I think we all agree that as presently constructed, the Giants roster needs at least one more bat and probably two in order to be competitive in 2026. Short of a major roster makeover, there are several positions where a bat could be added including 1B/DH(assuming Bryce Eldridge isn't quite ready), 2B and RF which still leaves a fairly long list of potential additions. We'll start with some of the top free agent bats on the market:
Kyle Tucker RF. DOB: 1/17/1997. B-L, T-R. 6' 4", 212 lbs. .266/.377/.464, 22 HR, 25 SB, 14.6 BB%, 14.7 K%. MLBTR projected contract: 11 yr/$400 M.
Top player on the market but coming off a down season featuring two injuries and an extended midseason slump. This is the second season in a row he missed significant time with injuries. Is that in itself a red flag? The Giant most glaring hole is in RF so he is a perfect fit, albeit not a great defender there, but can they or should they take on another long term mega contract, especially one with some obvious negatives?
Bo Bichette SS/2B. DOB: 3/5/1998. B-R, T-R. 5', 11", 190 lb. .311/.357/.483, 18 HR, 4 SB, 6.4 BB%, 14.5 K%, 628 PA. MLBTR Projected contract: 8 yr/$208 M. Nice bounceback season after a disastrous, injury-marred 2024, but missed time at the end of the season with a PCL sprain. Performed well in the World Series. Does not grade out well on defense at SS but the Giants would want him to play 2B anyway where he would form a dynamic up-the-middle pairing with Willy Adames. MLBTR projects him to be considerably more affordable than Kyle Tucker but I wonder if they are selling him short?
Munetaka Murakami 3B/1B. DOB: 2/2/2000. B-L, T-R. 6' 2", 213 lbs. JPCL: .273/.379/.663, 22 HR, 32 BB, 64 K, 224 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 8 yr/180 M(plus posting fee).
Slugging corner IF who is probably only a fit for the Giants if Bryce Eldridge is traded for cost-controlled pitching. Namesake of the first Japanese MLB player who played for the Giants.
Cody Bellinger OF. DOB: 7/13/1995. B-L, T-L. 6' 3", 204 lbs. .272/.334/.480, 29 HR, 13 SB, 8.7 BB%, 13.7 K%, 656 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 5 yr/140 M.
If MLBTR's projection is close to accurate, and they have an excellent track record of accurate projections, Bellinger is way more affordable than Kyle Tucker and you could make a case he is a better all-around player. Athleticism and versatility make him an obvious great fit for the Giants OF. Buster should be kicking tires on this one.
Kyle Schwarber DH. DOB: 3/5/1993. B-L, T-R. 5' 11", 229 lbs. .240/.365/.563, 56 HR, 10 SB, 14.9 BB%, 27.2 K%, 724 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 5 yr/$135 M.
Power, power and more power! Positional limitations make him a fit only if Bryce Eldridge is traded. But man! Could the Giants ever use a power bat like that in the lineup? Eldridge should be so lucky as to ever hit like that!
Pete Alonso 1B/DH. DOB: 12/7/1994. B-R, T-R. 6' 3", 245 lbs. .272/.347/.524, 38 HR, 8.6 BB%, 22.8 K%, 709 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 4 YR/$110 M.
Again, probably only a fit if Eldridge is traded, but would make a nice R-L 1B/DH combo with Devers and with power numbers Eldridge can only dream on.
Josh Naylor 1B/DH. DOB: 6/22/1997. B-L, T-L. 5'10", 235 lbs. .292/.360/.447, 20 HR, 5.2 BB%, 16.2 K%, 604 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 5 yr/$90 M.
More of a contact hitter with power than a pure power hitter, but Buster likes contact. Affordable contract projection. Same situation with Bryce Eldridge. Hey! I am starting to like the idea of trading Eldridge for pitching!
Trent Grisham CF. DOB: 11/1/1996. B-L, T-L. 5', 10", 221 lbs. .235/.348/.464, 34 HR, 14.1 BB%, 23.6 K%, 581 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 4 yr/$66 M.
Coming off a career year with the Yankees so we are buying high here. Did the short porch goose his power? If Buster is really looking to upgrade OF D, he is an elite defender in CF if the Giants are willing to move Jung Hoo Lee out of the position.
Kazuma Okamoto 3B/1B. DOB: 6/30/1996. B-R, T- R. 6' 0", 212 lbs. JPL: .322/.411/.581, 15 HR, 33 BB, 33 K, 314 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 4 yr/$66 M.
Kind of a poor man's version of Murakami. Older, B-R, Not as much power. Probably not a fit for the Giants.
Jorge Polanco 2B/3B, DH. DOB: 7/5/1993. B-S, T-R. 6' 0", 208 lbs. .265/.326/.495, 26 HR, 6 SB, 8.0 BB%, 15.6 K%, 524 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 3 yr/$42 M.
