SAN FRANCISCO — The last young player the Giants picked up before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline very likely will be the first to reach the big leagues. Marcelo Mayer was at Oracle Park over the weekend doing defensive work with Ron Washington and taking part in pregame workouts, and he’ll start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento this week. Mayer should join the Giants in time to face his old team, the Boston Red Sox, on the next road trip, but for now he’s simply focused on settling back in on the West Coast.
The first stop was an obvious one: In-N-Out Burger.
“Had to go,” Mayer said over the weekend. “That’s usually the first thing I do when I get home in the offseason, so I was able to get one two months early.”
Mayer said he’s excited to be a Giant, and while that deal — Erik Miller was sent to the Red Sox — stunned some in the industry, it did not surprise the infielder.
“That’s the business side of baseball — you’ve always got to be ready for whatever,” Mayer said. “I’m excited for the opportunity. We’ve...