The Giants have acquired minor league right-hander Tanner Andrews from the Braves in exchange for cash, the team announced to reporters (Twitter link via Kerry Crowley of the San Jose Mercury News). Atlanta had selected Andrews from the Marlins in yesterday’s Minor League Rule 5 Draft.
Major League transactions are on hold during the ongoing lockout, but yesterday’s Rule 5 Draft, this trade and a series of minor league free-agent signings around the league this week serve as a reminder that minor league transactions (for non-40-man players) are alive and well even as MLB and the MLBPA remain locked in a contentious set of collective bargaining negotiations.
[Related: 2021 Minor League Rule 5 Draft results]
Andrews, who recently turned 26, pitched just 5 2/3 innings this season. He landed on the IL early in the year with an elbow injury that led to him undergoing Tommy John surgery on July 7. He’ll miss a large portion of the 2022 season as a result, though if all goes well, he should be able to get some innings under his belt late in the year.
While the elbow injury will put his development on hold for awhile, Andrews still gives the Giants a 2018 tenth-rounder with a career 3.78 ERA, 21.6% strikeout rate, 6.7% walk rate and a 42% ground-ball rate through 164 1/3 pro frames. Most minor league Rule 5 selections prove to be depth options, but every so often, a name or two eventually breaks through to the Majors. Andrews will hope to add his name to that list, but he has a fair bit of rehab ahead of him before starting back down that road.
ajrodz1335
Wait so they can trade?
sisseton
Did you read the article?
Major League transactions are on hold during the ongoing lockout, but yesterday’s Rule 5 Draft, this trade and a series of minor league free-agent signings around the league this week serve as a reminder that minor league transactions are alive and well even as MLB and the MLBPA remain locked in a contentious set of collective bargaining negotiations.
syndergaardshair
Only for minor league players
Gwynning's Anal Lover
They can only trade for wampum.
Bart Harley Jarvis
form,
This guy?
baseball-reference.com/players/w/wambsbi01.shtml
gcg27
Only minor league players
Deadguy
If you had read the article which took a whopping 2 minutes you’d know better, but then again this is the human race we’re talking about.
Please, Hammer. Don't hurt 'em.
I wonder why the Braves are selling players like this? They couldn’t have gotten much money for him and if they need the roster space why would they claim him in the first place?
bobtillman
Every dollar counts. Gotta sign Freddie, ya know.
KC42
I think its usually around 50-100K for minor leaguers, since it was a rule 5 draftee maybe 250-500K
bhambrave
I think the Triple-A rule 5 amount is $24,500.
gcg27
Giants probably got them to select the player early in the draft and said take him and we will slip you some money.. braves probably weren’t going to take anyone and so agreed
Smacky
The Giants probably asked the Braves to pick him for them. Isn’t that kind of obvious?
Giants74
Huh? How is that obvious? The Braves didn’t pick him until the 4th round. The Giants only made one selection, and that was in the 3rd round. They could have easily picked in the 1st or 2nd.
Deadguy
They literally just got this guy from the marlins in the rule 5 draft and sold him to another team as straight profit for the braves. The Marlins missed out on this cash money not doing so before the braves drafted there talent, then made money off there backs and training. Genius business move by AA
rb305
With the lockout any news is good news. Here’s to roster depth!
TonyGwynnSD19
2021 Giants Got lucky when a bunch of old veterans and minor league cast offs over performed. Now, that same group loses Posey, Gausman and Bryant.
So, what Zaidi do to fix that before the lockout ?? Nothing. LOL
For the past 2 years Giants fans have been cluelessly shouting ‘ Wait until 2022….Zaidi is gonna spend Big”
That notion is Ridiculous. Farhan Zaidi didn’t do any marquee big dollar free agent signings in Los Angeles or Oakland. And clearly, he isn’t gonna do that in frisco.
Zaidi is a cheapasss that works the waiver wire and low budget FA’s
Giants74
Yawn. What a tired response. Marquee Free Agents don’t equate to a Championship. SD signed Machado, and have gone nowhere. Nationals got rid of Harper, and won the WS. Look at what has become of the Phillies…I could go on and on. But, you will continue to whine like you always do.
sleepyfloyd
While I agree with you it still doesn’t prove that the Giants way is better. The Giants got hella lucky last year composing a staff at the last minute and having a ton of guys have big years after multiple sown years – not a recipe for consistent production. Giants are going to work hard to win 85-87 games next year.
claude raymond
So, they have been on this plan for 3 years now and EACH year the team has greatly improved and so has the farm system. So they have a management and they all agree they simply got lucky and scrap the master plan and go with the Sleepy plan, which is? Wait, Sleepy doesn’t have a plan. Never does. SOS different day.
