Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
It took a bit longer than expected, but the Giants have found their shortstop depth.
On Sunday morning, San Francisco dealt for infielder Thairo Estrada, who had been designated for assignment by the Yankees, for cash considerations. The 25-year-old immediately becomes an option behind Brandon Crawford, which had been sorely lacking in the system.
Estrada has played in 61 major league games over 2019-20 and not yet hit (.214), but he brings a strong minor league resume and fills a hole. He came up through New York’s system primarily as a shortstop. He has moved all around the infield and outfield, which the Giants surely like, but he’s played 225 games at short as a minor leaguer.
Estrada had been a rising prospect of the Yankees, cruising in Double-A in 2017 (.301/.353/.392), before he was shot in the right hip after the season, the victim of an attempted robbery in his native Venezuela. He spent much of 2018 recovering after surgery and appeared in 18 games.
He bounced back the following season and debuted in the majors in 2019. He had not hit enough for the deep Yankees to justify his roster spot over the veteran Rougned Odor, whom they traded for last week.
Estrada will help. The Giants’ backup shortstop is their center fielder — Mauricio Dubon — and the deeper depth in the system is Arismendy Alcantara, who is getting the reps at the alternate site. Farhan Zaidi acknowledged the hole prior to spring training breaking and said he believed they would shore it up soon.
To make room for Estrada, the Giants called up Jaylin Davis and placed the outfielder on the 60-day injured list with left knee patella tendinitis.