SAN DIEGO -- It's one of baseball's traditions leading into the Trade Deadline, just behind the rumors themselves. Every year, players will lobby the front office.
Sometimes, players want to add that final piece that will push a team over the top. Sometimes, players want to make sure nobody is dealt away.
Put Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija in the second category. The Giants' 18-4 stretch heading into Saturday has him sold on this 2019 squad's chances to reach the postseason, no matter that the Giants still have to jump three teams to get to the second Wild Card position.
"I think we've shown already that we know where we're at, we know what type of team we are," Samardzija said. "I think it's pretty obvious, with where we're at, which direction we should be going.
"That's not our call, but we have a lot of faith in the front office and the coaching staff to make the right moves and do the things we need to do to put ourselves in a great position come the fall."
Samardzija said it's not just the hot streak that makes him a believer. The fact the Giants are 25-10 in one-run games and 11-2 in extra-inning games entering Saturday tells him they are a team that can handle the pressure of a playoff push.
"It's the old saying in baseball, right? A third of the games are automatic wins, a third are automatic losses and the season comes down to those middle third games that are close," the right-hander said. "Who makes the least amount of mistakes and pitches well late, you win the majority of those and are looking at 90-plus wins and a playoff season."
The Trade Deadline is Wednesday. Clubs previously could stretch their "buyer or seller" decisions into August by clearing a player through waivers to make a deal, but it's now a hard deadline. Samardzija will know in four days whether the Giants' decision makers agree with his assessment.
Webb reinstated
Right-hander Logan Webb, the Giants' No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was reinstated to the 40-man roster after serving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Webb will pitch for Double-A Richmond on Sunday.
While still serving his suspension, Webb was permitted to tune up in the low Minors and made three appearances between Class A Augusta and the Rookie Giants Orange squad in the Arizona League. He allowed two runs and struck out 15 batters in 15 innings.
Left-hander Ty Blach, who beat Clayton Kershaw as a surprise Opening Day starter in 2018, was designated for assignment to open the 40-man spot for Webb. Blach made two appearances for the Giants this season and allowed 10 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He had a 5.93 ERA in 17 games (15 starts) with Triple-A Sacramento.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that. Within seven days of the transaction -- it was previously 10 days -- the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.
Sandoval meets fan who caught ball with baby
During batting practice Saturday, third baseman Pablo Sandoval visited the fan who caught his 11th-inning home run Friday while holding a baby. The fan, Chris Rice, offered the ball to Sandoval.
"This is yours," Rice said, extending his hand with the ball.
"No, that's yours," Sandoval responded.
Sandoval not only refused to take the ball, he signed it and also signed a bat for Rice. Sandoval held baby Roya in the dugout while chatting with Rice and his wife, San Diego news anchor Neda Iranpour. She was with her husband in the stands when Rice made his catch Friday, which quickly went viral.
Injury updates
• Third baseman Evan Longoria ran on the field for the first time since being sidelined by left foot plantar fasciitis. Manager Bruce Bochy said Longoria likely will take batting practice next week at Philadelphia and might return in 10-14 days.
• Right-hander Johnny Cueto threw 25 pitches of live batting practice as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. "He was scheduled for 20, but he felt so good he wanted to throw a few more," Bochy said. Cueto could soon make rehab appearances in the Arizona League.