SF Giants lose veteran outfielder in waiver claim to Miami Marlins

Veteran outfielder Derek Hill will be wearing a different uniform for the third time this season. The SF Giants placed him on waivers earlier this week, but he will now be joining the Miami Marlins following a waiver claim.

SF Giants lose veteran outfielder in waiver claim to Miami Marlins

The Marlins traded away much of their roster before the deadline at the end of July. They shipped away A.J. Puk, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Josh Bell, Tanner Scott, Bryan Hoeing, Bryan De La Cruz, Trevor Rogers, and J.T. Chargois. They also released veteran infielder Tim Anderson earlier in the month.

They have a lot of openings on the both the active and 40-man roster. Not surprisingly, the Marlins have been aggressive on the waiver wire, adding Hill, John McMillon, and Cristian Pache. At this point in time, they just need warm bodies to fill out the roster.

This could present a nice opportunity for someone like Hill. The speedy outfielder was originally a first-round pick by the Detroit Tigers out of Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, in the 2014 draft. He was considered one of the organization's better prospects and debuted with the club in 2020.

However, Hill was unable to put it together as he struggled to the tune of a .630 OPS in parts of three seasons with the Tigers. He appeared briefly with the Washington Nationals in 2023 before joining the Texas Rangers organization this season.

The 28-year-old outfielder put together solid numbers with Texas, slashing .256/.289/.465 with three home runs, five RBI, and five runs in 45 plate appearances. Despite this, the Rangers put him on waivers where he was claimed by San Francisco.

During his five-game time with the club, Hill collected three hits, including a triple, with two RBI in 12 at-bats.

Similar to many of the Giants' recent waiver claims, Hill was out of minor league options, so he did not have the roster flexibility that the team prefers with bench players. The Giants made a handful of trades at the deadline, including a last-minute deal for veteran outfielder Mark Canha. That move bumped Hill off of the roster as he was placed on waivers once Canha was activated.

Hill now joins a Marlins team that is one of the worst in baseball with a 41-70 overall record. That is not necessarily an enviable spot to play, but there could be some at-bats available for the veteran hitter.