On Thursday, the San Francisco Giants made a trade with the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Cory Abbott, announcing the trade in the middle of their game with the New York Mets.

In return, the Giants sent cash considerations to the Cubs.  To make room for Abbott on the 40-man roster, the Giants designated Jaylin Davis for assignment.

Abbott, 26, was designated for assignment by the Cubs on April 16th.  He has a 4.50 ERA this season after two starts, allowing three runs on four hits (two of which were home runs), with six strikeouts and two walks in 6.0 innings.  In 2021, Abbott had a 5.91 ERA in 19 starts at Triple-A, with 130 strikeouts to 53 walks.

Originally a 2nd round pick in 2017, 67th overall, Abbott has a career 3.65 ERA over five minor league seasons.  In 2019, he had a 3.01 ERA in Double-A.  Abbott also made his major league debut in 2021, with a 6.75 ERA over seven games, six in relief.  He’s been a starter his entire career in the minors.

Davis, 27, is hitting .295/.340/.500 with three doubles and two home runs over ten games this season.  Davis only played 48 games in 2021 due to injuries, hitting .230/.317/.503, with 11 home runs in Triple-A, and going 1-for-9 in the Majors in five games.  Davis had a career-high 36 home runs in 2019 in a season where he was traded to San Francisco.

Davis’ DFA comes almost concurrently with Giants outfielder Steven Duggar suffering an apparently oblique injury off of a swing in the game against the Mets.  It leaves the Giants with just one outfielder in the minors on the 40-man roster, Heliot Ramos.  Another outfielder, LaMonte Wade Jr. is on the 10-Day Injured List.

The move for Abbott comes as two of the Giants minor league free agent starting pitcher acquisitions have faced early struggles.  Enmanuel De Jesus has a 7.56 ERA through three starts, and Jakob Junis has an 8.74 ERA through three starts.  Starting pitching recently took a hit with the Giants as Alex Cobb went on the 10-day Injured List with a right adductor strain on Tuesday.  Junis is one of two starting pitchers the Giants have on their 40-man roster that is not in the Majors, alongside Sean Hjelle, who gave up eight hits in 3.2 innings in his last start on Tuesday.  Three other 40-man roster pitchers have starting experience in Kervin Castro, Gregory Santos, and Randy Rodriguez.