Giants general manager Bobby Evans told KNBR two weeks ago that the club was happy to enter the 2017 season with the unproven Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker as their primary options in left field.
Part of the reason San Francisco may not turn to the free agent market to replace the almost certainly departed Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco, has to do with their skyrocketing payroll. With $200 million in guaranteed player contracts for next season, the Giants are already above the luxury tax threshold for the third consecutive year.
Despite that, San Francisco Chronicle Giants beat writer Henry Schulman still thinks the club needs to add another bat for depth purposes, and wouldn’t be surprised if Evans tries to make another signing at a reasonable price before the offseason is over.
“They keep saying that they’re done with free agents and they’re going to have Parker and Williamson fight it out for left field,” Schulman said. “Well even if that were true, they have no depth in the outfield right now, even with those two guys, with Pagan and Blanco gone.”
“I really do think that the Giants are probably hoping that this market will last long enough that some prices will come down and maybe they could get a bench type guy for the team. I’m throwing a name out that I don’t think is realistic, cause he’s too much money, but like a Chris Carter type who’s out there who can play first base, right-handed, come off the bench. Play a little outfield, that sort of thing.”
Listen to the full interview below.