SF Giants and Oakland A's connect for rare trade

The SF Giants and Oakland A's connected for a trade on Wednesday morning. Transactions between these two teams just do not happen everyday. The Giants announced that they have acquired outfielder Cal Stevenson in exchange for cash from the A's.

SF Giants and Oakland A's connect for rare trade

Stevenson had been designated for assignment by the A's last week, so the move places him on the 40-man roster for San Francisco. To make room on the roster, lefty pitcher Sam Long was designated for assignment.

The Giants and A's just do not make trades often. In the last 25 years, Skye Bolt, Burch Smith, and Adam Pettyjohn are the only names to shuttle between teams. Stevenson now joins that list. Remember this fine day.

Stevenson was selected in the 10th round of the 2018 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays out of the University of Nevada - Reno. He was involved in a pair of trades that sent him to the Houston Astros and then the A's.

The left-handed bat has hit at every minor league stop thus far. He has slashed .294/.409/.420 with a fantastic 16.3 percent walk rate against a 15.2 percent strikeout rate in five minor league seasons. This includes a solid .811 OPS in two years at Triple-A.

The outfield prosect debut in 2022 and registered a rough .478 OPS in 71 plate appearances. The walk rate (11.3 percent) was still solid, but this came with a very high strikeout rate (32.4 percent).

The Giants are thin on center field depth on the 40-man roster, but Stevenson has good speed and a strong arm to go along with a lot of experience at the position. The question is, will he be able to hit enough to stick in the majors. The Giants will wait to find out the answer as he was optioned to Triple-A following the trade.

Unfortunately, Sam Long was placed on waivers. The Giants signed the 26-year-old to a minor league deal prior to the 2021 season. He registered a 4.55 ERA, 4.66 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, and a 2.45 SO/W ratio across two seasons with the Giants.

It was clear that Long had fallen down the depth chart with additions like Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck to the 40-man roster this past winter. The Giants will have 10 days to work out a trade or try to pass him through waivers.