Giants, temporarily, drop Sandoval and three others
The Giants released nonroster invite Pablo Sandoval and three others Sunday, but Panda fans should not despair. This was a procedural move, and the club plans to resign him and the other three.
All four are expected to join the Giants for what teams are calling Summer Camp when it begins Wednesday.
The other three are pitcher Trevor Cahill, infielder Yolmer
Sanchez and outfielder Billy Hamilton.
They would be part of the Giants’ 60man pool of players eligible to play in the 60game season under the agree
ment the league signed with the Players Association last week.
The clerical moves with Sandoval, et al., likely were done to change contract language regarding optout clauses for the four players, who all have a solid chance to make the 30man Opening Day roster.
The Giants had to submit a player pool to the league by 1 p.m. PDT Sunday. But as of Sunday evening they had not announced a list, possibly to complete the renegotiated deals with Sandoval, Cahill, Hamilton and Sanchez.
The Giants could be delaying the announcement to complete other transactions, including potential trades.
Most teams that have announced rosters listed fewer than 60 players, leaving space to add others through trades, waivers and freeagent signings. The Giants are expected to do likewise because the rules make it easier to add players than remove them.
The Giants are expected to add their entire 40man roster, leaving them 20 additional spots. Top prospects Joey Bart, Marco Luciano, Heliot Ramos and Hunter Bishop are expected to be included.
Players will report to Oracle Park on Wednesday to be tested for the coronavirus, then will be quarantined until they get their results. If negative, they can return to the park Friday to begin training for a 60game season scheduled to begin July 23 or 24.
Teams can invite as many of the 60 players to their main training site as they choose, with the rest reporting to an alternate training site. The Giants expect that to be in Sacramento, but might not open it straight away, having their entire pool train at Oracle, at least initially.
The 60man pools are not set in stone for the season. Teams can add players, but if they already have 60, they need to clear spots in traditional fashion.
Players on the 40man must be waived, traded, designated for assignment, placed on the 45day injured list (which is 60 days in a normal season), released or outrighted to the minors. They also can be removed from the pool if they are added to a special COVID injured list.
Those not on the 40man can be removed via trade, released or placed on the COVID injured list.