San Francisco Giants acquire AJ Pollock from the Seattle Mariners

Facing the absence of Mike Yastrzemski due to an anticipated two to three-week recovery period for a left hamstring strain, the Giants proactively strengthened their outfield options on Monday. They accomplished this by obtaining AJ Pollock, along with infielder Mark Mathias and an allocation of cash, from the Mariners. In exchange for these additions, the Giants are either offering a player to be named later or providing additional cash considerations.

Below is a full breakdown of the trade:

Giants receive outfielder AJ Pollock, infielder Mark Mathias, and cash considerations. Mariners receive a player to be named later or cash considerations.

At the age of 35, Pollock has maintained a batting line of .173/.225/.323 with five home runs across 49 games during his current season with the Mariners. Despite these recent figures, it's worth noting that Pollock boasts a history as a former All-Star and Gold Glove Award recipient. Additionally, his career highlights include an impressive .838 OPS against left-handed pitching, showcasing his capabilities in those matchups.

Given the injuries sidelining Mitch Haniger and Thairo Estrada, the Giants are facing a notable gap in their lineup, especially in terms of right-handed batting prowess. This situation presents an opportunity for AJ Pollock to step up and make a meaningful contribution during this transitional phase.

Though currently on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain, there is encouraging news about Pollock's possible comeback. The Giants are hopeful that he might be ready to resume active play on Tuesday, contingent upon positive results from pregame drills.

Giants' President of Baseball Operations, Farhan Zaidi, shared insights into the acquisition of AJ Pollock, expressing that while the move initially addresses the immediate need created by Yastrzemski's injury in the outfield, there's a larger perspective as well. Zaidi noted, "Even as we welcome back our injured players, we see a role for Pollock within our outfield rotation to provide ongoing assistance."

Zaidi elaborated, "In this scenario, it's a situation where the player hasn't been operating at full health and hasn't been on the field extensively. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that he possesses untapped potential and has more to offer moving forward."

Farhan Zaidi has a history with AJ Pollock, as they both have ties to the Dodgers. Zaidi revealed that he engaged in discussions with Pollock before the seasoned player signed a one-year contract worth $7 million with the Mariners during the most recent offseason. However, Zaidi explained that there wasn't an evident roster opening for Pollock after the Giants secured Mitch Haniger through a three-year, $43.5 million deal.

Interestingly, Pollock is poised to reconnect with several of his former Dodgers teammates, including Joc Pederson, Alex Wood, and Ross Stripling. This reunion of familiar faces could contribute to a smoother transition for Pollock as he integrates into the San Francisco team.

Farhan Zaidi acknowledged AJ Pollock's challenging season with the Mariners by stating, "Clearly, his performance in Seattle hasn't been standout." Nevertheless, Zaidi emphasized that the Giants are delving deeper into various metrics beyond the surface-level stats. They're taking into account factors such as plate discipline and his movement on the field, with positive indicators including his sprint speeds. From this perspective, the Giants perceive Pollock as a strong candidate for a change of environment to reinvigorate his performance.

Zaidi added, "We see him as someone who could greatly benefit from a fresh start. Furthermore, Pollock already has established relationships with numerous individuals within our organization, including teammates from his past. These connections are invaluable, and we anticipate that his positive presence will be a welcomed addition to our clubhouse."

Mark Mathias, aged 28, was acquired by Seattle after being claimed off waivers from the Pirates at the start of July. During this season, he participated in 22 games for Pittsburgh, showcasing his versatility by playing both second base and outfield positions.

The Giants have opted to assign Mathias to their Triple-A affiliate, Sacramento. However, given his background as a right-handed hitter and his hometown ties to Santa Clara, California, there's potential for him to be considered for opportunities at second base while Thairo Estrada continues his recovery. Notably, Mathias has performed well at the Triple-A level this season, boasting a .299 batting average, a .405 on-base percentage, and a .427 slugging percentage, accompanied by four home runs across 47 games.

Farhan Zaidi hinted at the potential for Mark Mathias to make his way back to the major league level with the Giants, particularly given the team's evolving dynamics in the coming week. Zaidi acknowledged the upcoming return of Thairo Estrada and noted the current emphasis on improving the overall quality of at-bats in the lineup.

Mathias possesses impressive plate discipline, which Zaidi highlighted as a crucial attribute. He also expressed that the lower portion of the batting order hasn't produced the same level of quality at-bats as the top two-thirds. Zaidi noted that Mathias's plate discipline has been evident even at the big league level.

Additionally, Mathias's versatility in playing multiple positions aligns well with Manager Gabe Kapler's roster management style. Zaidi mentioned that Mathias's track record of performing well against left-handed pitching makes him an attractive option. Overall, Mathias's skill set and adaptability align with the team's strategy and needs.