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In a bold move to invigorate their underperforming offense, the San Francisco Giants' first-year president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, made significant changes to the team roster. On Wednesday morning, the Giants designated first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. for assignment, replacing him with Dominic Smith, who recently opted out of his Triple-A contract with the New York Yankees.

To further address the bench’s underperformance, the Giants made additional changes by designating backup catcher Sam Huff and optioning infielder Christian Koss to Triple-A Sacramento. They will be substituted by catcher Andrew Knizner and left-handed outfielder Daniel Johnson, both recent additions to the Triple-A Sacramento roster under minor league contracts.

The decision to move on from Wade, a key player in the 2021 NL West championship team, marks the most significant and challenging shift. Known for his clutch hits and dubbed "Late Night LaMonte," Wade was instrumental in the Giants' 107 regular-season wins that year. However, recent struggles saw his performance plummet to a .167/.275/.271 batting line with just one home run over the past two months. With a slew of new talent coming in, Wade’s opportunities with the team dwindled. Outfielder/first baseman Jerar Encarnacion returned to the team after a spring training injury, and top prospect Bryce Eldridge was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento.

During an offensive slump where the Giants have scored only 32 runs in their last 16 games, the team has been under immense pressure. They have failed to score more than four runs in any game during this stretch, their longest such run since 1965. Posey acknowledged the urgency to find solutions for the team's hitting woes, noting the struggles of players like Wade, catcher Patrick Bailey, and high-profile free agent shortstop Willy Adames.

The changes reflect Posey's readiness to make tough decisions, even involving former teammates. As a key player on the 2021 team, Wade was a notable figure, but Posey’s moves suggest a commitment to performance over sentiment.

Dominic Smith, who boasts a .255/.333/.448 line with eight home runs in 189 Triple-A plate appearances, is expected to offer more left-handed power from the bench. Similarly, Daniel Johnson’s signing brings potential, having hit .272/.312/.534 with six home runs and five stolen bases for Sacramento.

Andrew Knizner, a seasoned player with experience in the majors, presents a contact-hitting upgrade over Huff. His .378 average and .512 on-base percentage between Triple-A Rochester and Sacramento stand as testament to his potential contribution.

Wade’s future remains uncertain. He can reject an outright assignment to Sacramento due to his service time and potentially become a free agent, making it likely that he has played his last game as a Giant.