Giants designate veteran LHP Holland for assignment
The San Francisco Giants designated struggling left-handed pitcher Derek Holland for assignment on Sunday along with infielder Ryder Jones.
Holland, who signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Giants in the offseason, started the season in the starting rotation, then was demoted to the bullpen.
On the year, the 32-year-old Holland is 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA. He's appeared in 31 games (seven starts), throwing 68 2/3 innings.
In a text message to the San Francisco Chronicle, Holland said he was a bit surprised by the move.
"It's a shock but not a shock when you're not performing well enough on the field. Part of the game," he said.
Just Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochy praised Holland.
"We're going to need him," Bochy said. "He's our utility tool in the bullpen. I can use him early, use him late against lefties. He's resilient, too."
In 11 major league seasons spent primarily with the Texas Rangers (2009-16), Holland has a record of 78-77 with a 4.51 ERA. He pitched for the Chicago White Sox in 2017 before joining the Giants as a free agent.
Jones, 25, was the Giants' second-round selection in the 2013 draft but hasn't caught on with the team. He's bounced around the minor leagues in an injury-plagued season this year, batting just .189 in 12 games.
Jones spent parts of 2018-19 with the Giants, batting .184 in 58 games. He had four home runs and eight RBIs in 158 at-bats, striking out 57 times.
In other moves, the Giants optioned left-handed pitcher Ty Blach to Triple-A Sacramento and selected left-hander Conner Menez and infielder Zach Green from Sacramento.
In two games with the Giants, the 28-year-old Blach pitched 6 1/3 innings and had a 14.21 ERA.
Menez, 24, was listed as the Giants' starter against the New York Mets on Sunday. The 24-year-old was 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA at Sacramento. In 35 1/3 innings over seven games (six starts), he struck out 53.
Green, 25, had 23 home runs and 59 RBIs in 64 games at Sacramento, batting .302.
--Field Level Media
