A day after the Giants’ premier offseason acquisition, Mark Melancon, blew his third save of the season, San Francisco activated former Rangers’ closer Sam Dyson.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic first reported the transaction on Friday afternoon.
The Giants acquired Dyson, who finished third in the American League with 38 saves in 2016, on Tuesday evening in a trade with Texas. After failing to convert on all four of his save chances this season, Dyson was designated for assignment as the franchise began looking for trade partners.
To make room for Dyson on the Giants’ 40-man roster, left-hander Madison Bumgarner was transferred to the 60-day disabled list earlier this week.
For Dyson to claim a spot on the team’s 25-man roster, San Francisco optioned rookie Orlando Calixte to Triple-A Sacramento.
Dyson nailed down 38-of-43 save opportunities and compiled a 2.43 earned run average for the Rangers in 2016 to help lead the club to an AL West title, but was not the same pitcher when the 2017 season began. Despite throwing five hitless innings in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA this spring, Dyson struggled at the outset of the year, posting a 1-6 record and a career-high 10.80 ERA.
The six-year MLB veteran joins the Giants with the hopes of getting his career back on track, and helping the team get its season back on track. At 25-37, the Giants began the day 14.0 games behind the first-place Colorado Rockies.
In eight games for the Giants this season, Calixte went 4-for-25 with three runs batted in and 10 strikeouts. Calixte also made two errors in left field, both of which came during the Giants’ series against the Brewers.
Melancon nearly cost the Giants a series split in Milwaukee by surrendering two ninth-inning runs, but worked his way out of a jam, and his teammates picked up the slack with a four-run 10th inning that helped San Francisco capture a 9-5 victory. Even though Dyson has experience closing games, Melancon’s role is not in jeopardy.