The Giants teamed up with their favorite trade partner to complete a deal, but it’s far from the blockbuster many expect less than 24 hours before the Aug. 1 deadline.
The Giants are acquiring veteran outfielder and 28-year-old utility man Mark Mathias from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later and cash considerations. Mathias was optioned to Triple-A.
Pollock, 35, is hitting .173 on the season. Mathias is batting .231 at the big-league level and got designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier in the season.
Jeff Passan was the first to report the news.
Pollock is in his 12th big league season. An All-Star with Arizona in 2015, the center fielder has posted a below average OPS+ in each of the past two seasons. He’s probably better suited for a corner outfield spot at this point given his age.
Giants starter Alex Wood played with Pollock when they were Dodgers. Pollock has remained friends with him, Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson.
“Awesome guy,” Wood said of Pollock. “Just a total pro, smart player. Been doing it a long time. Sounds like he was stuck in a not great situation playing center there…he’ll fit in great with our clubhouse.”
Mathias, who has three seasons of MLB experience, has slashed .299/.405/.427 at Triple-A this season. He’s been an average big-league hitter when given the chance. He’s primarily a second baseman and right fielder.
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and Farhan Zaidi have worked together on several deals over the past two seasons. At one point in 2022, the two clubs made three minor trades in rapid succession. One of them had pitching prospect Prelander Berroa going to Seattle for Donovan Walton, which was one of the worst deals the Giants have made under Zaidi.
Seattle appears to be in sell mode, having reportedly traded their closer, Paul Sewald, to the Diamondbacks earlier in the day.
The Giants have a 40-man roster spot vacant after they DFA’d Mauricio Llovera last week, so they could fit both Pollock and Mathias by sending out one player.
Seattle’s Ty France or Teoscar Hernandez would’ve been bigger swings for the Giants, but perhaps something of that magnitude is on the horizon.