Giants DFA Bergen, call up Avelino

August 18th, 2019

PHOENIX -- The Giants opened the year with two Rule 5 Draft picks on their 40-man roster. Neither remains.

Left-hander was designated for assignment Sunday to clear a roster spot for infielder Abiatal Avelino, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to give the Giants an extra position player for their series finale against the D-backs at Chase Field.

“We had to create a spot to get another position player up here,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We were short on that side, going with only three [on Saturday], so we felt like we could use another infielder. That’s why Avelino is here. We had to make a spot, and I think if you look at the bullpen, the one who we felt we could afford to lose at this point -- we didn’t want to -- was Travis.”

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 as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

The Giants selected Bergen from the Blue Jays in the Rule 5 Draft in December and gave him a chance to compete for a bullpen job in Spring Training. Despite not having pitched above Double-A, Bergen quickly impressed with his fastball-curveball combination and secured a spot on the Opening Day roster.

The Giants’ other Rule 5 pick, outfielder Drew Ferguson, was designated for assignment in the final week of Spring Training and returned to the Astros.

Bergen appeared in 21 games for the Giants this season, logging a 5.49 ERA over 19 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old reliever missed 72 games with a left shoulder strain before returning from the injured list on Aug. 9.

“The young kid did a nice job, at times,” Bochy said. “I know he spent some time on the [IL], but we just couldn’t find a way to keep him.”

Worth noting

• Shaun Anderson (blister on right middle finger) was eligible to come off the IL on Sunday, but he was not listed among the Giants’ probable pitchers for their upcoming series against the Cubs. Bochy said Anderson will likely require a rehab start before he’s ready to rejoin the rotation. Tyler Beede, Dereck Rodriguez and Jeff Samardzija are scheduled to pitch for the Giants at Wrigley Field.

With Anderson still on the shelf, Bochy said pitching prospect Logan Webb would remain in the rotation for now. Webb gave up two runs over five innings in his Major League debut on Saturday and is lined up to make his second start this weekend against the A’s, the team he grew up rooting for.

• Bochy said he’s been keeping tabs on outfield prospect Jaylin Davis, who has homered in each of his last three games for Triple-A Sacramento. Davis, who was acquired from the Twins as part of the Sam Dyson trade last month, has eight homers and 19 RBIs over that span.

“We definitely see what Davis is doing.” Bochy said. “It’s exciting how he’s playing and how he’s driving the ball.”

Davis, 25, is not on the Giants’ 40-man roster, but they have a vacancy now that Bergen has been cut.