SAN FRANCISCO — Days after trading Luis Matos to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Giants announced on Saturday that they’ve traded utility man Tyler Fitzgerald to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.
Fitzgerald, 28, was designated for assignment on Monday to make room for right-handed reliever Dylan Smith, who the Giants acquired from the Detroit Tigers.
“The transfer portal is a whole sticky subject, but if you know a guy well, it’s kind of hard to root against him for him to not go somewhere — especially in cases like this one where it’s like, well, the guy kind of had a roof over him or a ceiling to what he was going to be allowed to do, at least in the immediate future,” said manager Tony Vitello. “So, I’m kind of rooting for him that a fresh set of circumstances can bring about … flashes of things to get excited about out here.”
A fourth-round pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Fitzgerald burst onto the scene in 2024 with a breakout rookie season. Fitzgerald not only finished the season with great numbers, totaling 15 home runs and 17 steals with a .280 batting average in 96 games, but he went on an insane heater that garnered national attention.
In July 2024, Fitzgerald hit five home runs in five straight games and seven homers in eight games, becoming the first Giant to do either since Barry Bonds in 2004.
Fitzgerald was named the Giants’ 2025 Opening Day second baseman but he couldn’t come close to replicating that magical summer. He hit .217 with four home runs, nine steals and a .606 OPS over 72 games, spending a good chunk of the season in the minors. Fitzgerald went 7-for-37 (.189) during spring training before being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Perhaps Fitzgerald could benefit from a fresh start with Toronto. Between his speed, power and versatility, Fitzgerald still has the foundation to be a productive player in the majors. That production, though, will not be in San Francisco.
“I think a fresh set of circumstances can help him march on,” Vitello said.