At 12-23, the Giants 2017 season is looking rather ugly. The left field situation, however, looks even worse.
In the second week of May, the Giants have used eight different left fielders — and none of them have been very good. Their combined batting average is a measly .195, and their combined home run total is two. The Giants need to do something about it, but according to ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian, they don’t have the prospects to do so.
Kurkjian joined KNBR’s The Audible Thursday morning, explaining that the Giants lack depth in their farm system to pick up a starting-caliber left fielder.
“As far as getting help, sorry, I just don’t know if it’s coming in any big form,” said Kurkjian. “In other words, they need obviously a left-fielder. Madison Bumgarner hit more home runs on Opening Day than the left-fielders have all season. Yet, I was told again the other night that the thought of going to get, just using a name here, Ryan Braun, I don’t even know if they have enough in their farm system to go get somebody of that caliber. Until they do, I think they’re going to be in trouble offensively.”
According to Kurkjian, the problem with Braun, who could be considered the Giants best case scenario, is that he costs more than what the Giants have prospect wise.
“It would take two of your best prospects because even though he makes a lot of money, and probably isn’t the Ryan Braun of five years ago, he can still get the ball in the air,” he said, “He’s still a productive hitter, and he’s still way better than what the Giants have used in left field this year, but I repeat, I was told the Giants farm system just isn’t stocked enough to be able to take the hit to give up their best kid to go get one player. I think what they have here is going to have to get it done because I don’t think significant help is coming.”
To hear the rest of Kurkjian, listen below. To hear Kurkjian’s thoughts on the Giants farm system, skip to 2:40