Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Like the college student who puts off writing that paper and instead cleans the room, Farhan Zaidi took care of some other needs Tuesday.
No, there were no announced moves on the manager or GM front. But the Giants did some roster cleanup, dusting off the bottom of the 40-man and inserting three new fliers.
In addition to claiming righty Rico Garcia from Colorado, San Francisco added infielder Kean Wong from the Angels and righty Trevor Oaks from Kansas City.
Wong, the brother of the Cardinals’ Kolten, was a fourth-round pick of the Rays in 2013 from Hawaii. He debuted last season but was soon after designated for assignment, the Angels picking him up and playing him in one September game. He’s played seven total.
To clear roster space, the Giants designated outfielder Mike Gerber and righty Ricardo Pinto for assignment, the 40-man now maxed out.
Wong, a lefty-hitting second and third baseman, who also can play a bit of outfield, figures to compete for a backup job this spring. He impressed with Triple-A Durham last season, slashing .307/.375/.464 with 10 home runs in 453 at-bats. Both Mauricio Dubon and Evan Longoria bat from the right side.
Zaidi has a background with Oaks, a 2014 seventh-round pick of the Dodgers and a Riverside native. He was dealt to the Royals in 2018, when he made his major league debut — getting two starts and making two relief appearances — but missed all of 2019 after undergoing hip surgery.
Throughout Oaks’ minor league career, lefties have killed him but he’s been effective against righties. The 26-year-old performed well in Triple-A Omaha — in the PCL — in 2018, when he posted a 3.23 ERA with just 70 strikeouts and 44 walks in 128 1/3 innings.
As for the players lost, Gerber was a Triple-A Sacramento monster who could not convert that into a major league breakthrough. He was 1-for-24 last season after slashing .308/.368/.569 with the River Cats.
Pinto was claimed from Philadelphia in early September but did not appear in a game as a Giant.