Giants acquire outfielder AJ Pollock and utility player Mark Mathias in trade with Mariners
The San Francisco Giants have acquired outfielder AJ Pollock from the Seattle Mariners to boost their playoff push.
The San Francisco Giants have made a move ahead of the trade deadline to acquire outfielder AJ Pollock and infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias from the Seattle Mariners. The Giants believe that Pollock can provide immediate help to their club, especially with outfielder Mike Yastrzemski going on the injured list with a strained left hamstring.
Pollock has struggled in his only season with the Mariners, hitting .173 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 49 games. However, the Giants see potential in him and believe that a change of scenery could benefit his performance. Despite being on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, Pollock is eligible to be activated on Tuesday. He has spent most of his career in the National League West with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler expressed his optimism about Pollock, stating, "This is a move that suggests we think there's more in the tank for AJ." The Giants have had Pollock on their radar as a potential signing, and they already have relationships with many of the team's players.
President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi explained the team's thought process behind acquiring Pollock, saying, "As we looked for guys who could help us right now as we're a little banged up on the position player side, you're always going to kind of go back to your board of guys you've had interest in in the past, had interest in in the offseason." Despite Pollock's struggles this season, the Giants are focusing on his underlying measures such as plate discipline and sprint speeds, which they believe make him a strong change-of-scenery candidate.
In addition to Pollock, the Giants also acquired Mark Mathias, who was playing for Triple-A Tacoma after being claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mathias appeared in 22 games for the Pirates and hit .231. He has been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Overall, the Giants are hopeful that the additions of Pollock and Mathias will bolster their roster and help them make a push for the playoffs. Time will tell if these moves prove successful, but the Giants are confident in the potential of their new acquisitions.
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