San Francisco Giants Fail To Land Ben Zobrist: What’s Next?
After losing Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse in free agency to the Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins, respectively, the San Francisco Giants were left searching for a middle-of-the-lineup bat to replace the lost production.
The initial big target the Giants chased after was Cuban defector Yasmani Thomas, who opted to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks instead.
After losing two of their own and missing on other free agents targets, this left San Francisco in a spot they certainly didn’t think they would be in coming off another World Series title.
The Giants didn’t panic, though, and added third baseman Casey McGehee via trade, sending away Kendry Flores and Luis Castillo to the Miami Marlins.
With one hole filled, there was still one other spot that needed attention: Left Field.
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Around Christmas time, it was reported that the Giants were close to a deal to trade for Ben Zobrist. But the deal never got done, and just a few days ago, Billy Beane struck a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, sending Zobrist to the Oakland Athletics.
The cost was Oakland’s top prospect in Daniel Robertson, another very good one in Boog Powell, and John Jaso.
Given what was offered, this means that the Giants likely would have had to give up Andrew Susac and/or Kyle Crick, or another top prospect.
With Zobrist being 33 years old, going on 34, the cost was too rich for Sabean’s blood, and understandably so.
The Giants have a system that they rarely stray from, one that has produced three titles in five seasons. And not pulling the trigger on this deal is yet another example of Sabean refusing to deviate from that system.
It can be frustrating at times, but no GM in baseball executes in the short-term while not sacrificing the long-term as well as Sabean does.
But now that another Giants target is off the market, what’s next?
With the free agent market mostly dried up, if the Giants are looking for a quick fix, they’ll have to continue to scour the trade market.
A few names come to mind, but again, it all comes down to what the price will be.
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Taking a look at outfields that are over-populated, Allen Craig, Andre Ethier and Carlos Quentin are players who could be available via trade.
Ethier would probably be the cheapest in terms of what would be needed to acquire him, but he hit about as well as Gregor Blanco did last season.
Craig and Quentin will probably cost as much as Zobrist, so it’s probably safe to scratch them off the list.
The most likely trade option is probably Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino.
Boston is set in the outfield and really have no use for Victorino. Given his age, salary, and declining production, a trade for him is right up Sabean’s alley.
Victorino is no world-beater, but he can play sound defense and if he can bat at the bottom of the lineup and get on base every so often, he’ll fit right in.
The best option, in my opinion, would be to sign Colby Rasmus.
Rasmus is coming off a down year, with his strikeouts and lackluster defense being particularly concerning, but at just 28 years old, he’s got plenty of time to turn it around.
Rasmus has played all three positions in the outfield so his versatility is a trait that should be coveted.
Given how much time has passed in free agency already, it’s obvious that Rasmus’ services aren’t in high demand.
With that being said, the contract he receives won’t break the bank. At his age, Rasmus may even be interested in doing a one-year “prove it” type of deal, hoping to pick up his production and land a bigger deal next offseason.
Since the Giants clearly won’t give up top prospects, and nor should they, and because most of the options are all just decent at best, adding the one who won’t cost any prospects is the best route to go.