The Giants finally landed the upper-level shortstop depth they’ve been searching for on Sunday, acquiring infielder Thairo Estrada from the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations.
Outfielder Jaylin Davis was recalled and placed on the 60-day injured list with left knee patella tendinitis to clear a 40-man spot for Estrada, who was optioned to the alternate training site in Sacramento.
Estrada, 25, appeared in 61 games for the Yankees over the last two seasons, batting .214 with a .615 OPS and four home runs while seeing time at shortstop, second and third base. A native of Bejuma, Venezuela, Estrada came up primarily as a shortstop in the New York organization and will give the Giants much-needed coverage behind starter Brandon Crawford and Mauricio Dubón.
“We were able to get some really strong makeup reports on Estrada,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “We know he can run, we know he’s got a really good arm. He provides depth and is a potential utility player for us.”
Davis hurt his knee at the beginning of Spring Training and aggravated the injury during the final week of camp. The 26-year-old received a platelet-rich plasma injection on March 29 and is continuing to rehab in Arizona.
Acquired from the Twins as part of the Sam Dyson trade two years ago, Davis crushed 35 home runs in the Minors in 2019, but his prodigious power has yet to translate to the big league level. He’s appeared in only 21 games for the Giants over the past two seasons, going 9-for-54 (.167) with two home runs and 17 strikeouts.
Moronta to IL, Wade recalled
Less than an hour before first pitch, the Giants placed reliever Reyes Moronta on the 10-day injured list with a right flexor strain and recalled outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. from the alternate training site.
The news is a troubling development for Moronta, who missed the 2020 season while rehabbing from right shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old had looked sharp so far this season and tossed a scoreless seventh inning to help lock down the Giants’ 4-3 win over the Rockies on Saturday.
Moronta averaged 93.9 mph on his fastball this year, down from 97.2 mph in 2019, but he had expressed confidence that his premium velocity would return as he continued to build up his arm strength.
Wade, 27, was acquired from the Twins in exchange for right-hander Shaun Anderson in February and made his Giants debut by starting in center field against Colorado right-hander Germán Márquez on Sunday.
Ramos still putting on a show
Outfield prospect Heliot Ramos emerged as a spring standout after batting .410 with three home runs over 21 Cactus League games, and he’s continued to impress at the Giants’ alternate training site in Sacramento.
Ramos, who is ranked the Giants’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, laid out to make an impressive diving catch in right field in the sixth inning of the Giants’ scrimmage against the A’s on Saturday.
The 21-year-old from Puerto Rico added a stolen base and a pair of hits, including a third-inning single that drove in the Giants’ lone run in their 2-1 loss to the A’s. Kapler said he’s continued to receive encouraging reports on Ramos and also highlighted the work of left-hander Sam Selman and infielder Jason Vosler.
“Reports are coming in every day, video is coming in every day,” Kapler said. “A lot of good things are happening at the alternate site.”