It’s officially Hot Stove season and the San Francisco Giants are reportedly cooking with gas.
On Tuesday morning, MLB.com columnist Phil Rogers reported that San Francisco is potentially interested in dealing right-hander Jeff Samardzija and or closer Mark Melancon in a deal centered around Chicago Cubs’ right fielder Jason Heyward.
@Giants have interest in @Cubs‘ Jason Heyward, w/Jeff Samardzija and Mark Melancon to offer. Very complicated deal but not impossible.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) November 7, 2017
The 28-year-old Heyward is now a three-time Gold Glover Award winner and could represent a defensive upgrade for the Giants in right field over Hunter Pence, but San Francisco still owes Pence $18 million in 2018 and it’s unlikely the team would move Pence to left field to platoon with Denard Span.
On Wednesday morning, the Giants said there is no truth to the rumors that they are interested in Heyward or have made contact with the Cubs. The Giants will likely be tied to many teams looking to move players, in part because general manager Bobby Evans has discussed upgrading his team’s roster via trades this offseason.
However, Heyward is still owed a massive amount of money by Chicago, as the eight-year, $184 million deal he signed prior to the start of the 2016 season won’t expire until after 2023. Though Heyward is entering the prime of his career, his batting average and on-base percentage have taken a nosedive over the last two seasons, and he hasn’t hit more than 14 home runs since 2012.
The Giants are not exactly in a position to add large contracts to their payroll, especially for a player like Heyward who hasn’t produced well at the plate over the last two seasons.
One additional motivation to deal Heyward: Would improve @Cubs position in recruiting Shohei Ohtani. He and Heyward both hit left-handed.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) November 7, 2017