It didn’t take long for Giants executive Brian Sabean to put the kibosh on the idea that recently signed center fielder Austin Jackson is going to be an everyday player in 2018.
“We don’t know exactly what’s going to transpire between now and Spring Training, how (Steven) Duggar may or may not rear his head,” Sabean said in a conference call with reporters Monday. “He’s certainly a viable option. Did we get him to be our everyday center fielder? Probably not. I don’t know that in his recent history he’s been able to go out there in that fashion.”
So what is the San Francisco’s plan in center field? A platoon with Jackson and the unproven Duggar? Or do the Giants perhaps look to add another, move proven, defensive center field option?
Longtime Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly joined Fitz & Brooks on Wednesday, and said he believes the orange and black are looking to make another trade to beef up their defensive capabilities in CF, due in part to the questionable defensive abilities of the corner outfield spots, specifically the aging Hunter Pence.
“One thing is really, really, key here that I think people are losing sight on,” Baggarly said. “Hunter Pence has never started a regular season game in left field. Andrew McCutchen has started 14 or 24 career games as a right fielder. They need someone who’s not merely average or okay in center field. They need someone who can cover those corners a little bit and really be a plus-plus center fielder, and right now they don’t really have that, unless they really have an evaluation on Steven Duggar that he can be up in short order, and be that kind’ve guy.
“That’s why I think they are still out there looking for trade possibilities. The Milwaukee Brewers sign Lorenzo Cain and all of the sudden you can get one of their young center fielders, or if there’s someone else who is really a go-getter who’s available, you know who’s a pre-arbitration guy. They wouldn’t come cheap in terms of prospects, but you know I think the Giants still do need to make another move to get better defensively in center field.”
Baggarly also gave his take on how much he expects to see Pence in the lineup next year.
“It all has to do with if he can keep his hamstrings from blowing out,” Baggarly said. “He’s got to stay on the field. The last couple of years he hasn’t been able to do that reliably. If he’s healthy, I think he’s probably going to play a lot, because we know that Bruce Bochy likes to play his veterans, and Pence is definitely a team guy, he’s moving to left field with no reservations. But when he comes in that clubhouse and doesn’t see his name in the lineup, he’s probably going to say something to the manager, because he loves to play. I think that he’s going to end up playing quite a bit if he’s healthy.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Baggarly on the outfield situation and Pence, skip to 5:20.