The San Francisco Giants made a flurry of roster moves on Monday evening, protecting four prospects from being available in the upcoming Rule 5 draft.
General manager Bobby Evans and the Giants’ front office added pitching prospects Tyler Beede, Tyler Herb and D.J. Snelten as well as catcher Aramis Garcia to the 40-man roster, while designating two other players for assignment.
The Giants designated a pair of infielders, Orlando Calixte and Micah Johnson for assignment, and lost former Minnesota Twins’ infielder Engelb Vielma to the Philadelphia Phillies via a waiver claim. Pitcher Dan Slania, who made his Major League debut in 2017, was outrighted to AAA Sacramento.
All of the roster moves came down on Monday evening ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline for teams to finalize their 40-man rosters before the Rule 5 Draft, which will take place on December 14 in Orlando.
Beede was the Giants’ first round draft choice in 2014, and was on the cusp of making his Major League debut this year before a groin injury wiped out the final two months of his season. Beede represented the Giants in the Arizona Fall League, registering 16.0 innings over four starts and finishing with a 4.50 ERA. The Vanderbilt product is considered the Giants’ top pitching prospect, and could work his way onto the 25-man roster early next season.
Garcia was the Giants’ second round selection in 2014, and has yet to advance past AA Richmond. After spending most of the 2017 season with A-San Jose, Garcia received a call-up to AA where he hit .282 with an on-base percentage of .360. Because the Giants don’t have much catching depth in their farm system, it’s possible Garcia could begin the 2017 campaign with AAA Sacramento.
Herb was acquired in the Giants’ trade of Chris Heston, and pitched in 10 games for AA Richmond during the second half of the 2017 season. In 10 starts, Herb compiled a 3.72 ERA while striking out 48 batters over 65.1 innings of work.
Snelten is a left-handed reliever who pitched in 36 games for AAA Sacramento last season, posting a 2.42 ERA in 52 innings of work. After beginning his Minor League career as a starter, the Giants’ ninth round draft choice in 2013 has found more success coming out of the bullpen.
The Rule 5 Draft allows franchises to select players who are not on a team’s 40-man roster and add those players to a 25-man roster for the entirety of the upcoming regular season. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Rule 5 draft, and if that player does not stay with a team for a full season, the player must be offered back to his original franchise for a fee of $50,000.