After trading away Camilo Doval and Mike Yastrzemski on Thursday at the MLB trade deadline, the San Francisco Giants needed to add a pair of players to their roster before beginning a new series on Friday night against the New York Mets. And it wasn’t exactly a secret as to who those players would be, as center fielder Grant McCray and right-handed pitcher Kai-Wei Teng were both scratched from AAA Sacramento’s lineup on Thursday.
And indeed, McCray and Teng are here. On Friday the Giants made the news
official, calling up McCray (who was on the 40-man roster) and purchasing the contract of Teng (who was not).
For McCray, a 24-year old, it’s his first taste of the big leagues this season, after playing 37 games in his debut season last year. He had a brilliant Spring Training and made a push for the Opening Day roster, but then was ice cold in AAA to start the year. He’s quietly been turning his season around, and has slashed .260/.338/.430 with a 100 wRC+ and 26 stolen bases in 29 attempts. He’s an easy replacement for Yastrzemski given that they’re both left-handed, but it’s unclear how the Giants will use McCray. Will he slot in as a fourth outfielder who fills in here and there, or will he be the strong side of a right field platoon with Luis Matos, as Yastrzemski was? We’ll have to wait for an answer, as the Giants are facing a left-handed pitcher on Friday, with Matos getting the start.
As for Teng, it’s the continuation of a great story and a brilliant season. The 26 year old was added to the roster prior to the 2024 season, but had an awful year in AAA, and an equally awful short stint in the Majors. He was designated for assignment in the offseason, but re-signed to a Minor League deal. And he’s completely turned things around this year, as he’s been one of the very best pitchers in the Pacific Coast League, with a 3.67 ERA, a 2.94 FIP, and a staggering 86 strikeouts in just 54 innings. After starting the year as a reliever he recently returned to the rotation and has shined. Since June 26, Teng has made five appearances (four starts) and thrown 21.1 innings, allowing just seven hits, 10 walks, and one earned run, while striking out 39 batters.
With the Giants down a pair of starters — Landen Roupp is on the IL and Hayden Birdsong has been optioned — the Giants are bringing up Teng to be a starter, and he’ll take the mound for the first inning on Saturday. Carson Whisenhunt will start on Sunday, and presumably those two will have a competition to see who stays in the rotation when Roupp returns.
In addition to Teng and McCray, the Giants announced that right-handed reliever José Buttó had reported to the roster, rounding out the 26-player squad. Buttó was acquired from the Mets — the team the Giants face today — in the Tyler Rogers trade; since he was on the roster and out of options, the Giants had to add him to the active roster.
Infielder Christian Koss also joined the Giants in Queens, though he’s just on the taxi squad.
And finally, Bob Melvin revealed the obvious: with Camilo Doval gone, Randy Rodríguez is now the Giants closer.
A lot of changes!
More from mccoveychronicles.com:
