SF Giants ship former Guardians, Red Sox reliever to the Mets in minor trade

The SF Giants completed a minor move on Saturday. They sent 31-year-old reliever to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

SF Giants ship former Guardians, Red Sox reliever to the Mets in minor trade

Garza did not occupy a spot on the Giants' 40-man roster, so he would not be immediately added to the Mets' roster unless they choose. The Giants originally signed Garza to a minor league deal in 2024, but this did not include a camp invite that spring.

The right-handed reliever spent the entire 2024 campaign in the Giants' organization, posting a 3.60 ERA in 39 appearances split across two levels. Most of his workload last season came with the River Cats, but he completed two rehab outings with the San Jose Giants as well.

Garza was selected in the eighth round of the 2015 draft by the Guardians out of California State University at Fullerton. He has put together respectable numbers as a pro, recording a 4.59 ERA across nine minor league seasons.

The veteran reliever debuted with the Guardians in 2021 and registered a 4.71 ERA in 21 outings. He had a brief stint with the Boston Red Sox after being claimed off waivers in 2023. Overall, he has pitched to a 5.74 ERA in 47 innings in the majors, split between the Guardians and Red Sox.

The Giants did give Garza a camp invite this spring, but the odds of him making the club were low, and he was among the first wave of roster cuts. He was assigned to Sacramento, but struggled to the tune of a 6.11 ERA in 19 outings before being shipped to the Mets.

The Giants have a lot of pitching depth on the major league roster, and in the upper minors. Plus, the pitching staff has thrown the ball well this season. There just are not many opportunities for a pitcher like Garza to carve out an opportunity with the Giants.

Garza's odds may not be any better with the Mets. The Giants' pitching staff is second in baseball with a 3.08 ERA. The only team ahead of them in that category is the Mets with a 2.87 ERA.