SF Giants swing a trade for a starting pitcher from the Guardians

With Anthony DeSclafani sustaining a season-ending ankle injury, the SF Giants swung a trade to acquire a starting pitcher on Thursday. Tobias Myers was shipped to San Francisco from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

SF Giants swing a trade for a starting pitcher from the Guardians

Myers was designated for assignment earlier in the week by the Guardians, so he has been added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Sacramento. To make room on the 40-man roster, DeSclafani was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

The Giants' newest acquisition was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of Winter Haven High School in Winter Haven, Florida. Since then, he has moved around quite a bit, going from the Orioles to the Tampa Bay Rays and then to Cleveland before landing in San Francisco.

In 2017, Myers was traded by the Orioles to the Rays in exchange for infielder Tim Beckham. Beckham was selected by the Rays with the first overall pick in 2008, which was five spots ahead of Buster Posey.

The 23-year-old pitcher has worked primarily as a pitcher as a pro. In six minor league seasons, he has registered a 3.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, and a 2.98 SO/W ratio. However, he has struggled to the tune of a 6.00 ERA in 14 starts for the Guardian's Triple-A affiliate in 2022.

Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs noted that Myers' fastball velocity dipped prior to the start of this season:

""He was coming off a season in which he looked like a plug-and-play backend starter, sitting 93 mph, commanding an average cutter, and flashing the occasional above-average changeup and curveball. This spring Myers came out with less velo again, and his fastball averaged just 87 mph during his first start, perhaps partly due to the chill of the northeast.""

Eric Longenhagen

The Giants had been running thin on starting pitching depth after the injuries to Anthony DeSclafani and Jakob Junis as well as the setback to Matthew Boyd, so the addition of Myers helps in that regard. The coaching staff will be tasked with helping Myers regain his fastball velocity and turn his season around.