Giants activate Mitch White, option Landen Roupp
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We knew the San Francisco Giants would make a move today, and now we know the full details. A few hours before their second game of a three-game home series against the New York Mets, the Giants activated right-handed pitcher Mitch White, and optioned fellow right-handed pitcher Landen Roupp to AAA Sacramento.
The Giants added White over the weekend, trading cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for the recently-designated for assignment reliever. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Giants moved right-handed pitcher Alex Cobb to the 60-Day Injured List. Because White, a former top prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was out of options, he needed to be added to the 26-player active roster, and on Monday reports swirled that such a move would happen today. It wasn’t clear what the corresponding move would be, but now we know that Roupp will head to AAA for the first time in his career, after making the Opening Day roster following a brilliant Spring Training, without ever making it past AA.
Roupp impressed mightily in his debut MLB stint, and I’m sure many Giants fans are slightly confused by this move, feeling that the rookie is better than White. In 10.1 innings, Roupp sported a 4.35 ERA and a 4.24 FIP, with a curveball that quickly established itself as one of the prettiest in the Majors … and likely to soon be one of the best.
It’s not clear whether Roupp is Sacramento bound to get a little more seasoning or to get more consistent playing time and potentially get stretched out. The 2021 12th-round pick has been used as a starter in the Minor Leagues, though he’s made short starts due to an injury-speckled career. He made the team out of camp as a reliever because he was simply pitching that well, and the team had a full rotation, but it will be interesting to see if he gets to work as a starter with the River Cats.
White, on the other hand, has struggled heavily for the last few years, after an electric start to his career. The Giants are hoping he can regain his plus-stuff, and if not … well, he’ll probably be DFA’d and Roupp will come on back. And if you’re one of those people who is concerned about Dodger stank, well … don’t be.
