SF Giants designate reliever for assignment in series of roster moves

The Angel Rondón era with the SF Giants might be over before it ever began as the right-handed reliever was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Tommy La Stella was activated from the COVID list, whereas Gregory Santos was optioned back to Triple-A.

SF Giants designate reliever for assignment in series of roster moves

The Giants needed to create space on the 40-man roster to bring back La Stella. Given that he was on the COVID list, he was not taking up a spot on the 40-man roster.

The Giants have added a lot of pitching depth to the organization recently with many taking up room on the 40-man roster. As players return to health, the front office hopes that they can sneak a player like Rondón through waivers.

In six minor league seasons, the righty has registered a 3.36 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, and a 2.62 SO/W ratio. This includes 1.2 scoreless frames that he tallied with the Sacramento River Cats before being placed on waivers.

This is the second time that Rondón has been designated for assignment this month and he has to be wondering what he has done wrong. In a very small sample of seven innings with the St. Louis Cardinals, he has not allowed an earned run on two hits, four walks, and five strikeouts.

The Giants welcomed back Tommy La Stella, who had missed the last two weeks on the COVID list. This has been a tough season for the veteran infielder as he has struggled to stay on the field.

La Stella underwent Achilles surgery in the offseason and returned in the middle of May. That said, it was evident that he was not fully healthy as the Giants rarely played him in the field. The good news is that he saw some time at second base in his three-game rehab assignment with the River Cats.

The left-handed bat is slashing .241/.281/.375 (83 OPS+) with two home runs, 11 RBI, and 13 runs in 121 plate appearances with the Giants in 2022. This includes a five percent walk rate against a 14.9 percent strikeout rate.

To make room on the active roster, Gregory Santos was optioned back to Triple-A. He allowed two earned runs in two innings in his lone appearance with the Giants since being recalled over the weekend.