With a suddenly fuller rotation, a rejuvenated clubhouse and a month left, the Giants are getting their biggest free agent back.
Gearing up for a playoff push, the Giants activated Mitch Haniger from the 60-day injured list. He’d been sidelined since June 13 since fracturing his right forearm.
Haniger, 32, joined the Giants this winter on a three-year, $43.5 million deal. He’s only appeared in 40 games so far, but helping San Francisco crash into the postseason party would serve as well-earned amnesia.
“Nothing has changed on our evaluation of Mitch Haniger,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Middle of the order bat, has a chance to be great against lefties and righties. Not far removed from a 40-home run season and All-Star caliber play. He’s had a rough start to his Giants career, but there’s no reason that the final chapter of his season can’t be a great one.”
Haniger is slashing .230/.281/.372 on the season, but was starting to heat up before he got injured. He hit 39 home runs in 2021, but has dealt with a plethora of flukey injuries since.
Still, the talent is there. And a Giants offense that has sunk toward the bottom of the league could use any injection of power.
“It’s big,” Haniger said. “Excited to be back out there in a playoff race, just help the team win. Been looking forward to it for a while.”
The Giants are also expecting Mike Yastrzemski back, most likely for the Wednesday series finale, which makes SF’s outfield almost whole. Michael Conforto (hamstring) is on the IL but expected back before the season’s end.
To make room for Haniger on the roster, the Giants optioned Heliot Ramos and designated Bryce Johnson for assignment.
Haniger won’t be limited in the field, but said he’s planning to wear extra protection on his right arm. Although he went 1-for-17 in five rehab assignment games, he said his timing feels right.
Before Tuesday’s game, Haniger crushed several batting practice home runs. He’s hitting cleanup against the Reds and left-handed starter Brandon Williamson.
- Tyler Rogers reached 200 career strikeouts when he fanned Spencer Steer on Monday night. Earlier in the week, his brother hit the 500-strikeout milestone.
- A massive swath of high-profile players got released on Tuesday, headlined by Lucas Giolito, Mike Clevinger, Hunter Renfroe, Harrison Bader, and Carlos Carrasco.
Waiver claim priority will be decided by reverse order in standings on Thursday. A name to watch for the Giants: reliever Matt Moore, who has a 2.08 ERA over the past two seasons and could fit right into SF’s pitching strategy.
- The Giants will need to make another roster decision when they activate Yastrzemski off the IL, but rosters do expand from 26 to 28 on Sept. 1.