Juiced Balls
Yes, because the after the lockout, the season starts immediately and teams are set. It takes more than luck to win 107 games.
tstats
But it does take a lot of luck
claude raymond
When a team is near/or at the top of mlb in MOST statistical categories, wouldn’t an intelligent person draw the conclusion that that team likely won a lot of games? Your name is tstats for crying out loud. Tstats, how many giants games did you watch? Give me some examples of luck winning games. I watchedEVERY game. They lost just as many games with bad luck as they won with good luck.. Bullpen led baseball in era. Led NL in homeruns, playing half their games in a pitchers park. I wont go on about stats, its boring. Was Brandon Belts injury, that probably killed their chances of beating the Dodgers, good luck. Speaking of the Dodgers, was losing Muncy helpful in their series against the Braves? They won 106. They statistically were on a par with SF. But no one calls them lucky, they just often point out losing Muncy and Kershaw. They had bad luck is what most think. Padres had bad injury luck. Problem is their farm system has regressed because they traded many prospects. So, Giants and Dodgers had minimal good luck, a lot of bad luck but both had great depth, ML depth and minor league depth. That depth contributed greatly to 213 wins. Padres? Well, their system was once envied. But now, Padres? LOL
John Smoke
If you think the methods used by the giants last year are methods for sustainable success, I got a bridge to sell you. They bought low on a bunch of guys who who hit their ceilings. That’s luck
claude raymond
3 yrs running. But don’t blow Smoke, John, cuz you don’t own a bridge. BTW, Longoria, Yaz, Dickerson, Solano, Cueto, Casali, and a couple others regressed. Ceiling? I’ll give you Wade. That’s it. So how much is this bridge you “own”?
Benjamin101677
To win 107 games have to have some very weak teams in the division and league. If you look giants destroyed under .500 teams but didn’t fair as great winning percentage about above .500 teams.
claude raymond
Benjamin, was this just a guess or how it seemed to you or what you hope to be true. First of all, those NL West teams have low win percentages LARGELY due to how badly Giants beat them. AZ won 10% of the games vs Giants (35% against nonGiants) and Colorado won 21% of their games vs Giants(49% against nonGiants). Against the AL WEST they were 13-7, NL CENTRAL 20-14, and NL EAST 21-11. And 10-9 against a team that won 106. In summary, they won 90% of the AZ games and 79% of the games. Thats 84% against those 2 teams. You know, you were correct in the end, they didn’t have as great a record vs the rest of the teams. Only 75-49, 60.5%, versus everyone else. Did you know that 60.5% of 162 is 98? So AZ and Colorado were worth an extra 9 games. 98+9=107. Sorry, I thought that facts trumped feelings, my bad
kcusgnikcufsregdod
death, taxes, and this lame fair weathered fan living on MLBTR waiting for any Giants news to fulfill his pathetic low-life. Yes, sweetie, Zaidi should take notes from Preller, because all those moves he made last year worked out so well, they finished below .500 and now have little salary space to make more moves! Thanks for your essay sweetie, didn’t read it but sorry it happened to you, or congrats. who knows. who cares.
giantsphan12
@kcusg, weird post man. What are you really trying to say?
claude raymond
made sense to me. it was for TG19
Datashark
San Diego Signed big names for big money – what was really achieved?
SF won a division title
foppert
I hope he doesn’t. That would make us like the Padres. No thanks.
tedtheodorelogan
As a Giants fan I normally find your posts obnoxious, but in this case I think you hit the nail on the head.
claude raymond
I’ll repeat something I posted 10 days ago. Many teams are waiting for the post lockout period to sign players or make trades. MANY teams, Dodgers, etc did not make big splash moves before December 1. Giants are in that group.
gmenfan
So many Giants “fans” complaining that FZ didn’t just haphazardly throw money out the door simply because they had money to spend this offseason. All bent out of shape because they didn’t get in on the ridiculous bidding that’s gone on thus far. Time will tell, but history will likely prove the teams that waited to be real winners of this offseason.
tedtheodorelogan
They needed a top of the rotation arm, they were said to be interested in all of them, but came away with none. Now it’s just Rodon left, who was really good last year when healthy, but has never pitched more than 165 innings in a season. He has also been pretty much average his whole career besides last year. Just don’t see what the plan is to replace Gausman when they could have afforded to keep him or sign any of the other top of the rotation starters who are already off the board.
claude raymond
Webb is top of the rotation. He was better in post season than ANYONE. Gausman especially. Gausman for five years for what he did first half this year? Time will tell but Jay’s will regret the length. BTW, your concern with Rodons limited success contradicts your high regard for the limited success of Gausman. And Rodon isn’t the only good pitcher still left and that’s why I think a trade will happen. Ted, I appreciate your concern, I just feel it’s still early. Go Giants!
