SF Giants lose speedy infielder in trade with the Toronto Blue Jays

Tyler Fitzgerald's foray on waivers reached a conclusion on Saturday. The Toronto Blue Jays announced that they have acquired the former SF Giants infielder for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A.

SF Giants lose speedy infielder in trade with the Toronto Blue Jays

The Giants designated Fitzgerald for assignment at the end of March to make room for newly-acquired pitcher Dylan Smith. That was not the only move they made that day. They also shipped Luis Matos to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations.

Matos did not make the Opening Day roster and was out of options, so he was placed on waivers. Prior to the move, the Giants were aware that the odds of the former top outfield prospect clearing waivers were low, and that turned out to be true.

The Giants originally drafted Fitzgerald in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of the University of Louisville. Two rounds before that, they selected fellow teammate Logan Wyatt in the second round.

As has been the case for much of the past 15 years, the Giants have not realized much value from their drafts. Grant McCray (third round), Caleb Kilian (eighth round), and Trevor McDonald (11th round) are the remaining players from that draft. In the case of Kilian, he was shipped to the Chicago Cubs in 2021, along with Alexander Canario, for 2016 MVP Kris Bryant. Kilian made his way back to San Francisco as a minor league free agent in the winter.

For a brief moment, it looked like the Giants found an excellent value in the fourth round. Of course, this was during a torrid July in 2024, when Fitzgerald posted a 1.239 OPS with eight home runs and 15 RBI in 59 plate appearances. This included recording a home run in five straight games. It was an unbelievable stretch.

Overall, the right-handed bat finished that year with an .831 OPS, 15 home runs, and 34 RBI in 341 plate appearances. He shifted over to second base in 2025, and began that season as an everyday player. However, he was unable to replicate his 2024 numbers, as he struggled to a .606 OPS in 243 plate appearances.

Fitzgerald finished the season in Triple-A. He entered this year lower on the depth chart and struggled to a .563 OPS in 38 plate appearances during the Cactus League before being optioned back to Triple-A. He now joins a Blue Jays club that nearly overtook the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series last fall.