For the second time in a little more than a week, the Giants made a trade for a recently DFA’d player.

The San Francisco Giants traded for Seattle infielder Kevin Padlo on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.  Padlo had been designated for assignment by the Mariners over the weekend.

The Giants had room on the 40-man roster because they had just placed Zack Littell on the COVID-19 Injured List.  The Giants have two players on that list between Littell and Mike Yastrzemski, and will need to make room for them back on the 40-man when they are ready to return in the near future.  The Giants also recalled Kervin Castro to the majors to replace Littell in the bullpen.  Padlo will report to Triple-A Sacramento.

This season, Padlo is batting .173 with a .317 on-base percentage and a .327 slugging percentage through 15 games in Triple-A Tacoma.  Last season, he hit .224/.305/.443 combined in Triple-A between two teams, but particularly hit .298/.388/.596 after he joined the Seattle organization.  He also made his Major League debut in 2021, going 1-for-12 with two walks for Tampa Bay.  He also was 0-for-1 for Seattle.

The Giants will be Padlo’s fourth organization.  Padlo, 25, was originally drafted in the 5th round in the 2014 draft, #143 overall, by the Colorado Rockies.  In 2016, Padlo was part of a trade to Tampa Bay, where he accompanied outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Rays, and the Rockies got current Giant pitcher Jake McGee and pitcher German Marquez.  The Rays kept Padlo through 2021, but designated him for assignment in August of that year, which is when the Mariners claimed him.

This is the second trade the Giants have made recently for a player that was on waivers.  On Thursday, April 21st, the Giants traded for Cory Abbott from the Cubs, also for cash considerations.  With the Giants having one of the best records in baseball over the last week, the trades allow the Giants to jump the waiver priority line to ensure getting these players.  

However, the Giants will need to make decisions soon on the 40-man roster with both Mike Yastrzemski and Zack Littell likely to come off the COVID-19 IL soon.  Unlike most 10-Day Injured List players, if a player tests positive for COVID they are removed from the 40.