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Giants cut reliever and make some intriguing roster room

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


Travis Bergen almost made it.

With about six weeks left in the season, the Giants’ Rule 5 experiment is over. The Giants designated Bergen for assignment before Sunday’s series finale in Arizona.

Under the Rule 5 draft rules, the drafting team needs to hold the player on its 25-man roster all season to have control of him. The Giants nearly did, in part because of a lengthy Bergen injury that kept him out from May through August. But with Bergen not showing much upon his return and the Giants apparently wanting an extra 40-man slot, they cut ties.

Bergen, if he clears waivers, will be offered back to Toronto, from where the Giants picked him up.

The Giants called up Abiatal Avelino in the corresponding 25-man roster move, getting protection for third base, where Evan Longoria has been forced into playing every day without Pablo Sandoval as a backup.

The extra 40-man slot is especially intriguing with the tear Jaylin Davis has been on since coming over in the Sam Dyson trade. The Giants also will need a slot for Johnny Cueto when he’s ready to return, which the Giants have said will be in September.

Bergen finishes his Giants stint with a 5.49 ERA in 19 2/3 innings.