Villar cleared waivers Thursday and elected free agency, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Villar was booted off the Giants' 40-man roster Monday to make room for Casey Schmitt's return from the IL, and the former will now look to see what he's worth in the open market. The 28-year-old has gone 4-for-20 with an RBI and four runs scored in nine MLB games this season, but his .368/.439/.439 slash line across 66 plate appearances in Triple-A should be enough to at least attract a minor-league deal.
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Giants' David Villar: Ejected from 40-man roster
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The Giants designated Villar for assignment Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The move frees a spot on the active roster for the return of Casey Schmitt (oblique) from the 10-day injured list. Villar has been outrighted off the 40-man roster previously, so if he clears waivers again, he would have the ability to elect free agency.
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Giants' David Villar: Walks twice, scores in loss
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Villar went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Villar started at first base Wednesday, collecting two free passes for the first time this season. Additionally, the 28-year-old hit an infield single in the fourth inning before coming around to score his first run since April 22. The infielder has made five appearances in May, slashing .222/.462/.222 with a 3:2 BB:K across 13 plate appearances.
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Giants' David Villar: Scores twice in loss
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Villar went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk during Tuesday's 11-3 loss to the Brewers.
Villar posted his first extra-base hit of the season, cracking a double into right field in the third before coming around to score the Giants' first run. The 28-year-old infielder will likely continue to receive playing time against lefties, as Casey Schmitt (oblique) is expected to miss about a month. Villar has appeared in two big-league games this season, going 2-for-7 with three runs scored and a 1:1 BB:K.
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Giants' David Villar: Headed to majors
Rotowire
The Giants selected Villar's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
Villar will take the spot on the Giants' 26-man roster vacated by Casey Schmitt (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Villar was outrighted to Sacramento after being DFA'd by the Giants on March 25. He's started the Triple-A season slashing .368/.439/.439 with eight walks, eight runs scored, one home run and seven RBI across 66 plate appearances.
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Giants' David Villar: Pushed off 40-man roster
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The Giants designated Villar for assignment Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
With the Giants needing to clear room on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for reliever Lou Trivino, Villar -- who had no minor-league options remaining -- was deemed expendable. Villar owns a respectable .710 OPS and 93 wRC+ over 358 career plate appearances in the big leagues, but as a 28-year-old who is limited defensively to the corner-infield spots, it's unclear if he'll attract much interest from other clubs via trade or waivers.
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Giants' David Villar: Returns to majors
Rotowire
The Giants recalled Villar from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.
With Wilmer Flores (knee) headed for the injured list, the Giants will call upon Villar to provide the team with additional infield depth. In six games with San Francisco this season, the 27-year-old has gone 5-for-17 with a home run and four RBI, and he's also posted an .857 OPS through 311 plate appearances in Triple-A. He'll presumably serve as the Giants' primary option at first base against left-handed pitching until Flores returns from the IL.
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Giants' David Villar: Sent down to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Villar to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
Villar went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his last start Wednesday against Atlanta. The 27-year-old infielder appeared in just six games for the Giants after being recalled June 22, going 5-for-17 with one home run, four RBI and five strikeouts. San Francisco recalled left-hander Kolton Ingram from Double-A Richmond in a corresponding move.
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Giants' David Villar: Joins big-league club
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The Giants recalled Villar from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar has spent the entire season in Triple-A after failing to make the MLB roster out of spring training. During his time in Sacramento, he's slashed .272/.352/.487 with 12 homers and 46 RBI in 264 plate appearances. He only posted a .551 OPS in the majors last season, however, so his Triple-A success shouldn't be expected to translate into the big leagues.
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Giants' David Villar: Shifting to minor-league camp
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The Giants optioned Villar to minor-league camp Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Villar was never a likely bet to make San Francisco's Opening Day roster, though he had a strong showing during spring training with three homers and a 1.093 OPS in 44 plate appearances. The 27-year-old had an .869 OPS at the Triple-A level last season but also struck out at a 26.6 percent clip, and he'll likely need to show improved contact skills to having any staying power in the majors.
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Giants' David Villar: Returns to lineup
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Villar (hand) is starting at third base and batting sixth in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Mariners, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar was hit by a pitch on the left hand Monday but had X-rays come back negative, and he'll return to action Sunday after taking a few days to recover. The 27-year-old struggled to a .551 OPS in 46 big-league games last season and is fighting for a bench job on San Francisco's Opening Day roster.
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Giants' David Villar: X-rays come back negative
Rotowire
Villar is day-to-day after X-rays on his left hand came back negative, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Villar had to be removed from Monday's contest against the Rockies after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, but he's managed to escape with merely a bruise. The 27-year-old is competing for a reserve infielder job with the Giants this spring.
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Giants' David Villar: Leaves games after HBP on hand
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Villar was removed from Monday's Cactus League contest against the Rockies after being hit on the left hand by a pitch, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar was struck by a Peter Lambert offering in the sixth inning and walked off the field with the trainer. This could just be a precaution since his day was likely close to over, anyway, but it's unclear at this point whether he might require X-rays.
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Giants' David Villar: Heads back to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Villar to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar will head back to Triple-A after being called up July 19, having gone hitless across 11 at-bats with a run scored, a walk and seven strikeouts in limited action following his promotion. Top prospect Marco Luciano was called up from Sacramento and will likely make his major-league debut Wednesday versus the Athletics.
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Giants' David Villar: Optioned to Triple-A
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Villar was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Villar opened the 2023 campaign as a fixture in the Giants' lineup, but he's now been demoted to the minors for the second time this season. Alex Cobb (oblique) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move and will start Friday against the Mets.
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Giants' David Villar: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Giants optioned Villar to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Just three days after being recalled by the Giants, Villar will head back to Sacramento. Villar holds a .514 OPS through 108 plate appearances in the majors this season, but has been solid in the minors with a .900 OPS. If Villar can maintain a high level of output at the plate in Triple-A, he could be back with the Giants relatively soon. Luke Jackson (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday in a corresponding move.
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Giants' David Villar: On bench again
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Villar is on the bench Wednesday versus the Nationals, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Villar has now been out of the lineup for eight of the last 11 games, as he seems to have lost a hold on a regular role following a .570 OPS in his first 28 contests. With Brandon Crawford (calf) due back soon, Villar's roster spot might be in jeopardy.
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Giants' David Villar: On bench for second straight
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Villar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Villar is sitting against a right-handed starting pitcher (Yu Darvish) for the second straight day and appears to have ceded primary duties at third base to J.D. Davis. The righty-hitting Villar offers the ability to play three infield positions and should still have a path to steady playing time versus left-handed pitching.
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Giants' David Villar: On bench Sunday
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Villar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Villar started five of the past six games but went just 2-for-17 with two doubles, three RBI and nine strikeouts during that span. J.D. Davis appears to have taken ahold of the starting job at third base, as he's starting there Sunday for the 10th time in San Francisco's last 11 contests.
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Giants' David Villar: Logs first steal
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Villar went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 9-1 loss to the Dodgers. He was also hit by a pitch.
Villar had three multi-hit efforts through his first six games, but he's since slumped, going 1-for-8 with two walks over his last four contests. His steal Monday was the first of his young major-league career. Villar wasn't a major threat to run in the minors, logging just 10 steals across parts of four campaigns. He's seeing regular playing time between third base and second base, and he's maintained a passable .233/.378/.467 slash line with two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored through 37 plate appearances this season.
