Cory Gearrin Should be a Keeper for the San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants will have a decision to make with relief pitcher Cory Gearrin: keep him on the opening day roster, or risk losing him to waivers.

With an intimidating sneer and very unique arm angle, right-handed relief pitcher Cory Gearrin made a quick impression with the San Francisco Giants in 2015 as a late September call-up. The overall numbers don’t look all that impressive from a quick glance (seven appearances, 3.2 innings, 4.91 ERA), but a deeper dive proves that Gearrin is just about back to full strength following Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season.

When Gearrin returned to the mound last season, it was May 7th and he was pitching for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats. It took him a few outing to get his legs back underneath, but Gearrin soon was back in control and dominating hitters. In his last 16 appearances at Triple-A, Gearrin tossed 23 innings, allowed 21 hits and four runs, and struck out 35 hitters compared to eight walks. Over the entire season, right-handed hitters batted an abysmal .151 against the funky sidewinder.

On September 11th, Gearrin made his return to the big leagues and was up to his old tricks again. In his short stint, Gearrin made seven appearances, and didn’t allow a baserunner in six of them. Right-handers recorded one hit and one walk in 11 plate appearances against Gearrin, and struck out four times.

Already on the 40-man roster, Gearrin has been in big league camp with the Giants, and has been just as impressive in 2016 as he was last year. In three innings over three appearances, Gearrin’s sidearm delivery from a tall body angle has confounded hitters, who have picked up just a pair of hits, one of which was erased by a double play, and struck out four times. He’s quickly made a case to be kept on the big league roster when the team breaks camp at the beginning of April.

More from San Francisco Giants

• Thank you SF Giants for a fun, wild, surprising 2020 season
• SF Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss 2020 MLB playoffs
• SF Giants: Mike Yastrzemski named 2020 Willie Mac Award recipient
• SF Giants: Chadwick Tromp placed on IL with shoulder strain
• SF Giants: Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners postponed

Gearrin doesn’t have any options remaining, so if the Giants don’t keep him on the 25-man roster to start the season, they would have to risk losing him through waivers in order to maybe put him back in Triple-A. The team has some talented young relievers down in the farm system that should be ready for call-up fairly soon, but there’s no replacement for big league experience. Gearrin has that, while guys like Derek Law, Ray Black, and Ian Gardeck don’t.

For Gearrin to stay, that would of course mean the Giants have to send someone else to the minor leagues. The most logical option would be to send Chris Heston, the man who figures to spend most of the season as a long reliever and spot starter, to Sacramento to start every fifth day, or potentially pitch out of the bullpen if the team prefers. Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich also have options, but both of those guys seem to have their jobs locked in.

Would manager Bruce Bochy be comfortable sending their long reliever Heston to Triple-A, just one season after the team set a franchise record for most reliever appearances? If he does ultimately make that decision, it would show an extreme trust in the rotation, and in particular the two new starters, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

The decision on opening day looks like it won’t be that difficult to make. Matt Cain is still recovering from a minor procedure to have a cyst removed from his pitching arm, and has yet to resume throwing this spring. If Cain is unable to start the season and has to go back on the disabled list, the team can keep Heston, who would start in Cain’s place, and Gearrin, who would be the seventh man in the bullpen.

Of course, that doesn’t fix the problem, it just delays it for a few weeks. When Cain is ready to return, he’ll obviously need a roster spot, and again it would likely come down to sending Gearrin through waivers, or sending Heston safely to Triple-A.

Next: Revisiting Giants' Top-10 Prospects of the Past

The Giants will have a choice to make (and probably more than just this one) come opening day. It may not change the season, but keeping Gearrin might make for the strongest bullpen.