SF Giants lose speedy outfielder on waivers to the Los Angeles Angels

On Wednesday, the SF Giants lost a speedy outfielder on waivers. The Los Angeles Angels claimed Wade Meckler, per the team's transaction log.

SF Giants lose speedy outfielder on waivers to the Los Angeles Angels

It marked the second time the Giants have lost an outfielder on waivers this week. On Monday, Joey Wiemer was claimed by the Washington Nationals. For now, Justin Dean is the only Giants player on the waiver wire. There is a chance that he sneaks through waivers and remains with the organization.

Both Meckler and Wiemer were stuck in limbo due to the holidays. When a player is placed on waivers, his status is usually resolved within 10 days. However, there is often a pause on the waiver wire during the holidays.

The Giants have already seen some turnover from their outfield unit this offseason. Meckler, Wiemer, Dean, and Marco Luciano have all been designated for assignment. With the exception of Dean, the remainder of that group have found new homes.

Meckler was originally an eighth-round pick by the Giants in the 2022 draft out of Oregon State University. He had a meteoric rise through the minors in the following year, which culminated with a major league promotion.

That promotion seemed aggressive, and it turned out to be his only stint with the Giants. He posted a .578 OPS in 64 plate appearances. This included a surprisingly high 39.1 percent strikeout rate. The strength in Meckler's profile was contact skills, but that did not translate during his brief debut.

Over the past couple of seasons, the 25-year-old's development had been slowed by injuries. Plus, the Giants tried to expand his versatility to center field and second base, but neither one worked out. Without much power upside and likely limited to the corner outfield spots, there is a narrow path for Meckler to carve out a major league role. He needs to hit, and hit a lot to stick.

That said, Meckler now joins an Angels team that only won 72 games in 2025. They could certainly use more outfield depth. Following the addition of Meckler, there are now six outfielders listed on their 40-man roster. This includes Jorge Soler and Mike Trout. Soler is best suited for DH duties, and Trout has only appeared in over 100 games just twice in the past five seasons.

There could be an opportunity for Meckler to compete for a spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster. He generally hit well in spring training with the Giants, and could return to the majors with a strong camp in 2026.