Casey McGehee Designated For Assignment By San Francisco
By Kevin Saito
When Casey McGehee signed with the San Francisco Giants this past offseason, it was supposed to be something of a homecoming for the third baseman. As it turned out, it was a homecoming that was far shorter than either side expected to be.
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The Giants made something of a surprise move on Sunday morning by designating third baseman Casey McGehee for assignment following a loss in the back half of a double header to the Colorado Rockies.
It was a loss that snapped San Francisco’s eight game winning streak, and a loss in which McGehee had just one hit in four at bats after not playing in the opening game.
In hindsight, the move probably wasn’t all that surprising. McGehee has struggled all season long. Brought in to replace some of the power lost when Pablo Sandoval opted to sign with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent, McGehee has only made the team miss him even more.
For the season, McGehee is batting an ice cold .200, has hit two home runs, and has driven in a total of nine runs – with four of those coming on one grand slam against the Miami Marlins.
In an interview after being given the news, McGehee said:
"“I think it’s always surprising when stuff like this happens. I haven’t had a whole lot of time to process it. Obviously I’m disappointed. It’s not the kind of news you want to hear ever. The only thing I can say is I wish that obviously I would have gotten off to a little different start. If you get off to the kind of start I feel I’m capable of and expect of myself, we’re not having this conversation.”"
It wasn’t the sort of production, or rather lack of production, that San Francisco envisioned when they signed McGehee. Last season for the Marlins, he collected 177 hits – which put him amongst the MLB leaders – and hit .287 while driving in 76 runs. McGehee’s poor start to the season wasn’t what the Giants needed as they tried to fill the offensive void left by offseason defections.
McGehee was hobbled by a knee injury coming out of Spring Training. San Francisco GM Bobby Evans even tried to provide a little cover for McGehee by saying, “Coming off spring training, I think that set him back. He was Comeback Player of the Year last year for a reason. The injury had some effect.”
But McGehee wasn’t content to use that as an excuse and knows that his poor performance is on him, saying:
"“Who knows? I had the best year of my career with a bad knee. If I’m going out there, I expect to perform. Everybody has got something bothering them. I guess that’s nice for them to try to make an excuse, but I don’t need excuses. If I get out there, I expect myself to perform.”"
If not for a combination of factors in play, the Giants may have been content to let McGehee remain on the roster and try to work through his funk. But given the strong season Matt Duffy is having – .299 BA, two home runs, and 19 RBI’s in just 97 at bats – Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy can’t continue to justify keeping him on the bench while continuing to send a struggling McGehee out to the field.
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Duffy’s strong play coupled with McGehee’s struggles, along with the Giants’ need to carry 13 pitchers on the roster for the foreseeable future, and the versatility other players have that the team needs, spelled the end for McGehee in San Francisco.
At least for now.
The Giants are hoping that McGehee will accept an assignment to their Triple-A club in Sacramento, but he is going to take a little time to make a decision.
"“At the end of the day it is a team game and I try to play for the team. As far as life, you’ve got another team you’ve got to consider and that’s your wife and kids.”"
A season that started with high hopes and expectations for McGehee and the Giants has unraveled quickly. Neither side is happy with how it’s all played out, nor with having to make the decision that had to be made.
But given that the Giants are hoping that McGehee accepts the assignment to Sacramento, they believe that his issues can be worked out with some consistent work. And for McGehee’s part, he doesn’t believe he’s done either.
"“I’m pretty sure yesterday wasn’t the last baseball game I played in. I still feel like I’ve got a lot left, a lot to offer. I still feel I’m the same guy who was (fourth) in the league in hits last year.”"
It wasn’t the scenario that either the Giants or McGehee had wanted or envisioned when he signed with the club. But it’s the situation that they have in front of them and as an organization, San Francisco has to do what’s in the best interest of the team. Unfortuantely for McGehee, what’s in the best interest of the team doesn’t quite coincide with his wants and desires.
It’s a sad and somewhat quick end to McGehee’s happy homecoming. But if he accepts the assignment to Sacramento, it may not be a permanent end. But just as the organization had to do what was right for the Giants, now McGehee has to do what’s right for himself and his family.