With less than two weeks until April 8 Opening Day, the Giants have some decisions to make. But with their latest move, they could be telegraphing where they might be leaning on certain roster spots: prioritizing players without any options left.
San Francisco on Monday morning optioned both Heliot Ramos and Sean Hjelle. The talented outfielder and pitcher, respectively, were considered fringe options for the Opening Day 28-man roster, but now are likely out of the equation. Ramos and Hjelle both have three options remaining and will still likely contribute to the big league club in 2022.
Optioned players remain on a team’s 40-man roster. The Giants also reassigned catchers Patrick Bailey and Ricardo Genovés to minor league camp, but that’s more of a procedural move. SF now has 49 players, including 15 non-roster invitees, in its spring training camp.
Ramos, the Giant’s first round pick in the 2017 draft, has been one of SF’s most exciting prospects for years. The 22-year-old hit .272 with four home runs in 54 Triple-A games in 2021. Especially with an outfield overloaded with left-handed hitters, the Giants should bring the toolsy right-handed Ramos up for his debut this year.
Hjelle, meanwhile, is among San Francisco’s most MLB-ready pitching prospects who haven’t debuted yet. The 6-foot-11 righty spent about half of last year in Sacramento, where he posted a 5.74 ERA — over two runs higher than his Double-A mark. Hjelle’s frame makes him tough for hitters to pick up, and the organization is excited for what he could become with more consistent strike-throwing.
In optioning Ramos and Hjelle, the Giants could be signaling a preference of players without options left — Mauricio Dubón, Thairo Estrada and Tyler Beede — who would be subject for waivers if they don’t make the 28-man roster.
Every team will have expanded rosters, from 26 to 28, for the first month of the season. Most teams will use at least one of the additional two slots on a pitcher, given the difficulties of ramping up arms with the abbreviated spring training.
For the Giants, Opening Day roster battles appear to be surfacing in the outfield, at second base, and in the bullpen.
With Ramos now optioned, the outfielders that will be on the Opening Day roster include Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr., Darin Ruf, Joc Pederson and Austin Slater. With the designated hitter, as well as Ruf’s versatility, the Giants could want to add an extra outfielder, which at this point would be Steven Duggar.
But since Duggar has an option remaining, the Giants could look elsewhere and bring him up when the need arises. At second base, Tommy La Stella has been rehabbing with the hope of being ready for Opening Day, but he still needs to play in a spring game to prove he’s healthy enough to start the year off the injured list. Wilmer Flores, an Opening Day roster lock, plays third, second and first, and Dubón and Estrada should make the team too since they’re out of options — if the roster has space.
And for pitchers, Hjelle is out of the running but a large group of arms are still bidding for a spot. Beede, who has struggled in the spring two years removed from Tommy John surgery, is out of options. Former All-Star Carlos Martínez is on a minor league contract but could opt out if he doesn’t make the 28-man roster. The Giants signed Jakob Junis to compete for a spot. Sam Long has multi-inning potential and Kervin Castro didn’t allow a run in his MLB cameo last fall.
Depending on how things shake up, SF could be choosing two pitchers from that group. But with Ramos and Hjelle optioned to the minors now, there are two fewer choices to make.
Opening Day 28-man roster projection
C: Curt Casali, Joey Bart
1B: Brandon Belt
2B: Tommy La Stella, Thairo Estrada, Mauricio Dubón
SS: Brandon Crawford
3B: Evan Longoria, Wilmer Flores
OF: Mike Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf, LaMonte Wade Jr., Austin Slater, Joc Pederson
SP: Logan Webb, Carlos Rodón, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, Alex Cobb
RP: Jake McGee, Camilo Doval, Dominic Leone, Tyler Rogers, Jarlin García, José Álvarez, Zack Littell, Kervin Castro
Fighting for last roster spot: Steven Duggar, Carlos Martínez, Sam Long, John Brebbia, Tyler Beede, Jakob Junis