The SF Giants activated right-handed relief pitcher Luke Jackson from the 15-day injured list and designated right-handed reliever Mauricio Llovera for assignment prior to the team's game on Saturday night against the Washington Nationals. Jackson has been on the injured list since he suffered a lower back strain in late June. Llovera was out of minor-league options, which forced the Giants to place him on waivers if they wanted to remove him from the active roster. He will likely be traded or claimed by another team off waivers within the next week.
Jackson signed a two-year, $11.5 million deal with the Giants last offseason after missing the entire 2022 season with UCL surgery. Jackson had spent his entire career in Atlanta, where he had been a staple of the team's bullpen from 2017-2021. Jackson missed all of spring training as he continued rehabbing and returned to the field in May. With the Giants, Jackson has posted a 2.16 ERA with 10 strikeouts and just three walks across 8.1 innings pitched (nine appearances) this season. Jackson made a pair of rehab appearances at the Arizona Complex League, striking out five and walking one across two no-hit, shutout innings.
Llovera has been a solid middle reliever with the Giants over the past two seasons, recording a 3.74 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and 10 walks across 21.2 innings pitched (22 games). He seemed to be solidifying himself in the team's pen last year before he suffered a serious elbow injury that ended his season and led him to go be designated for assignment.
The Giants re-signed Llovera on a minor-league deal last offseason, and he picked up where he left off last year at Triple-A before a recent big-league promotion. With more established relievers like Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Taylor Rogers, Luke Jackson, and Scott Alexander all healthy now, however, he became the odd man out. Another right-handed middle reliever, John Brebbia, is also nearing a return, which likely made the front office more comfortable depleting some of their depth.
Unlike last season, when Mauricio Llovera was injured, it would be much more surprising to see the righty go unclaimed on waivers. The SF Giants could also work out a minor trade to move him for cash considerations or a player to be named later as well.
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