Casey McGehee designated for assignment

DENVER -- The San Francisco Giants on Sunday designated third baseman Casey McGehee for assignment and recalled right-hander Hunter Strickland from Triple-A Sacramento.

McGehee, who was acquired from the Miami Marlins in December, was hitting .200 with nine RBIs in 35 games for the Giants. McGehee has 10 days to be traded, released or accept an assignment to Triple-A.

McGehee, who has more than five years of major league service time, has the option to refuse being sent down, said he was not ready to decide whether to accept the assignment to Sacramento.

"I have to think about it," McGehee said in the hallway outside the visiting clubhouse at Coors Field. "That's not a decision I feel I'm capable of making in 10 minutes. There's other people involved -- my family and myself."

McGehee has struggled since suffering a left knee strain in early April. He hit .169 in the first month of 2015 after winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year with the Marlins in 2014.

McGehee had 177 hits and a .287 average with Miami after spending 2013 playing in Japan, but has struggled to find consistency with the defending World Series champions.

"The only thing I could say is I wish I would have gotten off to a little bit different start," he said. "Now it's just trying to figure out what the next step is and where to go from here. I'm pretty sure yesterday wasn't the last day that I have played.

"I still think I feel I have a lot left in the tank and a lot left to offer. I feel like I'm the same guy that was third or fourth in the league in hits last year. I expect to get back to that level and no matter where or when it is I'm going to keep working to try to do that until there is nobody left that will permit it."

The play of rookie Matt Duffy played a part in McGehee's designation. Duffy is hitting .351 in 37 at-bats since May 9.

San Francisco's schedule was also a factor. The Giants are in the midst of four games in three days against the Colorado Rockies and won't have a day off until June 4.

"We're in a tough situation right now with all these games being played and the pitchers that are being used," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We need to stay with 13 pitchers. That's going to be the case. I'm a little concerned how much we've been using these guys. We've got to get that pen back in order. I knew it would be a test for us and the bullpen getting through this stretch of games."

Strickland was recalled Saturday to serve as the 26th man during the Giants' doubleheader against Colorado. He struck out three batters in two innings in the opener before being optioned to Sacramento after the second game.

"The way Strickland threw the ball was impressive. We need him right now," Bochy said. "Unfortunately, we had to have that conversation with Casey."