S.F. Giants making big moves on a Monday

The San Francisco Giants made three moves Monday. The biggest being putting right-hander Matt Cain on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow which, as we have learned from so many pitchers this season, is never a good sign. Brandon Belt was also put on the disabled-list but just for seven days with a concussion. The Giants also signed second baseman Dan Uggla to a minor-league deal.

Cain was placed disabled list Monday but the move is retroactive to July 11. Late last week Cain admitted that he has been pitching all season with a sore elbow, which does explain his numbers this season. The three time All-Star is just 2-7  with a 4.18 ERA and only 70 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings this season. He’s been on the disabled list a couple of times, including the time he cut his finger making a sandwich. The Giants have had to make due without him, at times, so far and are still somehow tied with the Dodgers atop the N.L. West.

First baseman Brandon Belt was added to the seven-day concussion list Monday. He was struck in the face during batting practice on Saturday. On Sunday Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that Belt did indeed have a concussion but that no time limit had been put on his recovery. Monday the Giants announced that Belt will only be out for the seven-day period that is set aside for players with concussions and that a longer stay on the disabled list will not be necessary.

The Giants replaced Cain and Belt on the roster by recalling infielder Adam Duvall and relief pitcher George Kontos from the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies. It appears, however, that Michael Morse will be taking over the first base duties in Belt’s absence and Yusmeiro Petit will be making Cain’s Tuesday start.

Dan Uggla was signed to a minor league contract by the Giants on Monday as well. Recently released by the Atlanta Braves, who will be paying the remainder of his salary for this season and another $13 million for 2015, Uggla was signed to a pro-rated minor league deal that has an opt-out if the second baseman is not called up to the big league team by August first. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post,

That’s a lot of change for a team, vying to win their division, in just one day. Luckily, the Giants play in the N.L. West, so they still will have a chance at the division title regardless of injury or as one writer put it signing a guy who is just “bad at baseball.”