John Shea reporting from the ballpark . . .
The Giants cut their roster to 25, and they’re going all offensive.
From Hector Sanchez to Brandon Belt to Brett Pill, they kept the guys who can hit.
Sanchez is the only backup catcher as Eli Whiteside was optioned and Chris Stewart was dealt to the Yankees, as I reported this morning on Twitter. Pill will provide right-handed pop off the bench, and Belt simply hit his way onto the roster, which is why he has been playing a lot of first base lately with Aubrey Huff in left.
Here are the moves. The Giants:
• Purchased the contract of outfielder Gregor Blanco from Triple-A Fresno.
• Optioned right-handed pitcher Steve Edlefsen and catcher Eli Whiteside to Triple-A Fresno.
• Reassigned infielder Joaquin Arias, outfielder Justin Christian and right-handed pitcher Jean Machi to Triple-A Fresno.
• Traded catcher Chris Stewart to the Yankees for right-handed reliever George Kostos.
So here’s the final roster:
Pitchers (12)
Jeremy Affeldt LHP
Madison Bumgarner LHP
Matt Cain RHP
Santiago Casilla RHP
Clay Hensley RHP
Tim Lincecum RHP
Javier Lopez LHP
Guillermo Mota RHP
Dan Otero RHP
Sergio Romo RHP
Brian Wilson RHP
Barry Zito LHP
Catchers (2)
Buster Posey C
Hector Sanchez C
Infielders (7)
Brandon Belt IF/OF
Emmanuel Burriss IF
Brandon Crawford IF
Aubrey Huff IF/OF
Brett Pill IF/OF
Pablo Sandoval IF
Ryan Theriot IF
Outfielders (4)
Gregor Blanco OF
Melky Cabrera OF
Angel Pagan OF
Nate Schierholtz OF
• Previously, the Giants placed on the disabled list: Left-handed pitcher Dan Runzler (left latissimus dorsi strain), infielder Freddy Sanchez (right shoulder dislocation) and left-handed pitcher Eric Surkamp (left elbow strain), retroactive to March 26. Also, right-handed pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (lower back strain), retroactive to March 27.
