Giants DFA former All-Star Joe Panik
The San Francisco Giants designated one-time All-Star second baseman Joe Panik for assignment.
In a corresponding move, left-handed pitchers Conner Menez and Williams Jerez were recalled from Triple-A, and southpaw Sam Selman was optioned, according to a team release.
Panik, 28, posted a .633 OPS with seven home runs and eight stolen bases over 205 games since the beginning of 2018. He gained notoriety during the Giants' 2014 championship run when he went 17-for-73 and hit a key home run in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bruce Bochy, in his final season as manager, said informing Panik he was designated for assignment was "one of the most difficult conversations I had in my career," according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Giants recently acquired Scooter Gennett from the Cincinnati Reds, cutting into Panik's playing time at the keystone.
A one-time Gold Glove winner, Panik will be eligible to be placed on waivers and can be claimed by the 29 other teams. In the event he clears waivers, Panik said he would decline an outright assignment to the minors and become a free agent, effectively ending his tenure with the Giants, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
"I would like to thank the Giants, especially John Barr, Brain Sabean, and Bobby Evans for drafting me and giving me the opportunity to play for such a great organization," Panik said in a statement acquired by Baggarly. "I would like to thank (Bochy), along with all the coaches I have had throughout my time here. Thank you to all my teammates. We have experienced some truly amazing moments together that I will never forget. To the fans, it was an amazing six seasons. Thank you for all the passion and support you have given us players. Nothing has driven me more than winning here in San Francisco. I am forever grateful for the Giants taking the chance on me and allowing me to live out my life long dream. It is time for me to start the next chapter in my career. But in my heart I will always be a Giant."
Currently in his second year of arbitration, Panik signed a one-year, $3.8-million deal prior to the season and has one year of team control remaining.