Giants Designate Joey Wiemer For Assignment After Roster Move

The San Francisco Giants keep tweaking their roster this winter. Their latest move shows just how thin the margins are for fringe big leaguers.

To make room for newly signed reliever Jason Foley on their 40-man roster, the Giants designated outfielder Joey Wiemer for assignment. Now, the 26-year-old’s future is back in limbo—again.

Giants Clear Space for Jason Foley — and Soon Adrian Houser

San Francisco’s front office has been busy. With a deal for reliever Jason Foley done and a two-year agreement with starter Adrian Houser almost wrapped up, the Giants have hit that familiar crunch where every 40-man spot matters.

To activate Foley, they needed to open up a roster spot. Wiemer drew the short straw, and the Giants will have to do this dance again once Houser’s contract becomes official.

Why Joey Wiemer Was Always a Roster Long Shot

Wiemer’s DFA isn’t shocking to folks in the industry. The Giants picked him up from the Marlins last month in a designated-for-assignment trade, seeing him more as a lottery ticket than a core piece.

San Francisco got a look at a toolsy outfielder without much commitment, but he never had a firm grip on his spot. In today’s game, where option years and payroll flexibility rule, players like Wiemer always seem to be teetering on the edge.

The Giants saw a chance to add Foley’s late-inning arm and decided to risk losing Wiemer’s upside in the process.

Joey Wiemer: Elite Tools, Uneven Results

Joey Wiemer has the kind of raw tools scouts drool over. At 6’4” and 226 pounds, he looks more like a tight end than a typical outfielder.

He swings from the right side and checks off just about every athletic box you’d want—power, speed, and defensive versatility. That’s why, even with all the transactions, teams keep circling back to him.

Power, Speed, and Defensive Versatility

Wiemer still has late-bloomer potential if his swing decisions ever catch up to his physical gifts. His skill set includes:

Across 499 career plate appearances, he’s put up 16 home runs and 12 stolen bases. Those numbers suggest a 20–20 ceiling if everything falls into place.

The production just hasn’t lined up with the tools often enough at the big-league level.

The Strikeout Problem Holding Wiemer Back

Wiemer’s problem isn’t talent—it’s making contact. His long swing and aggressive approach have led to swing-and-miss issues since his prospect days.

Big-league pitching has only made those issues clearer. The velocity and sequencing up here are a different animal compared to the minors.

High K-Rate, Modest Production

He’s run a strikeout rate close to 30% in the majors. That’s a tough number for anyone trying to stick as a regular.

His career slash line:

The power and speed are there, but the empty at-bats pile up. Unless he cuts down the strikeouts, he’s more of a bench guy or depth piece than a lineup fixture.

A Journeyman’s Year: From Brewers Prospect to Giants DFA

This past year has turned Wiemer into a baseball nomad. It’s wild how fast a once-promising prospect can become roster filler in today’s game.

He’s worn a lot of uniforms lately, never really finding a home. That kind of bouncing around has to be tough, especially for a young hitter still learning to handle elite pitching.

Milwaukee to Cincinnati, Kansas City, Miami — and Now San Francisco

In about a year, Wiemer has passed through the systems of:

Each team took a shot, hoping for upside at a low cost. In the end, they all valued roster flexibility more than a long-term bet on his bat.

What Comes Next for Wiemer and the Giants?

Now that the DFA is official, the Giants have five days to figure out Wiemer’s fate. That window covers everything from a trade to outright waivers.

Given his age, athleticism, and prospect pedigree, other teams will probably at least give him a look. Wouldn’t you?

Trade, Waivers, or a Non-Roster Lifeline

The procedural possibilities are pretty clear:

Right now, Wiemer’s career feels stuck in that gray area—he’s got enough talent to get noticed, but maybe not quite enough to be a sure thing. The Giants seem focused on their pitching staff, bringing in Foley and soon Houser, and maybe they’re just more interested in certainty than gambling on a breakout bat. Still, you never know—another team could easily decide his tools are worth a shot.

 
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