Barkerboy
How many games did that “cheap ass” win last year? He’s smart.
gmenfan
… and finishes 30 games ahead of your club.
windmill_noise_causes_cancer
DuMpStEr DiViN’ zAiDi
SalaryCapMyth
I wouldn’t say the Giants season had nothing to do with luck..but 107 wins of luck where the Dodgers barely got passed them? That’s a little much to believe.
GarryHarris
Of all the things to complain about: Your team of discarded and misfit toys overachieved and lead MLB in victories. The best team rarely wins the WS anymore. It’s the hottest who wins.
The Giants only have one holdover contract of Evan Longoria remaining. Without those heavy contracts, the Giants or any team has more versatility.
Besides, who really wants a team of mercenaries when you can have a homegrown team of overachievers?
The MiLB is beginning to produce. Speedy CF Bryce Johnson will be up this year and two pitchers I think will be great in SP Caleb Kilian and RP Pat Ruotolo late this season or next season. There’s more I’m not listing.
GarryHarris
And put Tanner Andrews on this list for next season.
claude raymond
Garry, I agree regarding Johnson. under the radar. However, Killian. Was part of the Bryant trade. Now in Cubs system.
FullMontilla
Wait, what? when did they lose Bryant? Has he already signed somewhere or is it a foregone conclusion? I missed this somehow
claude raymond
still unsigned
RunDMC
AA going to his old boss to get some cash for Freddie. Thank you, Farhan! Not a free man, much longer!!
los_leebos
An unforeseen positive consequence of this lockout, is that MLBTR readers are going to become so much better versed in teams’ minor league affiliates, as we await with bated breath the goings-on and transactions of the heretofore meaningless ephemeral cacophony of minor league roster turnover. It’s all we have now. Now go forth, young Tanner, and become the shining beacon that news of your exchange hath brought mine humble eyes, desperate for noteworthy developments.
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
The Rocket City Trash Pandas need to make some moves.
los_leebos
And the Staten Island Pizza Rats are a perfect trade partner (on paper, at least)
RunDMC
Getting their players out of poverty was a start, I guess, by paying for housing.
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32172108/can-union-fix-min…
Steve Nebraska
I’m looking forward to seeing who the Savannah Banana’s sign. They need to pick up at least one more player who wears stilts. They are going to have to do that if they want to keep beating the New York Party Animals in their fancy tuxedos. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? This league might be so unknown even you guys have never heard of them. I only know about them from TV.
Cohn Joppolella
I used to live in Savannah and went to a few Banana games- they’re tons of fun. They’re a collegiate summer league team.
Deleted_User
@Steve Nebraska What happened to deleting your account?
wctrapper
Heretofore meaningless ephemeral cacophony my ass.
kingcong95
Giants could have selected him directly rather than only making one pick.
ystazi
I was wondering the same. Their AAA roster was probably full after they made their only selection
Datashark
It is curious, but maybe ATL selected for them, so they would not be hindered by rule5 policies, knowing he is headed for TJ
Pete'sView
Seems like he could be a useful arm .. .once his arm recuperates.
VANTABLACK
It’s impossible to know if this will work out, but I hope he recovers fast and gets to work. Good investment on the future… Maybe. There’s no baseball news so at the very least it scratches that itch.
orange2001
Waiting for the Angels to sign Carlos Rodon to a ‘minor league’ deal with a $15M guarantee if he makes the opening day roster.
James1955
orange2001. You can’t sign him without a CBA.
5TUNT1N
I believe I read that minor league contracts top out at like 5 million. Which puts a hold on this type of transaction back door.
orange2001
5TUNT1N I was kinda joking with my post, but interesting to know that minor league deals can reach $5M—never would have guessed it.
Bart Harley Jarvis
I hear FZ goes to the local humane society every offseason and rescues every dog in the joint.
nentwigs
MISSED IT BY THAT [ = ] MUCH !!
According to informed sources, The Marlins were in on Tanner Andrews right up until he was traded to the Giants.. The Marlins made a “strong” offer to the Braves, but not one that matched the Giants’ financial commitment. The Marlins weren’t the only team to be outbid.
The Minnesota Twins had also been linked to Andrews.
Spare Tire Dixon
How about:
Rays receive: OF M.Ozuna, OF C.Pache
Braves receive: OF K.Kiermaier
I don’t know that Tampa would want to take on Ozuna straight up, but with Pache as a sweetener, the Braves might be able to insist on them taking his whole contract. Atlanta takes Kiermaier to fill CF while also bringing on his contract to offset some of the 2022 Ozuna money.