The San Francisco Giants took a significant step on Monday by adding two promising prospects to their 40-man roster ahead of the reserve deadline, safeguarding them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft scheduled for December 11 during the MLB winter meetings in Dallas. Right-handed pitchers Carson Seymour and Carson Ragsdale earned spots on the major league roster, while right-handed pitcher Kai-Wei Teng was designated for assignment to create space.
This decision highlights the Giants’ strategic approach to roster management. Seymour, ranked as the organization’s No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is one of three top-30 prospects who were under consideration for protection. The other two, shortstop Aeverson Arteaga (No. 11) and catcher Onil Perez (No. 28), were left unprotected and will be available to other teams during the Rule 5 Draft. The Giants appear to be taking a calculated risk, betting that Arteaga and Perez’s lack of readiness for major league action will deter other teams from selecting them.
The Rule 5 Draft operates under specific rules that require selecting teams to pay $100,000 for eligible players and keep them on their 26-man roster for the entire season. If the player cannot remain on the active roster, they must be offered back to their original team for $50,000. This structure often leads teams to prioritize players closer to major league readiness, a factor the Giants may have considered when deciding not to protect Arteaga and Perez. Arteaga, a .209 hitter in limited minor league action last season, and Perez, who batted .236 with one home run and 30 RBIs in High-A, are still developing and may not yet be appealing options for other teams under these requirements.
Seymour, however, demonstrated solid potential last season, going 7-10 with a 4.82 ERA across 29 games (28 starts) for Triple-A Sacramento. He struck out 132 batters over 134.2 innings, showcasing his ability to handle a high workload. In contrast, Teng struggled in his brief MLB stint in 2024, posting a 9.82 ERA over four appearances.
The Giants now face another pivotal deadline on Friday when they must decide whether to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players: outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr., and right-handed pitchers Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers. Choosing not to tender a contract would make these players free agents, adding another layer of complexity to the team’s offseason planning.
These moves underscore the Giants’ effort to balance immediate roster needs with long-term player development, ensuring they remain competitive while fostering talent for future success.
