Former Yankees reliever Lou Trivino is heading to the San Francisco Giants on a minor league deal, per MLB insider Robert Murray. Trivino, who missed the 2023 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, will reunite with his former manager Bob Melvin in Spring Training.
The Giants continue to navigate a tough NL West, competing against the powerhouse Dodgers, reigning NL champion Diamondbacks, and the Padres, who have remained a postseason threat in recent years.
Trivino’s Journey from Oakland to New York
Trivino, originally an 11th-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2013 MLB Draft, worked his way through their system before making his big-league debut in 2018. After dominating at Triple-A with a 1.69 ERA, he was called up early in the season and quickly became a key bullpen arm for Melvin’s A’s. That year, he pitched a career-high 74 innings, recording a 2.92 ERA with 82 strikeouts and four saves.
Although he struggled in 2019, Trivino rebounded during the shortened 2020 season, posting a 3.86 ERA in 23.1 innings. His most notable campaign came in 2021 when he served as Oakland’s closer, securing 22 saves with a 3.18 ERA across 73.2 innings. However, his late-season struggles contributed to the A’s falling short of a playoff berth.
Yankees tenure and onjury setbacks
Trivino’s inconsistencies followed him into 2022, as he posted a 6.47 ERA in 32 innings before Oakland dealt him to the New York Yankees as part of the Frankie Montas trade. In return, the A’s acquired left-handers JP Sears and Ken Waldichuk, right-hander Luis Medina, and utility player Cooper Bowman. Sears has since become a fixture in Oakland’s rotation, while Waldichuk and Medina are expected to miss time in 2025. Bowman was left unprotected in December’s Rule 5 Draft and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds.
Despite his struggles in Oakland, Trivino found better results in New York, logging a 1.66 ERA in 21.2 innings before an arm injury ended his season. Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2023 season and also suffered additional setbacks, including shoulder and elbow issues, which sidelined him for both 2023 and 2024.
By bringing Trivino into camp on a minor league deal, the Giants are taking a low-risk gamble on a reliever who was once a high-leverage option. If he regains his form under Melvin, San Francisco could gain a valuable bullpen piece for 2025. For Trivino, it’s an opportunity to revive his career after two lost seasons and return to the big leagues with a team looking to contend.
What do you think? Leave your comment below,
You have a picture of Jose Trevino..