(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants will be facing the New York Yankees on Opening Day, on Thursday.
Logan Webb will be taking the hill against Gerrit Cole in an exciting pitching duel.
Before the game, however, the Giants made a tweak to their roster with a trade.
“The #SFGiants acquire 1B/OF Matt Beatty from #Royals, put him on opening-day roster, and release OF Stephen Piscotty,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale tweeted.
The #SFGiants acquire 1B/OF Matt Beatty from #Royals, put him on opening-day roster, and release OF Stephen Piscotty
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 30, 2023
Nightengale didn’t mention the return going to Kansas City, although in these types of deals is common to see cash going to the other side.
Beaty, who made his MLB debut in 2019, is a first baseman-outfielder with a league-average bat.
He saw time with the San Diego Padres in MLB last season, but the results were not satisfactory (.333 OPS).
Overall, as a major leaguer, Beaty is slashing .249/.320/.405 with a 95 wRC+.
The league-average wRC+ (a stat that allows us to compare offensive performance in different contexts and eras) is 100, so Beaty is not far off.
The Royals had signed Beaty to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training a few weeks ago.
He didn’t make the team despite posting some impressive numbers in exhibition play.
He hit .343 (12-for-35) with two homers and seven RBI in spring training games.
Capable of playing both outfield corners and first base, Beaty is trying to leave behind a hideous 2022 to bounce back as a part-time player in MLB.
He is certainly capable of that, and the Giants can give him an opportunity given that Mitch Haniger will start the season on the injured list.
The post Giants Make Notable Move Before Opening Day appeared first on The Cold Wire.