September roster expansion gave the SF Giants a chance to mix practicality with a little ambition, but they chose the safer path.
Instead of bringing up outfielder Bo Davidson, the club promoted catcher Zach Morgan and left-handed pitcher Cesar Perdomo from Triple-A Sacramento. Adrian Houser was moved to the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
On paper, both additions make sense. The Giants have been leaning hard on Drew Cavanaugh and Andrew Knizner behind the plate, and with Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez both injured, adding another catcher helps ease the load.
Perdomo also fits the moment, especially with Sam Hentges and Matt Gage both likely finished for the season. With Reiver Sanmartin already the lone lefty option in the bullpen, San Francisco had a clear need there.
Still, the move left plenty of Giants fans wanting more, because Davidson has been forcing the issue in the minors. The young slugger has been scorching Triple-A Sacramento lately, and across Double-A and Triple-A this season he’s hitting .281/.352/.513 with 26 home runs and 85 runs batted in.
He’s been doing damage with real authority, including a go-ahead three-run homer for the River Cats recently, which made the timing feel even better for a call-up. Davidson also needs to be added to the 40-man roster to keep him safe from the Rule 5 Draft, so getting a big league look now would have checked another box for the Giants.
The outfield picture in San Francisco is crowded, though, which helps explain the hesitation. The roster already includes Jung Hoo Lee, Drew Gilbert, Turner Hill, Jonah Cox, and Grant McCray. The Giants could have opened a lane by DFA’ing McCray, but Hill has been playing well and appears set to keep getting at-bats down the stretch.
Davidson may still get his shot if injuries pile up again or if he keeps hitting so loudly that the Giants can’t ignore him. But for now, the organization played it conservatively, and in a season this battered by injuries, that feels like a missed chance to give a promising prospect his first taste of the majors.
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