San Francisco Giants Miss On Big Targets, but Options Still Remain

The San Francisco Giants weren’t chosen by the two big targets, but there are still plenty of options remaining on the market.

Friday, like so many other days during the 2017 season, was a rough one for the San Francisco Giants. The two biggest names on the market this offseason both declined the Giants’ services, leaving them still in search of ways to improve the team.

The Giants did everything they could to land Stanton, getting as far as having a trade agreed upon with the Marlins. Ultimately, Stanton held all the power with his no-trade clause and he wielded it effectively. The two teams who had chased him the hardest, San Francisco and the St. Louis Cardinals, were informed on Friday that Stanton would use his veto power to nix a trade to either club.

Ohtani labeled the Giants as one of seven potential destinations, but he also chose to go elsewhere. He joinsMike Trouton the Los Angeles Angels, signing on with an American League club as was speculated from the beginning.

It’s back to the drawing board for the Giants, and though they didn’t land the Marlin they had been angling for, plenty of other big fish remain on the market.

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The hot stove could best be described as a low-lit flame this offseason, and many of the top names remain on the board without much in the way of rumors around them. The market has been at a standstill, and now that some clarity has been given in the whole Stanton saga, those dominoes could start to fall as the Winter Meetings near.

Immediately after the Giants announced that they were involuntarily bowing out of their chase of Stanton, a numbers of rumors started sprouting regarding the team’s “Plan B”.

Tampa Bay Rays’ beat writer Marc TopkintweetedthatEvan Longoria, the team’s star third baseman, could be among those considered for the Giants. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthalmentionedthat the Giants are part of the “significant interest” that outfielderDomingo Santanais drawing, along with other Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielders. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale mentioned that the Giants “expressed interest” in free agent outfielderJay Brucelast month. Thechatterthat the team could also pursue free agentJ.D. Martinezremains alive as well.

In addition to all that, the Giants have checked on numerous other players in the past month or so. The Reds’Billy Hamilton, the Pirates’Andrew McCutchen, and the Red SoxJackie BradleyJr. have all been linked to the Giants at some point in the recent past.Todd Frazieris still a free agent, as well.

Earlier in the offseason, the Giants made clear their non-Stanton priorities: improving defense in center field and filling the hole at third base. Defensively in center field, Hamilton and Bradley Jr. would certainly help. At third base, Longoria and Frazier would certainly fill that hole. Other options likeJarrod Dyson,Lorenzo Cain, andMike Moustakasare also still out there, although the latter two come with a qualifying offer that would cost the Giants a pair of high draft picks.

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With the market taking so long to get started, the Giants aren’t at a disadvantage. The players they will, or should, target are still available. With the Winter Meetings starting on Sunday, there could soon be a bit of clarity to their 2018 picture.

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