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 joins Mike Trout on 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.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
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 Topkin tweeted that Evan Longoria, the team’s star third baseman, could be among those considered for the Giants. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal mentioned that the Giants are part of the “significant interest” that outfielder Domingo Santana is drawing, along with other Milwaukee Brewers’ outfielders. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale mentioned that the Giants “expressed interest” in free agent outfielder Jay Bruce last month. The chatter that the team could also pursue free agent J.D. Martinez remains 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 Sox Jackie Bradley Jr. have all been linked to the Giants at some point in the recent past. Todd Frazier is 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 like Jarrod Dyson, Lorenzo Cain, and Mike Moustakas are also still out there, although the latter two come with a qualifying offer that would cost the Giants a pair of high draft picks.
Next: Bay Area Sports Christmas Gift Guide
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.