Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 9:02pm

GIANTS DEAL FOR RULE 5 DRAFTEE JOE

The San Francisco Giants acquired infielder Connor Joe from the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Jordan Johnson and cash.

What does it give the San Francisco Giants
Joe has bounced around a lot in recent years, so the Giants are hoping he may find a home in the Bay Area. A right-handed first baseman, Joe might play against some left-handers in place of Brandon Belt this season. As a Rule 5 draftee, he must remain on the Giants' 25-man roster throughout 2019. This appears to be a bit of a dart throw by San Francisco, who continue to seek more offense for their lineup.

What does it give the Cincinnati Reds
The Reds claimed Joe in the 2019 Rule 5 Draft from the Dodgers. However, it became increasingly unlikely that Cincinnati was going to be able to keep Joe on the roster for the entire '19 season. Therefore, they moved him to San Francisco for some cash and pitcher Johnson. The latter is a 25-year-old, right-handed starter who will serve as organizational depth for the Reds.

Fantasy impact
There is nothing to see here, as Joe is not likely to see enough at-bats in MLB to make an impact this season. Furthermore, Johnson is expected to remain at the triple-A level for most (if not all) of '19.

Player focus

Cincinnati Reds

cash considerations

Jordan Johnson P

San Francisco Giants

Connor Joe 1B/OF