After a storied six seasons with the Giants – including being an integral member of the 2014 World Series team – Joe Panik’s tenure in San Francisco is officially over. Panik was designated for assignment Tuesday afternoon. Prior to Tuesday nights game against the Nationals, manager Bruce Bochy talked with the media regarding how tough a decision like this can be.
“It’s one of the more difficult conversations I’ve had in my career,” Bochy said on his conversation with Panik. “It’s always tough when you see one of your guys go…he’s done so many good things for us, helped us win championships here.”
Bochy continued about what this move could mean for the now-former Giants second baseman.
“I think it’s a case where Joe is ready to look for a new opportunity and a chance to restart his career,” Bochy said. “His role had changed here. He’ll being playing somewhere, I’ll always being pulling for Joe.”
Panik had been struggling this season, hitting just .235 on 344 at-bats. President of Baseball Operations, Farhan Zaidi, talked to the media on Tuesday afternoon and discussed what went into the decision to DFA Panik.
“We have been in a situation where we’ve been looking to get a little more production out of that second base spot,” Zaidi said. “Bringing in Scooter [Gennett] on deadline day and with [Donovan] Solano swinging the bat well…it didn’t seem fair to him to keep him in this role.”
Although this is Zaidi’s first year in San Francisco, he discussed his admiration for the longtime Giants second baseman.
“I probably don’t have the license to say this as much as some of the guys who have been teammates with him for a long time or Bochy and some of the coaches, but he’s been one of my favorite players over the last few years. Both watching him from across the way and being around him this year.”
Zaidi talked about how Panik is a part of a group of players he can give the highest compliment to – saying that it’s players that are going to do whatever it takes to help the team win no matter how it could affect a players stats – then he continued to give Panik some high praise.
“He’s up there at the top the list of players that play the game that way. I was fortunate to be around Chase Utley for a few years in Los Angeles, in that facet of just being a winning baseball player I’d put Joe in the same category.”
“(Joe Panik) was nothing but class,” Bochy said. “I’d being lying if I said we both didn’t get a little emotional…But I think he’s ready to see what’s on the other side right now.”