How this GM business works

[rog]

I realize some feel that Farhan is mostly spinning his wheels.  As I have affirmed, I can see why some feel that way.  Another point of view of course is that Farhan feels no move is too small if it has the possibility of improving the team.

Let's take a look at the Giants' claiming catcher Tom Murphy as an example of how it appears Farhan is working.

First, you may remember that as soon as Murphy was DFA's by the Rockies, he was identified here as a catching prospect with potential.  Sure enough, the Giants claimed him and won the claim.  Given that they had just traded for Erik Kratz as their backup, claiming Murphy looked ridiculous to some.

As was pointed out in a MLB Trade Rumors chat, the Giants likely put the claim in for Murphy before they knew they would be able to get Kratz.  When they won the claim, it looked like overkill.  But of course it wouldn't have been overkill had the Giants not been able to work out the deal for Kratz during the time between their claim for Murphy and the time they knew for sure Tom would be awarded to them.

Still, the claim has worked out positively.  Taking advantage of their high claim position, the Giants have traded Murphy to the Mariners for 20-year-old Dominican southpaw Jesus Ozoria.  Will Ozoria turn out to be anything?  Hard to know.  He's old for the Dominican Summer League, but last season in 49.1 innings, he struck out 59 batters while walking just 7.  That would seem to be worth a look, and now the Giants will be the team doing the looking.

One could look at claiming Murphy as a move made like a chicken with its head cut off, or one could say that the Giants got a prospect out of the move, and that they're a team that could use prospects.

I suspect the Giants claimed Murphy with the idea that he might be their backup catcher, allowing Aramis Garcia added development time in Sacramento.  Once they were able to trade for Kratz, I suspect they still hoped they would be successful in their claim, hoping they might sneak Murphy through waivers.  When they won the claim but saw they couldn't get Murphy through, they made the best trade they could, and it netted them what appears to be a decent prospect, albeit certainly not a top one.

But with Murphy, they made something out of nothing.

I think that while we all would have liked to see them do more this off-season, they did OK with the exception of darn near striking out with the outfield.  That was their biggest need, and they didn't get much accomplished.

But I also think it's important that they didn't make any long-term moves that would hurt the future.

As for Bruce Bochy's remark seeming to imply they would trade a starting pitcher, that doesn't appear to be happening.

[rog]

Ozoria also had a decent 40% ground ball rate.

In the long run, the question will be whether Ozoria is better than Merendy Gonzalez, whom the Giants waived in order to free up the 40-man roster spot for Murphy. Gonzalez was claimed, so in essence, the Giants traded Gonzalez for Ozoria and one 40-man roster spot.

Meanwhile, Steven Okert cleared waivers and was outrighted to Sacramento.

[rog]

The Orioles just signed an intiguing outfielder to a minor league contract. Mason Williams is a 27-year-old left-handed hitter who has played all three outfield spots. He has a .289 career average in an even 200 plate appearances and has hit .274 in nine minor league seasons. I suspect if Williams, the greatnephew of Walt (No Neck) Williams, batted right-handed, the Giants would have had an interest, but with their top two outfielders hitting from the left side, the Giants appear to strongly favor righties.

Williams hasn't been as good an overall hitter as his average indicates, posting just a .703 OPS in the minors and .721 in the majors.

[rog]

By the way, even though 30-year=old backup catcher David Freitas started the Mariners' home opener yesterday, he has options left and is being sent to the minor leagues, with Murphy taking over the Mariners' backup catching spot. You may remember that the Giants traded Chris Stratton for a pitching prospect with options.

Options matter, which is why I wish the Giants had claimed reliever J.T. Chargois a year ago. Chargois still experiences arm issues, and he was sent back out again -- but even now he still has an option left. Players with options who can provide added backup on a AAA roster have value. Meanwhile, like Aramis Ramirez, Austin Slater and Chris Shaw, they can continue to develop in the minors.