The San Francisco Giants have made a surprising move during their playoff hunt, placing second baseman Thairo Estrada and left-handed relievers Taylor Rogers and Tyler Matzek on waivers. This decision, first reported by Grant Brisbee and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, comes as the Giants attempt to trim their payroll in the final stretch of the season.
Despite remaining on the active roster for now, the three players are subject to claims from other teams. Should a club place a claim on any of the trio, the Giants will not have the option to rescind the waivers, effectively losing them to a new team without compensation.
Estrada, playing on a $4.7 million arbitration salary, is perhaps the most likely to be claimed. While his stellar defensive reputation, highlighted by elite Statcast metrics, remains intact, his offensive production has declined sharply this season. After being a consistent performer over the past few years, posting a .266/.320/.416 slash line between 2021 and 2023, Estrada’s numbers have plummeted in 2024, with a meager .216/.246/.345 line. Though some of his struggles can be attributed to bad luck, his offensive woes and looming salary increase may prompt the Giants to part ways after the season regardless of the waiver outcome.
Rogers, meanwhile, is enjoying a strong year with a 2.45 ERA over 51 1/3 innings, but his hefty contract complicates matters. The 33-year-old southpaw is owed over $2 million for the rest of this season and another $12 million in 2025, the final year of his three-year, $33 million deal. While Rogers is a proven asset, his significant salary makes it unclear whether any teams will be willing to take on the financial burden at this point in the season.
Tyler Matzek is the most affordable of the group but perhaps the biggest gamble for potential suitors. Acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the Jorge Soler trade, Matzek is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and has spent most of 2024 on the injured list. Despite his limited action and injury history, he carries just a $1.9 million salary with no buyout option for next season. Any team that claims Matzek would only be on the hook for around $330,000 for the remainder of the season, making him a low-cost option for a team willing to bet on his recovery.
For the Giants, this trio’s placement on waivers is a clear signal of their intention to shed salary while hoping another team makes a claim. If none of the players are claimed, they will remain on the Giants’ roster through the season’s end. However, San Francisco’s move may offer fringe contenders a chance to bolster their rosters for a postseason push.
