TEMPE, Ariz. — With roster choices looming on the finish of their bench, Giants added to their flexibility and flexibility in a commerce Sunday with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Giants acquired 24-year-old utility man Luke Williams in change for 27-year-old infielder Will Toffey and money and added him to their 40-man roster, creating room by transferring left-hander Matthew Boyd (September flexor tendon surgical procedure) to the 60-day injured record.
In Williams, the Giants get a participant with a number of possibility years left, who made his main league debut final season and in 52 video games made appearances at each place however pitcher and catcher. These qualities might open alternatives for Williams in San Francisco.
“He can play all around the diamond. His power is in his versatility. That is tremendous engaging to our group,” stated supervisor Gabe Kapler, who turned accustomed to Williams as a prospect within the Phillies group throughout his tenure there earlier than becoming a member of the Giants. “Teammates … (and) coaches in Philadelphia actually like him. The make-up is basically good.”
The Giants have utilized gamers equivalent to Thairo Estrada and Mauricio Dubon in related roles, however each lack choices and thus must cross by waivers as a way to be despatched to the minors, with the Giants anticipated to proceed their caravan between Oracle Park and Sacramento. Different utility gamers equivalent to Alex Blandino and Jason Krizan must be added to the 40-man roster.
Williams provides the Giants a extra dependable possibility within the outfield than Krizan or Jason Vosler, who went forwards and backwards between San Francisco and Sacramento greater than every other Giants participant final season however primarily performed the infield.
Drafted out of Orange County’s Dana Hills Excessive Faculty within the third spherical of the 2015 newbie draft, Williams didn’t escape till his 2019 season at Double-A, his solely full season within the minors with an on-base-plus-slugging share above .700 or double-digit residence runs (11).
After making his MLB debut final June, Williams batted .245/.315/.316 in 108 plate appearances. However, most likely extra intriguing to the Giants, he performed each place besides pitcher and catcher — and even performed a number of positions in six video games, along with his most time coming in middle discipline and at second base.