SF Giants release Gary Sánchez, move forward with Joey Bart, Blake Sabol

HOUSTON — The San Francisco Giants brought in a former All-Star catcher last month, but they will move forward with the two young backstops currently on the roster.

The Giants released veteran Gary Sánchez on Tuesday, a day after he had the right to opt out if he wasn’t on their active roster.

Since signing a minor-league deal last month, Sánchez had played 16 games at Triple-A Sacramento but had recorded only one extra-base hit (a double) in 55 at-bats and was hitting .164/.319/.182 (a .501 OPS). Initially brought in to solidify one of the biggest question marks on the Giants’ roster, the club determined that Sánchez wouldn’t be an upgrade over their current catching combo of Joey Bart and Blake Sabol.

“I just don’t think at this time he was an option for our major-league club,” manager Gabe Kapler said before their game Tuesday against the Astros. “That being said I’m sure there’s a desire for Gary to find an opportunity and for us, that wasn’t right now.”

That leaves Bart, 26, and Sabol, 25, as the two catchers on the Giants’ 26-man roster, with fellow youngsters Ricardo Genoves (23 years old) and Patrick Bailey (also 23) as their primary catching depth in the minor leagues. The first veteran they brought in on a minor-league deal, Roberto Pérez, is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, while last year’s backup, Austin Wynns, was waived and signed with the Dodgers (who designated him for assignment again Monday).

Bart has cut down on his strikeout rate and taken strides defensively but is still searching for his first home run. Sabol slugged five homers in his first month in the big leagues but is striking out at a 42% clip, among the highest rates in majors, and there continue to be questions surrounding his receiving ability, letting multiple balls get to the backstop in his past two starts, Saturday in Mexico City and Monday in Houston.

Genoves, who has a large frame with a powerful arm and bat to match, has yet to make his debut but got a taste for the major-leagues last week, as a member of the taxi squad during their trip to Mexico City. Bailey, a switch-hitter with strong defensive skills, got off to a hot start at Double-A (.333/.400/.481) and last week was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento, where he and Genoves make up the catching tandem.

“Excited that if several or one of these catchers takes a big step forward, we’re going to be in a good spot,” Kapler said. “We’re just looking for that big step forward.”

Notes

— Left-hander Alex Wood (left hamstring strain) threw a two-inning simulated game Tuesday on the mound at Minute Maid Park. He threw 38 pitches (all to Austin Slater) and said it went well. He’s hopeful that he’ll be ready to return to the rotation after one 45-50 pitch rehab start, which should be his next step.

— The Giants recalled hard-throwing right-hander Cole Waites on Tuesday and optioned Sean Hjelle to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Waites was slowed at the start of spring training by a lat strain and struggled to find the strike zone in Triple-A but, Kapler said, “over his last four or five outings was much better.” Hjelle, who allowed five runs in the seventh inning of Monday night’s loss and had a 10.13 ERA in 13 appearances, will be stretched out as a starter in Triple-A.