Giants acquire pitcher from D’backs, designate outfielder for assignment Liberty Ranch wins SVC title but not finale

Just days after designating one right-handed reliever for assignment, the Giants have added another to a crowded bullpen.

The Giants acquired pitcher Jake Barrett from the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Barrett, San Francisco designated recently acquired outfielder John Andreoli for assignment.

First-year president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi picked up Andreoli off of waivers Friday in a move that compelled the club to designate reliever Derek Law for assignment. Barrett, 24, essentially takes the place of Law, who struggled over the last two years after an impressive rookie season in 2016.

Like Law, Barrett hasn’t fared well in his most recent major league stints, recording a 5.00 ERA in 28 games in 2017 before posting a 5.14 ERA in seven games last year. However, Barrett did showcase strong potential in 2016 when he appeared in 68 games and finished with a 3.49 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings.

Though Barrett’s major league work was limited last year, he turned in a strong season with Triple-A Reno as he allowed a .195 batting average against in 53 1/3 innings. Barrett demonstrated an ability to work multiple innings at a time as he appeared in 42 games in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Barrett’s addition gives the Giants another young pitcher with several years of team control. Barrett is expected to earn the major league minimum salary next year, providing San Francisco with a potential cost-effective asset in a bullpen with several veteran arms.

Barrett will compete with the likes of Reyes Moronta and Ray Black for opportunities in the bullpen next season, joining a group of righthanders that also includes Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson.

New pregame host — NBC Sports Bay Area announced a change to the Giants’ pre and postgame shows for the 2019 season as Kelli Johnson has been named the new anchor. Johnson takes the place of fan favorite Ahmed Fareed, who departed for a new role as a national studio and event host with NBC Sports.

Johnson will work with a pre and postgame crew that features former Giants Rich Aurilia, Shawn Estes, Randy Winn, Bill Laskey and former third base coach Tim Flannery.

Estes will also join the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast team this season and call select games alongside play-by-play voice Duane Kuiper.

The Liberty Ranch High boys basketball team won the Sierra Valley Conference title, but Bradshaw Christian posted a 72-66 win over the Hawks in the finale in Elk Grove on Tuesday.

Liberty Ranch (9-1 in the SVC, 26-2) started the game with a 14-2 lead over the host Pride. But Bradshaw Christian outscored the Hawks 22-17 that paved the way to a 41-38 advantage at halftime. Liberty Ranch clinged to a 57-54 lead after three quarters. But Liberty Ranch was held to nine points in the final eight minutes of the game.

Jayden Baroni had 19 points for Liberty Ranch. Josh Seiler followed with 14 points, Isaac Padilla 13 and Jalen Patterson 10.

The loss also snapped Liberty Ranch of its 13-game winning streak of the season.

Big Valley Christian 64, Elliot Christian 55

Nate Gotgotao-Washington led Elliot (3-8 in the Central California Athletic Alliance, 421) with 28 points in Tuesday’s loss, along with 11 from Roy Itovichi, eight points and 19 rebounds by Joshua Alejandre, three points and seven rebounds from Alexander Pinasco and three points from Peyton Yarbrough. Junior varsity

Big Valley Christian 65, Elliot Christian 39

Tanner Burrell led the Eagles with 14 points in Tuesday’s loss, along with 10 from Caleb Guerzo, nine from Mathew Alagna, four from John Wuest and two from Mike Roman.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Varsity Lincoln 71, Tokay 18

Simone Medeiros scored eight points to lead the Tigers in Tuesday’s Tri-City Athletic League loss, along with five from Mia Misasi, four from Jackie Enciso and one from Madison Gonzales.

Varsity

GIRLS SOCCER Liberty Ranch 1, Bradshaw Christian 0

McKenna Brown scored the lone goal in the first half for Liberty Ranch (10-0 in the SVC, 16-4) in Tuesday’s finale in Sacramento. Brown had six shots on goal.

Sayde Zanotti and Sydney Klink had a combined four shots on goal for the Hawks.

Junior varsity

Lodi 0, West 0

Kaitlyn Nicholsky had six saves for Lodi (1-5-3 in the TCAL) in Tuesday’s game at the Grape Bowl.