The Giants need to make a change, and it appears one is imminent.
According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, San Francisco is planning to make a swap of the struggling Hunter Pence for Mac Williamson, who is currently tearing things up with the team’s Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. Though nothing is official, Williamson is already on his way to Anaheim to join the team for their weekend series against the Angels. When the move is made official, Pence is expected to be placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained thumb.
Although unofficial for now, the Giants intend to place Pence on the 10-day disabled list because of the right thumb he sprained in the club’s home opener April 3. Hot-hitting outfielder Mac Williamson will join the Giants on Friday in Anaheim as the club begins a three-game interleague series, Bochy confirmed.
Bochy did not commit to Williamson being anything more than a taxi squad player on Friday. But from what I’ve been told, the club had every intention of activating him by Saturday at the latest and giving him a shot at regular playing time in left field.
Placing Pence on the DL is the easiest way for the Giants to make the swap right now, but they will soon have to make a long-term decision on what they are going to do with Pence, who currently has a slash line of .172/.197/.190 in 58 at-bats. Williamson is hitting an incredible .487/.600/1.026 with the River Cats.
“His $18 million salary aside, the Giants weren’t going to release Pence after all he’s done for the organization and because of the person he is,” Baggarly writes. “The least awkward solution was an injury.”