SF Giants cut ties with veteran infielder after brief stint

The organizational trimming continued this week. The SF Giants have cut ties with veteran infielder Johan Camargo after a brief stint with the club last month, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants cut ties with veteran infielder after brief stint

The Giants signed Camargo to a minor league deal last month as they tried to find a way to muster more offense from the shortstop position. After two games with the Sacramento River Cats, his contract was selected.

The Giants stayed quiet at the trade deadline despite shortstop being an obvious need. Though, it was a need, there were few definitive upgrades moved at the trade deadline.

Brandon Crawford has struggled on both sides of the ball in 2023 while batting a pair of injuries, including a nagging hamstring strain. He has struggled to the tune of a .585 OPS with just six home runs in 298 plate appearances this season.

On the other hand, Casey Schmitt has seen a bit of time at shortstop as well. The rookie infielder has experienced plenty of the ups and downs that come with being a major league player in his first year in the majors. He has tallied a .558 OPS with just three home runs in 269 plate appearances.

Defensively, third base remains Schmitt's best position. However, the Giants have tried him out at shortstop and second base as well. He is capable of handling shortstop but has not graded out as a plus defender there.

Given Crawford and Schmitt's struggles at shortstop, the Giants added Camargo with the hopes of even being a marginal improvement on offense. The switch-hitter has recorded a .720 OPS across seven seasons, but even his .613 OPS with the Philadelphia Phillies last year would have represented a modest improvement from what the Giants have gotten from that position so far.

He tallied four hits in 18 at-bats before being placed on waivers, clearing, and accepting an assignment to Sacramento. The Giants replaced him with Paul Dejong, who became a free agent after a terrible run with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Camargo recorded just 10 hits in 47 at-bats with the River Cats before being released. Sacramento needed an extra roster spot after Marco Luciano and Raymond Burgos were activated from the injured list.