Infielder Tony Abreu has been activated from the 60-day DL and will join the San Francisco Giants, according to Henry Schulman of the Chronicle. To make room, Ryan Vogelsong was transferred from the 15 to 60-day DL and infielder Nick Noonan has been optioned to Triple-A Fresno.
Abreu was the favorite to make the Opening Day roster as a backup infielder, only losing out to Noonan when he strained his left knee in Spring Training. The 28-year old second basemen has played for three major league teams since 2007, finishing the 2012 season as a member of the Kansas City Royals. In 464 career plate appearances in the majors, Abreu has a .252/.280/.355 slash line.
Abreu has played second, third and shortstop throughout his career, making him an ideal utility infielder. Though he has the same versatility as the player he is replacing, I don’t expect him to garner any more playing time than Noonan did in his time on the roster.
Noonan’s role had been limited, starting just eight games and logging 63 plate appearances. He had just 12 hits in his young major-league career, and only one went for extra bases. Unlike Abreu, Noonan, 24, is a developing player and will be well-served getting everyday reps in Fresno.
Vogelsong has been out since May 20th with two broken bones in his right pinky finger. With a move to the 60-day DL the earliest the right-handed starter could return is July 19th, which is San Francisco’s first game after the All-Star Break.