In a recent trade deal, the Guardians have acquired right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard from the Giants. The news was confirmed by Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Giants, who had designated Howard for assignment, will receive cash considerations in return.

Howard, 27, had started the season with the Giants on a minor league deal. He made ten starts in Triple-A, where he had a 5.90 earned run average (ERA). However, his performance might have been better than the numbers suggested. Howard showcased a strong 32.2% strikeout rate and a 9.6% walk rate. With a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .406 and a strand rate of 66.1%, his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) was significantly better at 4.12.

The Giants promoted Howard to the major league roster at the end of May, and he spent just over a month with the club in a swing role. He made seven appearances, including two starts, and pitched a total of 24 innings, posting a 5.63 ERA. Despite an above-average BABIP of .388, Howard experienced a drop in his strikeout rate, falling to 18.4% in the majors. His latest outing was particularly difficult, as he allowed six earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Due to being out of options, Howard was subsequently removed from the 40-man roster.

The Guardians' decision to acquire Howard could be attributed to his impressive strikeout numbers in Triple-A and his previous status as a notable prospect. Originally a second-round pick of the Phillies in 2017, Howard was highly regarded as one of the top prospects in the league. Baseball America ranked him as the 27th best prospect in both 2020 and 2021. In the 2021 trade that sent Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy to the Phillies, Howard joined the Rangers.

Despite his potential, Howard has struggled to find success in the major leagues. Over his career with the Phillies, Rangers, and Giants, he has pitched 139 innings with a 6.93 ERA, a 19.9% strikeout rate, and a 10.1% walk rate. His performance in the minor leagues hasn't been much better in recent years, posting a 4.83 ERA over 143 1/3 innings since the beginning of 2021, with a solid 31.7% strikeout rate.

With his options exhausted, the Guardians will rely on Howard to regain his form at the major league level, likely in a long relief role. As the rotation has been impacted by injuries, losing Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery and optioning Triston McKenzie, they are currently relying on Tanner Bibee, Ben Lively, Gavin Williams, Logan Allen, and Carlos Carrasco as their starting five.

While Howard may have potential long-term benefits for the Guardians, it remains to be seen if he can consistently perform at the highest level. If he can make strides in his development, the Guardians can retain him via arbitration for up to three seasons beyond this year.

In a related move, the Guardians have designated right-handed pitcher Wes Parsons for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Parsons, 31, was acquired earlier in the year from the Blue Jays in exchange for international bonus pool space. He primarily fulfilled a swing role in Triple-A, making 12 appearances, including five starts, and pitching 25 2/3 innings. Parsons recorded a 4.21 ERA, with a high strikeout rate of 29.3% but struggled with walks, issuing them at a rate of 17.1%. His high strand rate of 84.6% helped keep his ERA down, but his FIP of 6.06 indicated potential regression.

The Guardians now have one week to trade Parsons or pass him through waivers. Although his recent numbers might not be enticing, Parsons could potentially attract teams in need of additional starting depth in the minor leagues as he is in his final option year.

Overall, the acquisition of Spencer Howard presents an opportunity for the Guardians to tap into his potential and reinforce their pitching staff. Only time will tell if Howard can finally establish himself as a consistent and reliable contributor in the major leagues.