SAN FRANCISCO — The first Monday of the MLB offseason was remarkably busy for the Giants. The front office took nine players off the roster, a purge that was necessary after a season in which they used a record-tying 71 players. The moves continued a process that started shortly after the World Series, when the organization lost Grant McCray and others.
As the Giants pushed to get their 40-man roster back to 40 players ahead of Monday’s deadline, they lost several players on waivers, but most of them were players that they themselves had claimed.
On Monday, they lost Jose Butto (Texas Rangers), Duncan Davitt (Cincinnati Reds), Brett Harris (Philadelphia Phillies), Shay Whitcomb (Phillies) and Zach Morgan (Baltimore Orioles). They also outrighted Joel Kuhnel and Seth Lonsway off their roster and released Tristan Beck, who is pursuing an opportunity to pitch in Asia next season. Reiver Sanmartin was designated for assignment.
The most surprising may have been Butto, as the right-hander was once viewed as a potential setup man after being acquired in the Tyler Rogers trade in 2025....