants have added a bevy of veteran pitchers on minor-league deals in case the need arises and they are preparing for the need to eventually come. That could be good news for Gott if he performs in Triple-A, he might get another shot to pitch again at Oracle Park soon.