San Francisco Giants Roster Moves: 5 Implications of Hector Sanchez Promotion

Today's promotion of 21-year-old minor league catcher Hector Sanchez has several potential implications for the San Francisco Giants. 

As reported by Andy Baggerly of the San Jose Mercury-News, the switch-hitting Sanchez replaces outfielder Pat Burrell on the Giants' 25-man roster. Burrell goes on the 15-day disabled list, the consequence of a painful foot bone spur.

For those expecting a blockbuster deal to boost the Giants' anemic offense, adding an unproven rookie isn't going to get the pulse racing.

But, this move likely is the first of several dominoes that will fall as Brian Sabean tries to position his club for a deep postseason run.

Here are five likely implications of adding Sanchez.

1) Someone Is About to Be Demoted

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Someone will need to be removed from the Giants' 40-man roster to make room for Sanchez. That's because 15-day disabled players (in this case, Burrell) remain on the 40-man list.

The 60-day disabled, however, do not count against the 40-man limit. Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com speculated today that someone else might be placed on the extended disabled list. (more on that in next slide)

Urban may be right. It's also foreseeable that the Giants could demote catcher Chris Stewart or infielder Emmanuel Burriss (the latter option is viable now that Mike Fontenot has returned). Stewart would have to clear waivers.

Urban, however, also noted that Stewart has become Tim LIncecum's catcher-designate (as Eli Whiteside was previously for Jonathan Sanchez). If so, the Giants would be carrying three catchers and four outfielders—and that doesn't seem plausible for more than a few days.

2) Someone Goes on the 60-Day Disabled List

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Urban speculated that there are two reasonable candidates to be moved to the longer-term disabled list: Freddy Sanchez or Mark DeRosa.

If it's Sanchez, that's news. The Giants have indicated that the injured second baseman was rehabbing and hoping for a return sometime in the season's second half. Given his value and postseason experience, it figures the club wouldn't want to foreclose that possibility.

Unless, that is, Sanchez knows his shoulder likely needs surgery and the public talk about a return is intended to help Sabean avoid appearing desperate in trade negotiations. We'll see.

DeRosa seems a likelier candidate to go on the 60-day DL. Since he's under contract, he couldn't be released unless an agreement is reached with the club on an injury settlement. That, too, is a possibility.

3) Sanchez Is Being Showcased as Trade Bait

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A gentleman named Buster has to be taken into account in any discussion of other Giant catching prospects. 

Assuming Posey is healthy enough to return in 2012, the Giants may consider Sanchez an expendable asset in seeking help at other positions. 

Productive switch-hitting catchers don't fall from trees, and Sanchez has hit .300 or better at Class A San Jose and Triple-A Fresno.

While offensively capable, Sanchez's defense reportedly is not yet major league calibre. If Sabean is considering a deal with a club not needing immediate help behind the dish (Minnesota, for example), Sanchez could be an attractive bargaining chip.

4) a Veteran Is Going to Be Released

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Call this my "Wishful thinking" option.

The Giants' roster is cluttered with unproductive veterans. Burrell is/was one of them; he's out of the equation temporarily. 

Other vets, however, are taking up space (and $) while delivering little value. Someone has to come off of the 40-man roster.

Is it inconceivable that the Giants might cut ties with Miguel Tejada? He's making relatively modest money. He's proven he can't play any position (competently) other than 3B, which has an established incumbent. 

And, most of all, he continues to have the most undisciplined at-bats of any Giant this side of Andres Torres. Did Tejada's 12th-inning at bat last night against San Diego—a first-pitch, jam-shot pop up after the three previous Giants had reached via two walks and an error by the pitcher—not give you heartburn?

5) Outfield Help Is on the Way

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Burrell's absence means the Giants have four outfielders on their active roster. It's inconceivable it will stay that way for long.

Emmanuel Burriss was playing LF late last night (or was it early this morning?) in San Diego—evoking memories of Derrel Thomas—but that can't be the long-range plan.

Unless the price is simply too steep for Sabean, we must (and should) assume he is going to acquire an outfielder, and create roster space for whoever-he-is by demoting, trading or releasing someone else. (see earlier slides for options for all three)

We can speculate, and salivate, about just which outfielder it may be—something tells me it might NOT be the likes of Beltran or Cuddyer—but there seem to be only two viable scenarios:

1) Sabean acquires someone to play a corner outfield spot and create room for him (see above)

2) The Giants acquire a bat for another position and move existing position players around (hmm—like acquiring a third baseman, moving Sandoval to first base and Huff to the outfield).

Just saying: moves made are rarely the moves about which there is greatest speculation. Call that the David DeJesus rule.