The Giants announced a series of roster moves, claiming right-handed pitcher Jharel Cotton off waivers from the Twins. In a corresponding move, outfielder Willie Calhoun was designated for assignment. Additionally, infielder Jose Rojas, who was designated for assignment on Friday, cleared waivers and elected free agency. Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com was among those who relayed the full slate of moves.
Cotton, 30, has been on and off the Twins’ roster all year long, having been designated for assignment for the fourth time this year just a few days ago. In the previous three instances, he cleared waivers and was outrighted, later getting re-selected to the roster. However, they couldn’t successfully pass him through waivers a fourth time, with the Giants sneaking in for an interception on this one.
In between all those transactions, Cotton has gotten strong results. In 35 big league innings this year, he has a 2.83 ERA, though there’s probably some good fortune in there. His 21.5% strikeout rate, 11.1% walk rate and 29.5% ground ball rate are all worse than league average, but a .182 batting average on balls in play and an 89.7% strand rate have kept him from allowing too many earned runs. His Triple-A work this season is actually much more impressive, as he has a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings with a 37.1% strikeout rate, 9.5% walk rate and 23.5% ground ball rate. The Giants will take a shot on him and see if he can bring some of those punchouts from the minors up to the majors. There’s just over two weeks remaining here in 2022 but Cotton could be retained for next year via arbitration if the Giants wish.
Calhoun, 27, was designated for assignment by the Rangers in June, clearing waivers and getting outrighted to the minors. A couple of weeks later, he was traded to the Giants, who selected him to the big league roster a week ago. Calhoun hit well for the Sacramento River Cats, slashing .299/.386/.465 for a wRC+ of 115 in 41 games. However, since coming up to join the Giants, he’s hit .125/.222/.125. That’s a tiny sample of just nine plate appearances in four games, but the club has decided to move on regardless. Calhoun will now head out onto the waiver wire a second time this year, though he’d be eligible to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency if he clears again, as is the right of any player who has previously been outrighted in his career.
As for Rojas, 29, he was just claimed off waivers from the Angels a couple of weeks ago and has been in Sacramento since then. In 22 big league games with the Halos before the claim, he hit just .125/.140/.161. He’s fared much better in the minors, hitting .274/.346/.569 between the two organizations this year. Since he was outrighted by the Angels earlier this year before being re-selected to the roster, he now is eligible to elect free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment.
nmendoza7
Imagine the Giants don’t just claim someone for one week
kellin
Wonder what Rojas thinks he’s going to get by becoming a free agent.. Another minor league contract somewhere?
Ron Hayes
Chance to play for the Pirates. He’s 29 and has done well in triple A. He would be a power third base in jpl. I can see that happening
kellin
I didnt think about him jumping across the water.. he’s probably better off, because he’s just not shown much at MLB level…
scottn59c
I was hoping to see more of what Calhoun can do. But the Giants need relief pitching more than they do a guy with a one-dimensional bat who has had little success at the MLB level. I get why they did what they did, but it sure sucks for Calhoun.
Kewldood69
Another former Dodger (albeit as a minor leaguer), for Zaidi. Just come back to the better team, Farhan.
tedtheodorelogan
Why would you guys want him back? Dodgers seem more than capable of filling out their roster with players who are actually talented and don’t have the need to pick through the trash heap.
Balk
For now. The Dodgers time will come again when all the players they’ve signed start to age. Comes quicker then you think
Redwolves3
Another Zaidi dumpster dive and DFA. Sign of what the Zaidi offseason is going to look like. Hopefully ownership will tell Zaidi he better find sign Judge or be fired.
Samuel
Why would Judge go there?
Balk
Money
Samuel
Really?
No one that has a contending team will pay him?
Balk
And to think the Giants don’t have the payroll space to go hard and heavy wouldn’t make them contenders? Rodon, Degrom, Turner along with Judge and others are all pending free agency and all you can say is really? One of the biggest market teams can’t afford to build? Cmon man. My first name is Samuel too, don’t make us look bad. Ha
Samuel
LOL
In your dreams that all those payers will sign with one team….and like they’re not happy with their current teams that will pay them.
1. You think 4 guys make a team?
2. Tell me Balk – when has that ever happened before.
Balk
So the Dodgers drafted and signed Betts, Freeman, Turner, Muncy? Cmon man. I’ll put money on 2 high quality pitchers, a quality shortstop and a power bat coming to the bay in the off-season.
etex211
Willie Calhoun can’t play any position in the field, isn’t a good enough hitter to be an every day DH, has a reputation as a trouble maker, and will be 28 years old next season.
I’m not sure where he goes from here. Who would want him?
Buff Barnacles
Oakland!!!!
kmk1986
Ya willie ball is coming to an end soon
toomanyblacksinbaseball
I’d celebrate any chucker leaving the Twins, even for a middle tier team.
Jacksson13
Poor Mr. Cotton.
With all the jacking around he has been through at the hands of the Twins this year, he must know more about Minneapolis & St. Paul than a native.
Here’s hoping he can find some career stability.
But then, considering where he is going, that may not happen,
at least this season/year.
amk1920
Farhan’s revolving door roster continues
A'sfaninUK
Jharel Cotton has a 2.83 ERA and 5.48 FIP lmao he owes his defense so many Christmas presents.
antibelt
FIP leans too heavily based on k9. Maybe some regression, but their bullpen was their weak point this year.
mark Mijares
More re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Drew Waters Bat
I could see AA tendering a contract to Willie Calhoun. Seems like some untapped potential still has to be there.