The Giants have placed left-handed relievers Tyler Matzek and Taylor Rogers and infielder Thairo Estrada on waivers, a league source tells The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, making them available to any team willing to claim them and pay the prorated remainder of their respective salaries for 2024.
Matzek, acquired last month in the Jorge Soler trade, hasn’t thrown a pitch in a Giants uniform yet (he’s currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento), but the 28-year-old Estrada was the Opening Day second baseman and was still under team control through the 2026 season. According to Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average, Estrada has been one of the best defensive middle infielders in baseball over the last two seasons. However, he’s struggled mightily at the plate this season, with a .246 on-base percentage and some of the worst chase rates in baseball.
Although Estrada was placed on irrevocable waivers, he’s still able to play for the Giants unless he gets claimed. The claiming team would owe him the roughly $850,000 he’s owed for the rest of the season, which might be substantial enough to scare some teams away. It’s possible that he’ll remain with the Giants, but if you’re looking for an indicator as to whether the Giants were planning to offer arbitration to Estrada this offseason, this move strongly suggests that’s unlikely.
Only 15 months ago, Estrada seemed like someone in the organization’s long-term plans, a young player with Gold Glove-caliber defense and a .942 OPS in the middle of May. He hit just .245 with a .287 OBP after that high-water mark, and his numbers have declined even further this year. The Giants have been giving Marco Luciano innings at second base in Sacramento this season, and both Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely are also candidates to get some of Estrada’s at-bats in the event that he’s claimed.
Rogers, by contrast, is having a very strong season, with a 2.45 ERA and above-average strikeout and walk rates. The 33-year-old is owed roughly $2.15 million this season and $12 million for 2025, which isn’t an unreasonable obligation for a contender to take on in exchange for a late-inning arm in the postseason. Rogers’ twin brother, Tyler, is currently the Giants’ setup man.
On Tuesday, the Giants lost two key members of their pitching staff to the injured list, as left-hander Robbie Ray (hamstring tightness) and right-hander Jordan Hicks (right shoulder soreness) were both placed on the 15-day IL. Entering Game 2 of their series against the Brewers, the Giants were 67-66 and 5 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
(Photo of Estrada: Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today)
