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Giants Make Jose Butto Announcement After Blade Tidwell Move
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- Giants Make Jose Butto Announcement After Blade Tidwell Move
The San Francisco Giants made a series of bullpen moves on Thursday, including placing right-hander Jose Butto on the 15-day injured list and recalling Blade Tidwell from Triple-A Sacramento.
At the time, the Giants described Butto's issue as "right arm fatigue" following a tough outing against the Mets and a noticeable drop in velocity during Wednesday's game.
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Manager Tony Vitello indicated after the game that Butto's issue was not tied to a specific elbow or shoulder injury. Vitello sounded optimistic back then, expecting Butto's absence to not be long-term.
"I don't think there's only one isolated spot," Vitello said.
But the situation changed quickly, and clearly for the worse.
The Giants announced on Friday that Butto is dealing with a blood clot in his throwing arm and will undergo a procedure to remove it following a visit to Dr. Jason Lee.
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"Everybody's concern immediately is going to be with someone's health," manager Tony Vitello said. "But he's a very, very, very well-liked and well-respected guy. So everyone was concerned right away. I think the fact it's not the worst-case scenario, or it could be worse, is good. Time will tell if it's a decent layoff or an extended layoff."
The updated diagnosis provides clarity after the wrong initial assessment of Butto's injury, though the team has not provided a timeline for his return.
Butto's injury leaves a gap in the bullpen, which had already been dealing with multiple absences . Tidwell, who was recalled to take Butto's roster spot, stepped into that role immediately and recorded a three-inning save in his Giants debut on Thursday.
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"It was really special," Tidwell said after his debut.
The Giants acquired Tidwell alongside Butto in the Tyler Rogers trade on July 30, and he has automatically entered the team's relief mix as San Francisco adjusts to Butto's absence.
Butto, 28, has struggled early in the 2026 season, allowing five runs on six hits—two for home runs—across three games and two innings of work with the Giants.
Related: Mets Manager Addresses Left Field Plans Amid Juan Soto Injury Concern
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Related: Dodgers' Dave Roberts Addresses Shohei Ohtani's Wrist Issue
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
