Day 1 of the Joe Panik-less era felt strange.
“I think when you’ve had a guy around for five, six years, it’s going to be different for a little while,” Buster Posey said. “But again, we got a job. We gotta be ready to play and I think guys were ready to play today.”
The Giants weren’t blaming the emotion from playing without their World Series second baseman for Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Nationals at Oracle Park. Panik was DFA’d earlier in the day, and a player who appeared in 643 games with the Giants will next play his first game with another team.
Scooter Gennett, Panik’s replacement, went 1-for-3 in his stead.
“Joe has meant so much to our team and here in the locker room,” Posey said after Panik, a core member from the 2014 World Series champs, was let go. “And obviously he was a big part in ’14 and the last five years. It was a tough day, no doubt. Good friends with Joe and his wife.”
Even if he goes unclaimed, Panik would elect free agency and seek a place he can play every day. The Giants are moving on without him.
“I just hope for the best for him,” Posey said of the 28-year-old. “Hope he gets on with a team and really goes off.”
