San Francisco Giants Add Rival World Series Hero To 2026 Roster

On Thursday November 6, 2025, the San Francisco Giants claimed former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Justin Dean off waivers. 

Dean, 28, had a key role for the Dodgers down the stretch in 2025 as a defensive replacement and pitch runner. He made 31 appearances for the Dodgers in 2025 but had only 2 at bats. He recorded 2 total stolen bases for the Dodgers in the regular season and playoffs last year and scored a run in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Dean is most famous for his heads-up play in the bottom of the 9th in Game 6 of the World Series. On a double hit by Addison Barger that became lodged in the wall, Dean immediately threw his hands up to signal to the umpire that the ball was stuck. Plays like that result in an automatic double, meaning that Barger was only allowed to reach second base and the runner on first was awarded third base. 

If Dean had picked up the ball, umpires may not have noticed that it had become lodged in the wall. The runner would have likely scored and Barger would have represented the tying run on third base with no one out. 

Dean is a career .252 hitter across 7 seasons in the minor leagues. With the AAA OKC Dodgers in 2025, he hit .289 with 6 home runs and 33 RBI in 90 games. 

Giants Also Add Relief Pitching option 

The Giants also claimed LHP Reiver Sanmartin off waivers on Thursday. Sanmartin, 29, has pitched in 62 MLB games for the Cincinnati Reds across 4 seasons with a 5.66 career ERA. 

He had a superb season in AAA Louisville last year, logging a 7-2 record with a 2.67 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 67.1 innings. He made only 1 MLB appearance for the Reds last season, surrendering no runs and striking out 2 batters across 1.2 innings pitched. 

The Giants are in need of relief pitching depth after trading away two of their best relievers, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval, at the 2025 trade deadline. They also lost closer Randy Rodriguez to Tommy John surgery, and he could miss the entire 2026 season. 

Sanmartin joins Matt Gage, Joey Lucchesi and Erik Miller as the left handed relief options currently on the Giants’ 40-man roster. 

Giants cut ties with former top prospect 

To clear a roster spot to be able to add both Dean and Sanmartin, the Giants designated RHP Mason Black for assignment. 

Black, 25, has been a top pitching prospect in the Giants’ organization for several years. 

But he hasn’t ever been consistent in the MLB or minor leagues, and his stats got worse in 2025. Black had a 6.47 ERA in 10 career games (8 starts) for the Giants. He didn’t fare much better in AAA Sacramento in 2025, recording a 5.81 ERA in 30 games (24 starts). 

Still, with Black’s young age and former top prospect status, he is very likely to receive an opportunity elsewhere and has plenty of time to turn his career around. 

Maybe cutting ties with the Giants will be the wakeup call he needs, and a change of scenery will do him good. 

Giants fans, what do you think of the team’s most recent roster moves? 

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