Giants Acquire Dylan Smith, DFA Tyler Fitzgerald in Roster Shakeup

The San Francisco Giants are looking to bolster their roster just days into the season, following a disappointing sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees. On Monday afternoon, they made a series of significant moves ahead of their second series against the San Diego Padres. The Giants announced the acquisition of right-handed pitcher Dylan Smith from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations, while also designating infielder Tyler Fitzgerald for assignment and trading outfielder Luis Matos to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash.

Smith, who has two option years remaining, will head to AAA Sacramento, joining a crowded group of right-handed pitchers that includes Spencer Bivens, Tristan Beck, Carson Seymour, Blade Tidwell, and Trevor McDonald. He was drafted in the third round of the 2021 draft and signed for a bonus that was above slot value, indicative of a late second-round selection. After struggling as a starter, the Tigers shifted Smith to the bullpen, where he thrived last season. In AA, he recorded an impressive 1.80 ERA and a 1.64 FIP, striking out 27 batters over 20 innings. His performance continued at AAA, where he posted a 3.65 ERA and a 2.69 FIP, fanning 22 batters across just 12.1 innings.

Despite these strong numbers, Smith’s Major League debut was a different story. He maintained a solid 1.38 ERA in seven big league appearances, but his FIP of 4.37 and just four strikeouts in 13 innings suggest that he struggled to replicate his minor league success at the highest level. Primarily, Smith relies on a four-seam fastball averaging 94 mph and a sweeper, complemented by a split-finger fastball, curveball, and sinker. While he displayed excellent swing-and-miss metrics in AAA, he faced challenges with batted ball data during his brief MLB stint.

To create space for Smith on the 40-man roster, the Giants had to designate Fitzgerald for assignment. A fourth-round pick in 2019, Fitzgerald captured the hearts of Giants fans with a remarkable stretch in 2024, where he hit .350 with 13 home runs over just 26 games. However, his performance dwindled thereafter, and last season he managed only one home run over his final 36 games, posting a disappointing .217/.278/.327 line in the Majors. His struggles continued in AAA, where he finished with a .700 OPS and an 84 wRC+.

Despite Fitzgerald’s impressive speed—ranking in the 97th percentile in the Majors last year—and his versatility across the diamond, he found himself with limited opportunities this season. After a lackluster Spring Training where he batted just 7-for-37 with 14 strikeouts, Fitzgerald went 0-for-12 with five strikeouts in the opening series for Sacramento. With established everyday players in place and backup infielders already on the active roster, the Giants faced challenges in finding a spot for Fitzgerald. However, since he still has an option year remaining, he is likely to be claimed off waivers.

Meanwhile, the Brewers expressed interest in Matos, paying a fee to acquire him after he was designated for assignment before Opening Day. With no remaining options, the Brewers will need to keep Matos on their active roster or risk him passing through waivers again, an unlikely scenario. Matos will reunite with Kyle Harrison in Milwaukee, where both players will aim to revitalize their once-promising prospect status in a franchise known for developing young talent.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.