SF Giants DFA Joey Bart, ending tenure of former No. 2 draft pick

SAN DIEGO — Once named Buster Posey’s eventual successor, Joey Bart’s time with the San Francisco Giants ended Sunday.

Bart, the second overall selection in the 2018 draft, was tabbed to open a roster spot for right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who was called up to start the Giants’ series finale against the Padres. While the Giants initially opted to keep Bart on their Opening Day roster, that decision was a long time coming after signing Tom Murphy to be Patrick Bailey’s primary backup.

Bart, 27, is eligible to be traded next week, but if the Giants don’t find a partner, he will be placed on unconditional waivers, where he is almost certain to be claimed and added to the team’s major league roster. another team. He’s out of options and can’t be sent to the minors without being placed on waivers again.

In a text message, Bart said he “just wishes the best for my teammates and is excited for a new opportunity.”

A change of scenery could benefit Bart, who has never really escaped Posey’s shadow. It was always going to be difficult to replace the Giants’ franchise catcher, and Bart’s duty was only made more difficult by conditions beyond his control.

While tearing through the Arizona Fall League in 2019, Bart was hit in the hand by a pitch, effectively ending his season. The following year, Bart was thrust into the starting job in the majors when Posey opted out of the pandemic season, although he did not play a game above Double-A. And when Posey returned for 2021, Bart had to toil at Triple-A most of the season, rather than learning under his predecessor as a backup during their 107-win season.

“Sometimes when you have to leave your first team, it’s tough,” manager Bob Melvin said. “But I think he will have a better opportunity than he was given here.”

Melvin, a former wide receiver, knows this, having been traded from the Tigers after his rookie season to San Francisco, where he established himself as a major player and went on to enjoy a 10-year playing career. Throughout the spring, Melvin praised Bart’s attitude as well as the progress he has made as a player.

“It certainly looked to me like he developed this spring,” Melvin said. “I know it was a quick rise for him and it was difficult, you come after a legend here and things don’t go well straight away. And now all of a sudden you’re up and down. It can be difficult, and hard on your psyche too. But I think he got past that this spring and came into spring training in a good position and was just looking forward to having a good spring, knowing that something like this could happen.

Bart was the last first round pick of the previous regime led by Bobby Evans. Once Farhan Zaidi arrived in 2019, the Giants used their first pick on another receiver, Patrick Bailey, just a year after spending the second overall pick on Bart.

Bailey arrived midway through last season and took over the starting job, putting a countdown on Bart’s tenure with the organization. Some thought the Giants could pair their two first-round receivers together, but that was quashed when they agreed to a two-year deal with Murphy.

“I feel like our relationship has probably grown the most in these last few weeks,” Bailey said. “He’s been great all the time. He’s a great guy. I love being with him. I hate to see him go. It’s kind of the hardest part of the job, but I know that no matter where he ends up, he’ll do great.

Jefferies completes a long road back

Jefferies, 28, made his first major league start since May 18, 2022, before undergoing thoracic outlet surgery and his second Tommy John procedure.

Posting a 2.25 ERA and 15:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four spring training outings, Jefferies did not open the season on the active roster, but was still scheduled to start Game 4 of the season, which Melvin informed him of. before hitting the road, adding an extra layer of style to the Cal product.

“I even played Cal’s fight song when I told him he was going to make the team,” Melvin said. “You don’t realize how lonely one rehab is, and then a second one is really hard on you. The uncertainty of knowing if you’re going to come back and then signing with a team… it’s pretty cool. I think it felt really good to work as hard as he did and reap the rewards of his hard work to get to that point again. So it’s an exciting day for us and an exciting day for him.

Snell is still to be determined