SAN FRANCISCO -- Farhan Zaidi plans to overhaul the 40-man roster, which means plenty of additions, but also a number of familiar faces signing elsewhere. Two players who were taken off the roster before Zaidi arrived already have found new homes.
Kelby Tomlinson, a longtime backup infielder, signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Casey Kelly, who made a cameo in the Giants rotation last season, announced on his Instagram page that he'll play in South Korea next season.
Tomlinson played in 273 games over parts of four seasons with the Giants before they outrighted him off the roster in October to clear a 40-man spot. He had a .265/.331/.332 slash line while playing all over the infield and occasionally filling in as a left fielder. Tomlinson was a bit of a fan favorite and his specs became a rallying cry on social media when he he contributed. He also was a favorite of Bruce Bochy, who called him Tommy Ball this season.
Zaidi likely will add more versatility to the roster this offseason, but the Giants already have two players who had passed Tomlinson on the depth chart. Alen Hanson is a good bet for the Opening Day roster next season and Abiatal Avelino saw some time in September.
Kelly, a former top prospect, filled in for the Giants late in the year and had a 3.04 ERA in seven appearances. The 29-year-old will play for the LG Twins in the KBO next season.
