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Giants call up pair of relievers in busy time for roster moves

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Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports


As Gabe Kapler returns to Philadelphia, the city will see a few returns of Giants relievers as well.

The bullpen-weary Giants called up lefty Sam Selman and righty Trevor Gott, who had to be added to the 40-man roster, ahead of Monday’s game against the Phillies. They optioned outfielder Steven Duggar and catcher Chadwick Tromp back down, after the two had been summoned recently.

Tromp was up because Buster Posey was down. The longtime Giants catcher had been drilled in the left elbow Saturday and out of the lineup Sunday and Monday. Gabe Kapler reported that Posey was feeling “better” before the moves were made, thus suggesting that Posey would be available off the bench Monday.

Duggar had been called up as a lefty-hitting bat who could play center field after LaMonte Wade Jr. (left oblique strain) was placed on the IL. Austin Slater’s work in center and the Giants’ confidence in the righty bat against righty pitchers — he was in Monday’s lineup against Philly righty Chase Anderson — made Duggar redundant.

Meanwhile, the Giants used Jake McGee for 35 pitches Saturday and needed a 26-man roster spot for Alex Wood before his Sunday start. Both McGee and Logan Webb were shifted to the COVID-IL after they received second doses of the vaccine, Kapler saying McGee was feeling the effects during his blown save. Without McGee’s late-inning arm — Kapler said he was feeling “a little bit better” Monday — the Giants have been needy in their bullpen.

Thus the additions of Selman, who was solid last year (3.72 ERA in 19 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts) and Gott, who has good stuff but also struggled last season, which led to his DFA in spring training. He passed through waivers successfully, and it’s possible another DFA is coming. 40-man roster space was opened up by McGee and Webb’s COVID IL placements, but Webb is expected to start Tuesday and McGee’s absence is not expected to be long.

So: Selman and Gott back (for now), Posey, Webb and McGee back soon, Duggar and Tromp gone (for now). Busy afternoon for the Giants.


Without McGee, Tyler Rogers closed Sunday’s game for his fourth career save. The submarining righty has pitched a league-high 10 games — the Giants have only played 15 — and it’s possible he could be used for a third straight day.

“We’re going to check in with Rog,” Kapler said of the 30-year-old, who owns a 0.84 ERA. “In a perfect world we keep him down. He’s a pretty durable guy, though, generally speaking — asks for the ball even in some cases after quite a bit of usage.”


The Giants’ starting lineup was without Mauricio Dubon, who has not started a game in a full week. The Giants have seen more righties, against whom they prefer Slater’s bat, and Dubon had felt some vaccine side effects late last week. Kapler said he is past the shots, though.

“Understanding that [Dubon] hasn’t started in a while, that makes it tough, particularly for a young player,” Kapler said. “Austin Slater has been playing good defense for us, has an opportunity to hit a home run for us and we thought he needed to be in the lineup in there today.”


Kapler said River Cats manager Dave Brundage has “raved” about infielder Will Wilson at the alternate site.


Reyes Moronta (right flexor strain) has a bullpen session scheduled for Thursday, Kapler said.

“He’s feeling a little less tightness,” the manager said, “so it’s promising.”