LOS ANGELES -- The end of Jarrett Parker's run on the 40-man roster was also the end of his time in the Giants organization.
Parker cleared waivers and was released, general manager Bobby Evans said. He is currently a free agent. Parker entered the spring with no minor league options remaining and was designated for assignment after he was told he would not make the team. The Giants also have a packed outfield at Triple-A -- Steven Duggar, Mac Williamson, Chris Shaw, Austin Slater -- so they chose to let Parker look for other opportunities.
The 29-year-old was supposed to have a shot at winning the left field job a year ago but a broken clavicle destroyed his season. In 135 career games with the Giants, Parker hit .257 with 15 homers.
--- Bochy announced that Ty Blach will also start the home opener. The Giants will use a four-man rotation until April 10. Blach threw five shutout innings in Thursday's season-opener.
--- Jeff Samardzija played catch at 90 feet and felt good. Bochy could not say yet when Samardzija (pectoral strain) will get back on the mound. The initial timeframe was three to four weeks.
--- Tony Watson won't be a left-on-left lefty. Bochy let him face Yasiel Puig on Thursday (he struck him out) and said for the most part Watson will get the full eighth. Cory Gearrin is the one back-end reliever who may see more of a matchup role.
--- The Giants never had an issue with the new mound visit rule in the opener. They had two left, and that was after Posey visited Gearrin twice and Strickland once late in the game.
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"We're not going to really pay much attention to it until we have a couple (visits) left," Bochy said.
It's easy to keep track. Visits are listed on the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium.
--- Gregor Blanco will start in center field on Saturday against Kenta Maeda. Playing time will be bit harder to come by for other backups because of the early off days, but Bochy may play Nick Hundley against lefty Rich Hill on Sunday. Hundley had a big spring.
--- Bochy on having Blanco and Pablo Sandoval back on his bench: "They bring passion for the game and energy. They're keeping it loose. They're both great in the dugout."
