SF Giants claim right-handed reliever from the Oakland A's

The SF Giants have quietly had a busy week so far. Lost in the shuffle was that they added right-handed reliever Devin Sweet from the Oakland A's, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants claim right-handed reliever from the Oakland A's

The Giants had 37 players on the 40-man roster at the end of last week. They quickly filled up the remaining spots by claiming Sweet, signing Tom Murphy, and trading for T.J. Hopkins.

The 40-man roster is always a fluid part of the organization, so this does not preclude them from making other moves. More than likely, they will try to sneak someone on their 40-man roster through waivers.

One name that will likely be moved before the start of the season is Joey Bart after the Murphy addition. There is no room for Bart given that he does not have any minor league options remaining. There are other vulnerable spots, but that one is the most notable.

For now, Sweet joins the Giants' 40-man roster. He was originally an undrafted free agent signed by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 out of North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. It is possible that he crossed paths with several Giants players from that area including Patrick Bailey, Will Wilson, and Nick Swiney among others.

Sweet came up as a starter, but he has transitioned to the bullpen over the past couple of years. Across five minor league seasons, the 27-year-old pitcher has tallied a 3.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, and a 4.10 SO/W ratio.

Despite only having nine innings of experience in Triple-A, Sweet did briefly appear for the Mariners in 2023. He recorded just two outings with the Mariners before he was sent back down. Seattle placed him on waivers at the end of the season where he was claimed by the pitcher-needy A's.

In his brief stint with Oakland, Sweet yielded eight earned runs across 6.2 innings. In total, he allowed 10 earned runs across 8.2 frames split between the Mariners and A's. On the mound, he flashes a low 90's fastball with a slider and a changeup. The changeup has late, downward movement as it reaches the plate and has proven to be a tough offering against opposing hitters.

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