San Francisco Giants’ Internal 3rd Base Options
Sep 6, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Joaquin Arias (13) makes a throw against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
A lot of people seem almost afraid of this option, but this is the one that may make the most sense. Arias is not an offensive juggernaut by any means, as he logged a .254 average with only nine doubles, and a whopping zero longballs in 2014. However, those totals include a first-half in which he hit just. 188 with one double. He really turned his season around in the latter half, as he hit .355 with eight doubles in his final 43 games.
Defensively, he’s the most proven of the options. He was used as a late-inning defensive replacement in some games for Sandoval, who ended up as a finalist for the National League Gold Glove at third base. And who doesn’t remember Arias’ long throw across the diamond to record the final out in Matt Cain‘s perfect game? Having Arias as the starting third baseman would leave an opening in the “Mr. Do-It-All” infielder slot, but some of these other options could most likely take care of that.