San Francisco Giants : Alex Young Reliever on a huge deal
Spencer Howard is on the move again as the Cleveland Guardians designated him for assignment on Sunday to bring up a fresh arm from Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians called up right-hander Peter Strzelecki.
This marks the second time this season that Howard has entered the waiver wire process. The Guardians have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers.
The Guardians initially acquired Howard via trade after the San Francisco Giants designated him for assignment on June 30. Despite performing well for the Giants for a month as a reliever and spot starter, he was DFA’ed when their pitching staff got healthier. The Giants needed a fresh arm after an 11-inning game, prompting them to call up Landen Roupp.
The Guardians traded cash to the Giants for Howard on July 5 and activated him two days later. With Cleveland, Howard went 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA, allowing five earned runs in five innings, striking out six, and walking three.
At 27 years old, Howard is likely to find another team as he’s currently posting some of the best numbers of his career. He took on a primary relief role for the Giants after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on May 28, recording a 1-1 record with a 3.80 ERA in six appearances and 21.1 innings, striking out 21 and walking nine.
During this period, he made his first start in over two years, filling in for the injured Logan Webb. Against his former team, the Texas Rangers, he exited with a 3-1 lead after allowing one run, striking out two, and walking three in 4.2 innings. His final appearance for the Giants was even more impressive, pitching 4.2 innings of scoreless relief against the Chicago Cubs, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out eight to earn the win.
Howard joined the Giants last September after being released by the New York Yankees, where he spent a month at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre without receiving a call-up. He had signed a minor-league deal and failed to make the Opening Day roster. Howard, a former second-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies, debuted in the Majors in 2020 and was traded to Texas in 2021 before being dealt to the Yankees last year.