Now that they’ve struck out on Giancarlo Stanton and Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani, the San Francisco Giants must begin the process of starting their Plan B at the Winter Meetings this week. What that plan is exactly remains to be seen, but Gaints executive Brian Sabean was pretty explicit about one group of players the team will not be targeting this offseason.
In order to acquire free agents that have received and turned down qualifying offers from their clubs — Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas of the Royals are two examples the Giants have been linked to — San Francisco, because they are over the luxury tax, would have to give up two second-round picks and international bonus money to acquire either player. With the Giants picking second in every round in this year’s draft, Sabean made it clear that’s not something he’s looking to sign off on.
“If you’re asking me personally, my vote would be a no, being that we wouldn’t want to get involved with somebody like that,” Sabean told Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. “That would be a huge hit in a year (we have) the second pick in every round. We really have a chance to make hay in this draft and we expect to do so, so that would be a stretch.”
Buster Olney of ESPN reiterated this point on Monday afternoon.
Brian Sabean indicates the Giants reluctant to sign free agents who would cost them a draft pick. This could mean that Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier are better fits than others. If Andrew McCutchen is a possibility, he’d be added via trade.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 11, 2017
Per Pavlovic, other notable players who have rejected qualifying offers are Eric Hosmer, Jake Arrieta, Wade Davis, Alex Cobb, Greg Holland, Lance Lynn and Carlos Santana.
Don’t expect any of them to being joining the Giants anytime soon.