As MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported yesterday, the San Francisco Giants are likely to target a number of big name offensive free agents this offseason, in hopes of improving a lineup that finished 19th in runs scored and 20th in team OPS in 2016.
With both Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco hitting free agency and questionable to return, outfield is looking like one of the primary positions where San Francisco might attempt to make a splash signing. While this year’s list of free agents is far from the strongest we’ve ever seen, there are handful of talented players that the Giants may consider pursuing, who could fill a potential hole in left field while also improving the offense.
Here are the top candidates the Giants should take a look at.
Yoenis Cespedes
Age: 31 Bats: R
2015 Salary: $17,500,000
Stats: 31 HR, 86 RBI, .280/.354/.530
Heyman listed Cespedes as one of the big names the Giants would be targeting this offseason and for good reason, as the right-handed power hitter fits exactly what San Francisco is looking for in an ideal left-field candidate. Cespedes’ 31 home runs last year were more than double what the Giants got out of their most potent right-handed hitter in Hunter Pence, and Cespedes’ inclusion would be an immediate boost to a middle of the order that had a hard time manufacturing runs for long stretches of the season.
Choosing to opt out of the two remaining years of his contract and leaving $48 million on the table is a clear indicator that Cespedes is looking for a long term deal, and because he’s the top outfielder (and probably player) on the open market this season, it’s possible the Giants would have to shell out $80-90 million over four years to sign him.
For a 31 year old, Bobby Evans and Co. may deem that price tag a bit too high. Still Cespedes is a complete player who hits for power, gets on base and has a better arm than any of the outfielders currently on the Giants’ roster. If they are indeed willing to break the bank for the right candidate, it’s hard to argue Cespedes isn’t just that.
Dexter Fowler
Age: 30 Bats: R
2015 Salary: $8,000,000
Stats: 13 HR, 48 RBI, .276/.393/.447
Though Cespedes is the talk of the town, one could make that case that Chicago’s Dexter Fowler is just as strong of a candidate for those targeting a complete outfielder. While his power numbers are not nearly as impressive as Cespedes’, Fowler is coming off the best year of his career at the plate, and was one of the best leadoff men in baseball last season, something the Giants don’t currently have.
Fowler is also a terrific defensive center fielder, and San Francisco could always move the recently acquired Denard Span over to left if need be. Fowler is a year younger than Cespedes and will probably command a deal in a similar price range, but may be even more deserving than Cespedes of such a contract, considering he’s a more well rounded option that would also solve issues at the top of the order.
Josh Reddick
Age: 29 Bats: L
2015 Salary: $6,575,000
Stats: 10 HR, 37 RBI, .281/.345/.405
Reddick got off to a hot start in 2016, and rumors surfaced that the Giants were interested in trading for him in July at a time when their outfield was depleted by injuries. The A’s ultimately shipped Reddick off to the Dodgers, only to see his production suffer in the last few months of the season, something that may have been related to a slow recovery from a broken hand in June that put him on the shelf for a month.
When compared to Cespedes and Folwer, Reddick certainly isn’t in the same class, and his disappointing end to the season will give teams pause, as will his frequent injury concerns. Reddick is an average hitter overall, who can hit for power but does so inconsistently. His potential value depends on if you believe the player from the first half of the season can return to form.
Ian Desmond
Age: 31 Bats: R
2015 Salary: $8,000,000
Stats: 22 HR, 86 RBI, .285/.335/.446, 21 SB
After putting up the worst numbers of his career in 2015, Desmond had a bounce back season with the Texas Rangers, making the All-Star team for the second time in his career. Desmond is extremely versatile and can play multiple outfield positions, as well as provide injury protection at second base, third base and shortstop. He also provides right-handed depth and has decent power numbers, something the Giants are in short supply of, and part of the reason Buster Olney said Desmond would be a great fit for San Francisco in late 2015.
Similar to Reddick, however, Desmond swooned in the second half of the season, looking more like the player from 2015, than the All-Star from the first half. That fact might lower his price tag, but also makes him more of a risk. The Giants would have to decide if his versatility and power are enough to compensate for his unpredictable production.
Mark Trumbo
Age: 30 Bats: R
2015 Salary: $9,150,000
Stats: 47 HR, 108 RBI, .256/.316/.533
If the Giants are strictly looking for right-handed power, Trumbo definitely fits the bill. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do much else.
Trumbo had the lowest OBP (.316) for a player who hit more than 45 home runs in a season in MLB history. A converted first baseman, Trumbo is also known for being a terrible defensive outfielder, and is probably best suited to being a DH for the remainder of his career. Like a few others on this list, Trumbo also regressed in the second half of the season, with his numbers looking more like his career averages of 251/.303/.473.
Trumbo does one thing really well and it happens to be something the Giants are in desperate need of. The question is, will that be enough to shell out $15 million or so for a player who doesn’t seem all that likely to sustain that production.