San Francisco Giants: Key Free Agents and Potential Targets
Left Field
Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Michael Morse hits a sacrifice fly against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants may already have a future outfield starter in their organization in Daniel Carbonell. Carbonell is a center fielder, but Angel Pagan has that position locked down right now, so the young Cuban may be forced into duty as the left fielder. The Giants are very high on the 23 year-old, as they sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get as many AB’s as possible. It doesn’t seem like he’s ready for the big leagues just yet, so the Giants may need to pick up a left fielder to give Carbonell a chance to develop.
1) Michael Morse: Morse signed a one-year, $6 million deal to come to the Giants, and it paid dividends. Though injuries limited him to 131 games, he hit .279 with 16 home runs, bringing power back to the left field position.
Morse fit right in with his teammates, creating a special bond that will surely make him want to return to the Bay. He also quickly became a fan favorite, as his laid-back attitude fit perfectly in San Francisco.
The Beast is sure to command more than the six million he earned in 2014, as his power will be sought after on the market. San Francisco may have to open up their wallet a little to bring him back.
2) Torii Hunter: Though Hunter is 39 years old, he may be well suited for a one or two-year deal to give Carbonell some time. Hunter has played in just 17 games in left field in his career, but he is a nine-time Gold Glover and one of the best outfield defenders the game has seen in years. He is still an offensive threat, as he hit .286 with 17 homers and 83 RBI’s in 2014. He could still provide some solid pop in the middle of the order.
3) Alex Rios: The Giants were linked to Rios at the trade deadline, but he remained with the Texas Rangers. His power numbers have decreased pretty drastically over the past few years, as he has only 10 home runs in his last 178 games. He has still hit .280 in each of the last two years, including 30 doubles in 2014. He is a solid defender, but has played only one game in left field. He will be 34 years old at the beginning of the 2015 season and seems like another good candidate for a short-term deal.