SAN FRANCISCO — The first player Farhan Zaidi ever added to the Giants roster is no longer on the roster.
To clear a spot on their 40-man roster for Drew Pomeranz, the Giants on Wednesday designated Mike Gerber for assignment. Gerber, a 26-year-old outfielder, was claimed from the Detroit Tigers on the first day of the Winter Meetings in December.
Pomeranz signed a one-year deal on Wednesday.
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Gerber looked headed for plenty of spring training time in an outfield that is lacking big-league talent. When the Giants picked him up, they talked up his minor league track record and the fact that Gerber can play all three outfield spots.
The move leaves the Giants with just five outfielders on their 40-man roster, including one — Rule 5 pick Drew Ferguson — who was added three days after Gerber and outlasted him. None of them have been regular starters in the big leagues, although Steven Duggar is expected to be that guy in center field this season.
Currently, Austin Slater leads Giants outfielders in career plate appearances, and he’s at just 352.
Zaidi has said repeatedly that he expects to add at least two outfielders to the mix before the season, perhaps guys who fit the short-term mold displayed by the Pomeranz signing.