Giants part ways with Hunter Strickland, Gorkys Hernández
net the franchise younger prospects as he looks to acquire more young talent and reshape the roster.
After punching a door and fracturing his hand following a blown save last June, Strickland lost velocity and command during the second half of the year and posted a 3.97 ERA, the highest of his four full seasons in the major leagues. The longest-tenured reliever on the Giants’ roster was also involved in a 2017 altercation with Bryce Harper that led to a six-game suspension after Strickland hit Harper with a 97-mile per hour fastball.
Hernández joins Strickland on the free agent market after finishing second to Evan Longoria for the team lead in home runs. Following an impressive first half, Hernández posted a .506 OPS and a .220 onbase percentage after the All-star break.
The decision to tender Panik a contract comes after one of the most frustrating seasons of the infielder’s career. The 2011 first round draft choice suffered a fractured thumb and a groin strain that forced him to miss two significant chunks of time on the disabled list before August.
Panik posted a careerlow .639 OPS in 102 games but is still just 28 years old and could be a candidate to regain form next season if he’s able to remain healthy. Jon Heyman of Fancred reported the Giants settled with Panik for a 2019 salary of $3.8 million.
Heyman reported the Giants settled with Dyson for $5 million, likely making him the most expensive arbitration-eligible player to return. Though Dyson only saved three games in five chances, he was one of the most durable relievers in all of baseball, appearing in 73 games while posting a 2.69 ERA.
The right-hander could remain in the closer mix at the beginning of 2019 if the Giants want to boost his pre-deadline trade value, but he could face competition from Smith.
Smith assumed the coveted ninth-inning role last year after returning from Tommy John surgery and finished the season with some of the best numbers of his career. The lefty ended up with a 2.55 ERA, 14 saves and 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings. MLB Trade Rumors projects Smith to earn $4.1 million next season.
After non-tendering a pair of veterans, the Giants’ 40-man roster stands at 34 players.
ALAMEDA – The Raiders were just wrapping up practice Friday when they learned of news that affected their AFC West showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kareem Hunt, the Chiefs’ leading rusher, was released hours after a video released by TMZ showed him kicking and punching a woman in a hotel. Kansas City (9-2) visits Oakland Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at the Coliseum.
“I don’t really have a comment. I haven’t seen anything,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “I don’t want to say anything other than that.”
Two things happened about five hours after Gruden spoke. First, the NFL announced that Hunt had been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list, which prevented him from practicing or attending games.
“As part of our internal discussions with Kareem, several members of our management team spoke directly to him. Kareem was not truthful in those discussions. The video released today confirms that fact. We are releasing Kareem immediately.”