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Giants, A’s complete rare trade for reliever

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Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — History was made Saturday, a transaction unseen in 16 years.

After the long wait, it’s possible the drought-breaker underwhelmed.

The Giants sent righty reliever Burch Smith across the Bay Area, dealing him to the A’s for cash considerations. Smith was designated for assignment when San Francisco signed Jarlin Garcia.

It is largely irrelevant apart from being the first completed trade between the territorial rivals since 2004, when the Giants traded pitcher Adam Pettyjohn for cash.

Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi came up with Oakland and was their assistant GM from 2011-14. He and A’s boss Billy Beane have a good relationship, and they were bound to make a deal at some point. Perhaps the next one they will each actually exchange players.

Smith pitched in 10 games with the Giants last season, finishing with a 2.08 ERA in his brief time in San Francisco.