Giants’ general manager Bobby Evans has reiterated several times this offseason the franchise’s top priority is to acquire a new center fielder who represents a defensive upgrade over Denard Span.
As the end of November approaches, though, it’s becoming increasingly clear that trading for Marlins’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton could be San Francisco’s primary goal. Evans isn’t allowed to discuss other teams’ players publicly, but the Giants were linked to Stanton throughout the second half of the 2017 season, are considered the most aggressive suitors according to plugged-in MLB reporters like Bob Nightengale and Jon Heyman, and now, have reportedly submitted their first trade offer to Miami that includes Stanton.
The news of the trade offer came from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who didn’t divulge names the Giants planned to exchange for the National League’s Most Valuable Player, but did include a handful of suggestions that would make the trade more sensible from a financial standpoint for San Francisco. Because the Giants have serious concerns about exceeding the luxury tax threshold, a deal for Stanton could allow the Giants to offload a high-priced contract, whether it be to the Marlins or to a third team involved in a deal.
A three-team trade might be the approach the Giants and Marlins ultimately deem most beneficial for all parties, because as the offseason unfolds, San Francisco might be looking to dump some of its high-priced veterans to free up capital for Stanton while the Marlins are looking to offload the star in an effort to shed a massive long-term financial commitment. Still, there are scenarios in which the two sides could work out a straight-up deal, but most would likely involve the Giants offloading Span to the Marlins.
Regardless of whether the Giants acquire Stanton, though, it’s a near certainty that San Francisco will begin the 2018 season with a new center fielder. Because of this, here are a few different outfield makeups the Giants could enter Spring Training with if a deal for Stanton comes through.
Outfield 1
Left field: Hunter Pence
Center field: Billy Hamilton
Right field: Giancarlo Stanton
Fourth outfielder: Austin Slater
Fifth outfielder: Jarrett Parker
Analysis: In this scenario, the Giants have included Span in their deal for Stanton. Span’s contract isn’t easy to move, but because the Marlins would only be required to pay $11 million to Span next season and $4 million to buy out his contract in 2019, it’s a temporary setback for a long-term reward. Acquiring Stanton would allow the Giants to move Hunter Pence to left field and keep the soon-to-be 35-year-old in the starting lineup, or platoon him with a left-handed hitter like Jarrett Parker. San Francisco would have defensive flexibility because Parker and Austin Slater can both play all three outfield positions, and both are solid options off the bench. The Giants could also create competition in Spring Training by having Mac Williamson and or Gorkys Hernandez battle for the extra outfield spots. Slater is injury-prone but capable of hitting for average, while Hernandez is a Bruce Bochy favorite who would make an excellent late-game defensive replacement.
Of course, the wildcard in all of these scenarios is finding a center fielder, and if the Giants acquire Stanton, trading for Reds’ center fielder Billy Hamilton would be a logical next step to improving the team’s outfield makeup. With Stanton’s power in the lineup, the Giants don’t have to worry about a true two-way center fielder, and can take advantage of the speed Hamilton brings on defense and on the base paths.
Outfield 2
Left field: Hunter Pence
Center field: Jackie Bradley, Jr.
Right field: Giancarlo Stanton
Fourth outfielder: Austin Slater
Fifth outfielder: Gorkys Hernandez
Analysis: While Span’s contract is difficult to move, it’s not impossible to imagine the Giants swinging a deal that includes a player who could start the season as the team’s 11th different Opening Day left fielder in 11 seasons. Pence, on the other hand, has a contract that’s impossible to move. He’s owed more than $18 million next season, and also has a contract that includes a full no-trade clause which gives him veto power over any deal. Pence has also dealt with injuries of late, and it’s possible that if he can remain healthy, his numbers will rebound in 2018.
Acquiring both Stanton and Bradley, Jr. would represent a massive overhaul for Evans and the Giants’ front office, and it would likely require San Francisco to move more than just Span. San Francisco could have to surrender Jeff Samardzija, Johnny Cueto, Mark Melancon or Brandon Belt to make both deals happen, because it’s unlikely the Giants have enough capital in their farm system to swing two big trades. (On another note, the Giants farm system is already depleted, and San Francisco shouldn’t necessarily want to surrender Christian Arroyo, Tyler Beede, Chris Shaw and Heliot Ramos).
If the Giants acquire both Bradley, Jr. and Stanton, it’s also conceivable that San Francisco would have to give up Parker, Slater and or Williamson and in this scenario, Parker is the player who winds up on a new club.
Outfield 3
Left field: Denard Span
Center field: Randal Grichuk
Right field: Giancarlo Stanton
Fourth outfielder: Hunter Pence
Fifth outfielder: Chris Shaw
Analysis: This can’t happen. It would probably be a disaster, but this is what the Giants’ outfield would look like if the franchise acquired Stanton, couldn’t unload Span’s contract, and then missed out on more desirable trade candidates in center field.
Span is listed as the starter ahead of Pence because in this scenario, the Giants would platoon the veterans who will make a combined $30 million next season. And in a platoon set-up, Span, a left-handed hitter, would finish the year with more at-bats. A scenario like this would also likely mean Parker, Slater and perhaps even Shaw are shipped out in prospect-laden deals (even though Parker is not a prospect anymore), leaving the Giants’ outfield so depleted that Shaw winds up on the Opening Day roster.
A Stanton deal assuredly takes San Francisco out of the Lorenzo Cain free agent sweepstakes, meaning the Giants would be completely reliant on filling their void in center field through a trade. Because the Giants wouldn’t have much leverage left, and because the Cardinals have too many outfielders, Grichuk is a player the two sides could agree upon. Grichuk isn’t necessarily a defensive stalwart, but he has enough power from the right side to force the Giants’ hand if it comes to it.
Outfield 4
Left field: Hunter Pence
Center field: Christian Yelich
Right field: Giancarlo Stanton
Fourth outfielder: Gorkys Hernandez
Fifth outfielder: Mac Williamson
Analysis: It’s almost inconceivable to imagine the Giants acquiring both Stanton and Yelich, but if the Marlins are even considering including the 25-year-old center fielder in a deal this offseason, San Francisco might as well swing for the fences.
Such a trade would likely force the Giants to surrender a player like Arroyo or Joe Panik, as well as center field prospect and top 2017 draft choice Heliot Ramos, but this is exactly the type of outfield overhaul that could make San Francisco an instant contender in 2018. If the Giants could hang on to Slater, Shaw and or Parker while swinging this deal, it would bolster the team’s depth significantly, but Miami could probably force Evans to give up anyone it desires if Yelich is included in a trade.
If the Giants pulled this off, they could also look to find a way to help top center field prospect Steven Duggar navigate his way to the Major League level by the middle of the year, or turn Ryder Jones into a full-time left fielder.
Outfield 5
Left field: Hunter Pence
Center field: Denard Span
Right field: Giancarlo Stanton
Fourth outfielder: Austin Slater
Fifth outfielder: Gorkys Hernandez
Analysis: “Wait, what? Span can’t play center field anymore. The Giants already asked him to move to left field.”
Well, folks, acquiring Stanton changes everything. All that trade capital the Giants had lying around in the farm system? It’s all gone in this scenario because the Marlins asked for everyone and Evans bit at the idea of locking up Stanton. Forget trading for a new center fielder, because the Giants’ plan new plan would be for Span to keep the spot warm until Duggar proves himself at AAA and earns a call to the Major Leagues for a trial run as the franchise’s center fielder of the future.
It’s not an ideal defensive set-up by any means, but adding Stanton to the lineup is a game-changer worth pursuing, even if it means the Giants are forced to ask Span to return to center field.