While big-league rosters are frozen during the lockout, MLB teams are still allowed to make moves with minor leaguers. On Wednesday, that meant the Giants lost some depth.
The big league portion of the annual Rule 5 Draft was canceled but the minor league portion was held Wednesday morning and the Giants saw some familiar names end up elsewhere, including Conner Menez, a lefty who has pitched for them each of the last three seasons.
Menez was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the fifth pick in the Triple-A phase of the draft. The Giants also lost right-handers Jon Duplantier and Matt Seelinger, first baseman John Nogowksi, outfielder Vince Fernandez and third baseman Jacob Gonzalez. They added Michael Gigliotti, a center fielder previously in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
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Menez is the most well-known of the group and made 23 big league appearances for the Giants, including four starts. A homegrown pitcher from Hollister, Menez had his best season in 2020, posting a 2.38 ERA in seven relief appearances. He made eight appearances for the Giants in 2021 and spent most of the year pitching out of the bullpen in Triple-A. The Giants DFA'd Menez in August, as he had fallen behind a lot of other left-handed options on their 40-man roster.
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Duplantier is a former top Diamondbacks prospect who was signed last week to provide starting depth in the minors. He has struggled at the big league level, but he's not too far removed from being a top 100 prospect in the game. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gonzalez is the other notable name; the son of Luis Gonzalez, he was taken in the second round of the 2017 draft.
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The addition, Gigliotti, was taken two rounds after Gonzalez that year. He has a .390 on-base percentage and 65 steals in four minor league seasons, all of which have come below the Double-A level.
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