SF Giants activate Alex Wood, option Sammy Long, and DFA Chadwick Tromp

The SF Giants activated starting pitcher Alex Wood off the COVID-19 IL on Saturday. Wood had been out since August 26th, when he first tested positive for the virus. Wood, who refused to disclose his vaccination status in conversations with reporters, which likely means he’s unvaccinated, struggled with a moderately severe case of the virus. To readd Wood to the roster, the Giants optioned southpaw Sammy Long and designated catcher Chadwick Tromp for assignment.

SF Giants LHP Alex Wood returned to the rotation on Saturday.

The Giants signed Wood to a one-year, $3 million contract that included several incentives based on appearances and innings pitched. While his bout with COVID-19 will likely prevent him from reaching some of the highest incentives, he’s still been a fantastic member of the Giants rotation. In 23 starts this season, Wood has completed 125.2 innings, racked up 135 strikeouts, and recorded a 4.08 ERA.

The SF Giants optioned LHP Sammy Long and DFA’d Chadwick Tromp.

Long has been one of the best stories of the Giants season. Signed as a minor league free agent last offseason, the Bay Area-native had a breakout spring training and dominated his way through the upper minor leagues. Long has struggled in a limited big-league sample this year (5.53 ERA in 40.2 innings pitched), but he ranks among the ten-best prospects in the organization, according to ATF’s latest rankings.

Tromp was signed as a minor league free agent before the 2020 season and was thrust into the everyday job after Buster Posey opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. Tromp flashed some power and played solid defense behind the plate but hit just .213/.219/.426 with four home runs in 64 plate appearances and was eventually pushed into a backup job by top prospect Joey Bart. With Posey back in the fold this season, alongside offseason signing Curt Casali, Tromp split time at Triple-A with Bart and hit just .224/.265/.380 in the hitter-friendly Triple-A West. He’ll now go through waivers where any other organization could claim him.

The SF Giants will readd Alex Wood to their rotation on Saturday but had to option lefty Sammy Long and DFA catcher Chadwick Tromp to do it.