This post isn’t intended to persuade anyone. Still, after receiving numerous comments and even Will Clark’s input, I feel it’s necessary to address the San Francisco Giants’ decision to demote Luis Matos (recent NL Player of the Week) in favor of the struggling veteran Austin Slater.
Firstly, Clark’s comment captures a significant portion of the argument. The other part is found in responses to Andrew Baggarly’s tweet announcing the transaction, which Grant Brisbee summarized.
Will Clark on the demotion of Luis Matos:
"Not a big fan of that decision. I love Matos. He's going to be one of the future outfielders in this organization. Somebody gave me an opportunity, they stuck with me. I’m a big believer in that. You have to stick with the young guys…
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 6, 2024
The responses to this are unhinged. Matos is 22 and hitting .224/.247/.329. Slater's last *four* seasons in the majors have been good, and he's had 39 at-bats this year.
I would buy stock in Matos, and I would quietly start shedding Slater stock. But on June 5, 2024, c'mon. https://t.co/hXuulldRQj
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) June 5, 2024
I’m not calling readers “unhinged,” but you won’t find it here if you’re seeking validation for your anger. I’m simply explaining what I believe is happening, and it’s not a wild guess—it’s quite evident. The Giants are managing risk. They are risk-averse and detest taking risks.
But why choose a .254 career hitter who’s batting .194 since July 1, 2023, and frequently injured over Matos? The answer is straightforward: track record. A player’s long-term performance data becomes part of a projection system that has shown reliability over time.
Slater’s career .254 average is due to his poor performance against right-handed pitching (.226/.314/.332 in 707 plate appearances). However, against left-handed pitching, he’s much better (.278/.369/.446 in 832 plate appearances). He ranks as the 38th-most valuable hitter against lefties since 2017 and 33rd if excluding left-handed hitters, comparable to Matt Chapman and Eugenio Suarez. Even in an injury-marred season, his 123 wRC+ against lefties was on par with Paul Goldschmidt and Teoscar Hernandez.
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Despite a declining triple slash, Slater still had a 110 wRC+ in 207 PA in a limited time. He can play all three outfield positions, and his cost isn’t exorbitant. If he doesn’t perform, it won’t be a prolonged issue. His scheduled arthroscopic surgery is considered minor, giving the team confidence in his recovery. The front office’s strategy since 2019 has been to gather “good when healthy” players to field a competitive roster.
Slater had 49 plate appearances before yesterday’s game, hitting .128/.306/.128, replacing Matos who was hitting .164/.203/.164 in his last 59 plate appearances. The Giants believe the 31-year-old, with a track record of overcoming slumps, is a better near-term bet than the 22-year-old who the league might have figured out. They prefer not to endure his readjustment period.
Fans want a winning team, and ownership wants a competitive roster. This situation echoes Brian Sabean’s time with the Giants, though Zaidi and Putila lack a star like Barry Bonds to mask flaws, necessitating aggressive roster management.
Slater’s salary is inconsequential, so this isn’t about money but risk tolerance. While you can disagree, the reasoning isn’t mysterious. Whether it’s a miscalculation is another question. Critics note Slater’s .194 average since last July, while Matos hit .250 in 228 at-bats last season. Matos’s .263 average from July to September outperformed Slater’s .214, with Matos also besting Slater in wRC+ (94 vs. 88).
Fans might think the Giants favor veterans over prospects, which could be true. Coaches might have decided to give Slater another chance. Letting Slater have 40 more at-bats to compare to Matos might reveal more. The risk lies in playing Matos and letting Slater go without a fair shot.
The Giants’ risk assessment favors the 31-year-old with a .800 OPS against lefties last season over the 22-year-old who has struggled recently and can be optioned. Slater’s consistent ability to break out of slumps and his role as a platoon player/4th outfielder contrasts with the team’s view of Matos as an everyday player.
Considering the entire roster, the decision makes sense. Heliot Ramos is performing well, and Yastrzemski and Conforto provide left-handed options despite their struggles. Conforto had a .821 OPS before injury, and Yaz’s OPS improved recently. The Giants’ modeling and risk assessment likely see the potential for Slater to also turn things around.
