LAS VEGAS -- The Giants have spent most of the last month clearing out roster spots. On Monday morning, they finally made an addition.
Outfielder Mike Gerber was claimed from the Detroit Tigers, giving the organization a fifth young outfielder on its 40-man roster. Gerber, 26, goes down as the first 40-man roster addition of the Giants' Farhan Zaidi era.
Gerber has just 42 big league at-bats. He hit .095 for the Tigers last season with 21 strikeouts in those 42 at-bats, but the Giants surely see something in his minor league profile that intrigues them. Zaidi had success with similar players while with the Dodgers, and the Giants have been pushing to add position player depth to their 40-man roster.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Gerber hasn't hit many homers at the minor league level, but he has shown an ability to reach base, posting a .346 OBP in five minor league seasons. He had a .304/.373/.496 line across three minor league levels in 2017, but he was down to .213/.277/.411 in Triple-A last season.
Perhaps most importantly, Gerber has played all three outfield spots in the past, and he has plenty of experience in center field. The Giants are thin there after letting Gorkys Hernandez go. Gerber took home a minor league Gold Glove in 2016.
Gerber joins Steven Duggar, Mac Williamson, Austin Slater and Chris Shaw as the outfielders on the Giants' 40-man roster.