More of a DH than position player by now but a B-S DH with some power who doesn't K a lot would be an asset.....again, assuming Eldridge isn't ready or trade bait for a pitcher.
Ha Seong Kim SS/2B. DOB: 10/17/1995. B-R, T-R. 5' 10", 200 lbs. .234/.304/.345, 5 HR, 6 SB, 8.2 BB%, 16.3 K%, 191 PA. MLBTR projected contract: 2 yr/$30 M.
Missed 2/3 of season recovering from shoulder surgery then got traded at the deadline. Would playing on the same team as his buddy, Jung Hoo Lee, help both players? Is he enough of an upgrade over Schmitt or Koss to warrant the contract?
Harrison Bader OF. DOB: 6/3/1994. B-R, T-R. 5' 11", 210 lbs. .277/.347/.449, 17 HR, 11 SB, 7.8 BB%, 27.1 K%. MLBTR Projected Contract: 2 yr/$26 M.
Solves the CF defense problem but not the strikeout problem. Signing team will buy high on his best season since 2021.
Luis Arraez 1B/DH. DOB: 4/9/1997. B-L, T-R. 5' 10", 175 lbs. .292/.327/.392, 8 HR, 11 SB, 5.0 BB%, 3.1 K%, 675 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 2 yr/$24 M.
Throwback to when BA was king. Rarely walks, never strikes out. If Buster is serious about reducing K's, Arraez is a perfect fit. Probably limited to DH on the Giants.
Gleyber Torres 2B. DOB: 12/13/1996. B-R, T-R. 5' 11", 205 lbs. .256/.358/.387, 16 HR, 13.5 BB%, 16.1 K%, 628 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 1 yr/$22.5 M.
Probably looking for another 1 yr contract to try to recapture the 38 HR's in 2019 which are rapidly fading in his rearview mirror. Once one of the most hyped prospects ever in the Yankees system, has settled into a good, not great, 2B. Oracle Park is notoriously not a destination for hitters looking for one big season.
Willi Castro UT. DOB: 4/24/1997. B-S, T-R. 6' 0", 206 lbs. .226/.313/.366, 10 HR, 9 SB, 8.8 BB%, 24.4 K%, 454 PA. MLBTR Projected Contract: 2 yr/$14 M.
Numbers cratered after a deadline trade to the Cubs. Versatility is his calling card.
Bargain Bins:
The Giants would have to get a really good ready now pitcher with some longevity to satisfy Eldridge's fan base: we've heard too much for too long about what he brings, plus he has baseball-wide recognition, not just with us.
ReplyDeleteOTOH, a blockbuster trade that was suggested 3 days ago with the Marlins for Alcantara and Edwards (plus Stowers and a young plus RP) for Eldridge and other high end prospects might give the Giants enough to challenge NL's best.
Cedric Mullins would be the only one from the bargain bin I would try. Could be decent and bats right so wouldn’t stop them from getting Bellinger. I wish I was more sold on Eldridge’s potential and more upset about trading him but I’m not. I really like the potential of this team with Bellinger and another really good pitcher or two and maybe Mullins ends up having a year like the first half of last year. We could still use more OF and DH options especially RH. He would probably do a decent job in the leadoff spot too…
ReplyDeleteIf the Marlins included Alcantara, Edwards, and Stowers, I would trade Eldridge, (Heliot or Matos), Fitzgerald pitching prospects and anyone else the Giants don't need and the Marlins would want. I would do this in a heart beat. I remember the Giants playing the Marlins last year and many of the Marlins were roping line drives AB after AB.
ReplyDeleteI was impressed with Kyle Stowers. Stowers pulled both obliques last year which reduced his numbers. I would assume that he is working this offseason to strengthen or taking other PT to reduce the chance of that happening again. Why would the Marlins make that trade?
Shayna Rubin in her November 11th Giants' coverage focusing on the "woeful outfield defense" said, buried deep in her article:
ReplyDelete"Marco Luciano, whom the Giants have been testing in the outfield, is virtually out of the big league picture for now."
Is that news? There is no other reference to him.
I haven't seen a fit for Luciano on the Giants active roster for at least a year now. Very disappointing. Goes to show that AAA is still a long, long way from MLB.
DeleteA former Cy Young winning pitcher, plus Kyle Stowers, a 2025 All-star, plus Edwards who put up 3.2 WAR in his 1st full pro season. That's a mighty trade package to ask for, and it would cost most of the top 10 system prospects I'd assume.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Eldridge used to acquire pitching and add a slugging DH! Targeting Hunter Greene and paying Schwarber would be my ideal starting point!
ReplyDeleteA young ace like Greene has a decent chance of benefiting the current Chapman/Devers/Adames/Webb timeline and future timeline Gonzalez, Level, Hernandez timeline.