Nine players cut, bringing roster into focus
The Giants' Opening Day roster is taking shape after the club's latest round of cuts Sunday.
San Francisco trimmed its spring training roster to 34 players with nine roster moves, including some small surprises.
Among the names who are strong candidates to make appearances at Oracle Park at some point this season and appeared to be contenders for the Opening Day roster: right-handers Kervin Castro and Jakob Junis, who were both optioned to the minors, as well as outfielder Luis Gonzalez and utility men Alex Blandino and Jason Krizan, who signed minor-league contracts this offseason and were in camp as non-roster invitees.
Four other NRIS — outfielder Austin Dean, infielder Aquimedes Gamboa, catcher Johnny Pereda and right-hander Taylor Williams — were also reassigned to the minors, where they are expected to help round out Triple-a Sacramento's roster with the Rivercats' season set to begin Tuesday.
After Sunday's moves, the Giants must trim their roster by another six players by Opening Day Friday against Miami.
Remaining in camp are 16 pitchers and 18 position players, with the expectation that the Giants will carry 14 of each on their roster to start the season. One pitcher, Carlos Martinez, hasn't appeared in a game this spring, while left-hander Sam Long and right-hander Tyler Beede battle it out for the final spot as the bullpen's long man.
Third baseman Evan Longoria (right index finger surgery) and first baseman/left fielder Lamonte Wade Jr. (right knee inflammation/bone bruise) will not be ready for Opening Day, but the Giants have yet to place them on the injured list. Another position player, catcher/ second baseman Brett Auerbach, hasn't played above High-a Eugene and isn't a candidate to break camp with the club. That leaves utility men Jason Vosler and Luke Williams to duke it out for the final spot on the bench.
Gonzalez and Blandino had been enjoying two of the best camps at the plate. Gonzalez, acquired from the White Sox on waivers late last season, was batting .476/.520/.714 in 21 plate appearances. Blandino, a product of St. Francis High (Mountain View) and Stanford, matched him with a slashline of .429/.455/.810, including two home runs.
“There's no denying that there's really nobody who has had better at-bats than Luis Gonzalez this camp,” manager Gabe Kapler said this week. “Both the results and just the quality of the at-bats and the confidence in the batter's box. … Lot of people impressed by Luis' at-bats. A lot of people impressed by the quality of contact.”
Blandino, Kapler said, was “having an excellent camp … moved around the diamond … played nice defense … (did) a nice job at the plate for us … (and got) some big hits for us.”
Both, however, would have required moves to be added to the 40-man roster.
Junis and Castro were both enjoying strong camps, as well, and were already on the 40-man roster. But both pitchers also had options available. So, too, does Long, who the Giants like but has been hurt by two home runs in 3 2/3 innings this spring.
Beede, however, does not have any options left, meaning the Giants would be at risk of losing the former first-round pick on waivers if they send him to the minors.
The Giants' bullpen battle could come down to their final two days of camp, as Long is scheduled to throw Monday, while Beede is scheduled to go Tuesday, as San Francisco closes its Cactus League slate with back-to-back games against the A's.