The Skillz Report

​Ex-Giants Around The Majors (And Minors) 2017, Part Two

 

(originally posted 7/21/17)

 

 

• Nick Noonan (2013-15)

The infielder didn't exactly light it up while with the Giants, but hey, not every homegrown prospect will become a Brandon Crawford. Noonan got a look with the 2016 Padres and has split 2017 in the Milwaukee and Miami systems. To date, his numbers are not pretty.

 

• Ramiro Pena (2016)

Subbing for injured reserve Kelby Tomlinson, Pena hit very well in his nearly two months with the Giants. Yet when Hunter Pence came off the DL, Pena was outrighted to AAA, and the club chose to call up Ehire Adrianza when it needed another infielder a few days later. I felt for the guy...all he did was bat .299 and slug .425 and he still couldn't stick in the majors.

Pena is in the Japan League for 2017.

 

• Juan Perez (2013-15)

Perez, the fleet, strong-armed outfielder whose heavy-hearted double against ace reliever Wade Davis helped seal Game 5 of the 2014 World Series, moved on to the Cubs organization after 117 games over three seasons with San Francisco.

At last check, 30-year-old Perez was with AAA Toledo (Tigers), although he's only accumulated 93 at-bats.

 

• Yusmeiro Petit (2012-15)

Based on his career achievements prior to landing in SF, Petit was perhaps the least likely contributor to the Giants' 2012 and 2014 championships. After four seasons alternating between the rotation and bullpen—with precious few letdowns—Petit moved on to Washington, the club he helped eliminate from the 2014 playoffs.

To date in 2017, 32-year-old Petit has pitched strictly in relief and pitched well for the Angels.

 

• Sergio Romo (2008-16)

For nine seasons, Giants fans were treated to Romo and his giant beard, frisbee sliders, and mound stalking. But in the offseason bullpen makeover, Romo headed south to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. 
It's been a rough go for the 34-year-old in 2017 (seven HR and 12 BB in 25 IP through 7/20), He hit the DL with an ankle sprain in June, and was finally cut in mid-July.

 

• Hector Sanchez (2011-15)

Sanchez was the primary backup catcher to Buster Posey for three seasons until thrown off course by concussion problems; eventually the team turned to Andrew Susac and Sanchez moved on.

The big switch-hitter opened 2017 with the Padres and though he lost extensive time with a hamstring injury, he returned in time to sink the Giants with a walk-off home run 7/15 (and another blast in his first AB the next day.)

 

• Pablo Sandoval (2008-14)

As you probably know, Sandoval stole money his first two Red Sox seasons, missing practically all of 2016 after shoulder surgery. In 2017 he missed a month with a sprained knee and never brought his numbers up, although he did play an inning at second base. 
The Red Sox, as you may have heard, released Sandoval in mid-July, and the Giants appear set to bring Sandoval back.

 

• Chris Stewart (2011)

Stewart was never intended to "receive" much, if any, major league run with the Giants. Signed to a AAA deal, he was thrust into action after Buster Posey's catastrophic leg injury in May 2011. He's in his fourth year with the Pirates, though he's been out with a hamstring injury. 

(Stewart, in a way, has a hand in the present-day Giants—in Spring 2012, once Posey was determined fully recovered, Stewart was swapped to the Yankees for reliever George Kontos.)

 

• Andrew Susac (2014-15)

Susac took advantage of Hector Sanchez's injuries to leapfrog him on the Giants catching depth chart in 2014. But by 2016, Susac had his own injury problems and young Trevor Brown was holding his own at backup catcher. So SF dealt Susac to Milwaukee for lefty RP Will Smith.

Milwaukee was (correctly) anticipating a trade of star C Jonathan LuCroy, meaning opportunity awaited Susac. However, he only got in nine games with the '16 Brewers and has spent all of '17 in AAA, not exactly turning heads.

 

• Ruben Tejada (2016)

Tejada's only on this list because his brief Giants tenure came just last year. Only recently has he returned to the majors since being cut by San Francisco; the guy whose injury triggered the new slide rules is now a Baltimore Oriole, batting .272 in 29 games through 7/20.

 

 

• Ryan Vogelsong (2000-01, 2011-15)

• Jake Peavy (2014-16)

• Angel Pagan (2012-16)

• Joe Nathan (1999-2003, 2016)

• Tim Lincecum (2007-15)

• Travis Ishikawa (2006-10, 2014-15)

None of these men have officially retired, but none of them currently have jobs. 40-year-old Vogelsong went to camp with Minnesota this year, but didn't make the team. Nathan was cut from Washington's AAA team on 5/31. Pagan held out for a major league offer that never came.

After a trying 2016, 36-year-old Peavy hopes to catch on with a team later this summer, though that's looking increasingly unlikely. Lincecum was an utter disaster with the 2016 Angels; his career seems over. Ishikawa has not been heard from at all this year.

 

Return To Part One