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5 realistic options in left field for Giants

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The market for offense has yet to develop in this year’s free agent market, a bit surprising given all the activity on the pitching front.

Aside from Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, who both inked deals with the Chicago Cubs, the market still consists of some of the biggest names such as Yoenis Cespedes, Alex Gordon, Justin Upton, Chris Davis in the tier-1 range and tier-2 folks such as Gerardo Parra and Dexter Fowler. 

The Giants entered the offseason with the goal of improving their pitching staff, which they successfully accomplished by agreeing to terms with Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. 

Now, as we approach the new year and inch closer to Spring Training, the Giants are hoping the price tag for the outfield market drop down quite a bit.

Or, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Giants are looking at the trade route in the case they cannot find the help they seek at a reasonable cost on the open free agent market. 

So, here are the top five most logical options for the Giants to target as their next left fielder

1.) Alex Gordon, Royals: Giants fans know Gordon all too well, watching him round the bases in game seven of the 2014 World Series, with the thought he was going to go for an inside-the-park home run. Thankfully, for Giants fans, he didn’t. Gordon is the best defensive outfielder on the market today, and his bat fits well with how the Giants have constructed their lineup of keeping the line moving and getting on base. Additionally, Gordon’s gap to gap power would play well at AT&T Park.

Gordon will be 32 come opening day, but that should not hinder his ability to continue getting on base or his defense, two assets any team that signs him is largely paying for. 

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports recently reported that negotiations between the Royals and Gordon’s camp are not going well, quoting the Royals have been told they have “no chance” to re-sign their face of the franchise after reportedly offering four years in the neighborhood of $12-$13 million per year, very much a lowball offer. 

If the Giants can financially construct a five year deal in the $90 million range, they ought to consider going after him with the expectations of getting at least two if not three solid years of production. If there is one free agent left that the Giants should invest in, it’s Gordon. 

2.) Brett Gardner, Yankees: Some may call Gardner overrated, some may call him underrated. To each their own, but there is no denying Gardner is a solid baseball player. While he is five years removed from his breakout year in which he posted a 7.1 WAR, and continues to see his stolen base numbers decline, Gardner still serves as a solid defensive outfielder who can hit some. 

He is not a superstar name, nor is he the flashiest of them all, but he gets the job done and his overall makeup makes for a good fit in San Francisco. He still has three years and $36 million remaining, and given the market today, is a good deal given his value of consistently posting a 3-4 WAR.

Additionally, he won’t be blocking anyone. If his production falls off, he becomes a viable fourth outfielder, with the hopes of one of the Giants’ internal options steps up. 

3.) Dexter Fowler, Cubs: Fowler manned center field for the Cubs last year and has always been an under the radar type player. Not necessarily known for his power, Fowler posses outstanding on base ability, as evidenced by his .363 career OBP. Fowler is coming of a season in which his knocked out 17 home runs, while swiping 20 bags. He has the speed and raw power to be successful in San Francisco.

His defense in center field was not pretty, and pairing him in the outfield with another awful defender in Angel Pagan is asking for trouble. But if the Giants feel he can manage left field, Fowler may serve as a great fit. 

4.) Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies:  Gonzalez is just 30 years old, with two years left on his contract with a team that won’t be contending anytime soon. He provides legitimate power as evidenced by his 40 home runs last year, and gives the Giants another major offensive weapon.

But Gonzalez is still owed $17.4 million in 2016 and $20.4 million in 2017 in a heavily backloaded deal. Additionally, Gonzalez’s splits were apparent last year, as he hit .299/.355/.617 with 24 home runs at Coors field. On the road, Gonzalez hit .243/.294/.464 with 16 home runs. He struggled mightily against lefties, hitting just .195 in 159 plate appearances. 

Still, he is worth a flyer if the Giants can take on most of his remaining contract without giving up much in terms of prospects, given it is just a two year commitment against the four to seven years to would take to get the free agents.

Trading for Gonzalez would require the Giants to bring in a right handed outfielder to platoon with Gonzalez, something the Giants will want to avoid.

5.) Austin Jackson, Mariners/ Cubs: Once a top prospect with the Tigers who traded him away to acquire David Price in 2014, Jackson was consistently putting up solid offensive and defensive numbers in Detroit. 

Following the trade to Seattle, Jackson saw his numbers severely decline, and was considered a bust in Seattle. They traded him to the Cubs in a low-profiled deal this past July. 

Jackson, who is just 28,  serves as a decent right handed bat to complement Gregor Blanco should the Giants opt to go with a platoon in left field instead of investing in a big name player or trade away valuable prospects. 

While a splashy signing such as Yoenis Cespedes or Justin Upton would put more butts in seats, they are two high risk signings that the Giants can likely avoid and find alternative options, especially given their deep lineup where a big masher such as Upton or Cespedes isn’t a priority. 

 

 


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