Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants are replenishing their bullpen reserves.
After dealing four relievers at the trade deadline and promoting a few option-able pitchers to the majors, they claimed righty reliever Kyle Barraclough from the Nationals off waivers on Friday.
Barraclough had been designated for assignment Tuesday, ending an ugly tenure in Washington. The 29-year-old was a star for a few seasons in Miami, where he struck out 113 in 72 2/3 innings in his best year, 2016. But his velocity dropped and he was dealt to the Nationals this offseason and flopped, posting a 6.66 ERA in 25 2/3 innings.
Barraclough, from Santa Clara, will join the Triple-A Sacramento bullpen to try to climb back to the majors. His fastball averaged 93.8 mph this season, down from its peak of 96.6 mph in 2016.
Tyler Austin went unclaimed, and the Giants outrighted him to the minors, but Austin has chosen free agency. He has spent a lot of time in the minors and is seeking other options, as the Giants, according to sources, had been shopping his contract to teams in Asia.