SF Giants option Joey Bart, acquire catcher Austin Wynns from Phillies [LXyMxlTJHQh]
The San Francisco Giants sent struggling catcher Joey Bart back to the minor leagues. They also traded for another catcher, Austin Wynns, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer. So who is Wynns and what does this move mean for the SF Giants and Bart's future with the team? Wynns has quite a bit of major league experience with the Orioles, and it hasn't gone particularly well. He has struggled to hit, but has very intriguing numbers in the upper levels of the minors. He will have to be added to the Giants' 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will have to be made. Wynns also does not have minor league options, so once he's activated he cannot be sent down. In Triple-A the last two seasons, Wynns has put up jaw-dropping numbers. He has almost twice as many walks as strikeouts in the minors this season. He's also known as a strong defensive catcher. Bart's struggles have been well documented. Simply put, he's struck out way too often. It's not clear when he'll get another opportunity with the Giants, but it should happen again at some point. The former No. 2 overall pick in the country has performed well in the minors, albeit with some red flags in Triple-A last season, and has been considered at times one of the game's best overall prospects. But it has been a huge struggle offensively in the majors, and this is a chance for him to clean up his swing. The Giants have added two catchers, Michael Papierski (in exchange for Mauricio Dubón) and now Wynns in the last few weeks. That doesn't necessarily bode well for what they really think of Bart. Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms: 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify 🎧 Google Play 🎧 Overcast 🎧 Megaphone The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all. Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans. On Twitter: #SFGiants #FirstListen