Giants Roll the Dice on struggling reliever Dyson

With one of the worst records in the National League and a league-leading 36 losses, you would think the 24-36 San Francisco Giants would be ready to jettison a few guys in preparation of retooling for a successful run in 2018, right? Wrong. The Giants actually did the opposite of that on Tuesday by going out and acquiring former Texas Rangers closer Sam Dyson for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The 29-year old reliever who's been knocked around this year to the tune of a 10.80 ERA in 17 games, is only a year removed from posting a 38-save season for the Rangers and an ERA of 2.43 and two seasons removed from an impressive 2015 in which he logged a 1.14 ERA while splitting time with the Rangers and Marlins. Those numbers have been a far cry from what 2017 has looked like thus far for Dyson which led to him being demoted from the closer role in Arlington.

After being designated for assignment by the Rangers, the Giants decided to take a flyer on Dyson and are hoping one team's trash is another team's treasure. Giants skipper Bruce Bochy said it himself following Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Brewers during which Dyson was acquired that he hopes a change of scenery will do the newly acquired Dyson some good. Though his fastball has reportedly decreased from 96 mph to 93 mph since the start of May, his strikeout to walk ratio has also plummeted as batters have feasted off of Dyson with a .392 batting average. It's obvious the guy is struggling, but who's to say Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti who served as a closer himself, can't help turn the guy around and pinpoint just what it is that has led to such a disappointing start to Dyson's 2017 campaign. Dyson brings with him five years of big league experience and the know how to pitch the late-innings. A pair of guys who have both caught and faced Dyson and are glad he's joining the team is Buster Posey and Joe Panik. Posey, who was behind the plate and caught Dyson in this year's World Baseball Classic, praised him for his powerful sinker by calling it, "one of the best sinkers" he's ever caught. Panik also commended Dyson's power sinker only he was in the batters box facing Dyson whom he went 0-for-6 against in his career.

As Panik and company no longer have to worry about facing Dyson's powerful pitch, they're hoping he can regain that power and use it to help right the ship in the Giants bullpen that has been sinking since last season. If the newest member of the Giants can somehow manage to regain his form of the last few seasons, he could be in line for a set-up role to closer Mark Melancon.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest