SF Giants lose another player to the Baltimore Orioles in a waiver claim

For the second time this month, the SF Giants have lost a player to the Baltimore Orioles in a waiver claim. This time, it was veteran outfielder Daniel Johnson who was scooped up off waivers, according to the team's transaction log.

SF Giants lose another player to the Baltimore Orioles in a waiver claim

Carson Ragsdale was the other former Giants player picked up off waivers, in case you were wondering. He has completed three scoreless innings with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate since the transaction. It looks like Ragsdale is coming out of the bullpen for now, whereas he had been throwing out of the rotation for the Sacramento River Cats.

This Johnson move brings an end to his brief tenure with the organization. He joined the Giants on a minor league deal at the beginning of May. The left-handed bat began the year with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League. That team does have plenty of former major leaguers, including Armando Alvarez. Alvarez had a brief run with the Oakland A's in 2024, but played in the Giants organization in the previous season.

Johnson went on a tear at the plate in the Mexican League, hitting .429/.512/.943 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 41 plate appearances. That was enough to earn a deal with San Francisco.

The Giants added him to the active roster at the beginning of June. He notched a two-hit night in his first game with the Giants to help them secure a 6-5 win over the San Diego Padres.

The 30-year-old outfielder tallied five hits in 29 at-bats before being sent back down to Triple-A. With the River Cats, he was one of the better hitters in the lineup, slashing .278/.322/.519 (111 wRC+) with nine home runs, 32 RBI, and 30 runs in 199 plate appearances.

Following the trade deadline, the Giants had a surplus of outfielders on the 40-man roster. Unfortunately, many of them have not been playable on the major league roster. This led to Johnson being moved off the 40-man roster when the Giants selected Drew Gilbert's contract.

For Johnson, going to Baltimore will be a return to familiar territory. He spent the 2024 season with the organization, most of which came in Triple-A.

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