For a team that finished last in Major League Baseball in home runs this offseason, the San Francisco Giants sure look as if they’re trying to swing for the fences.
Maybe it’s a new, more aggressive approach cultivated by general manager Bobby Evans and vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean, but the offseason strategy of the Giants’ front office thus far is a stark contrast from their hitters’ approach at the plate. Evans and the Giants have agreed to the framework of a trade that would send 2017 National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton to San Francisco, and they were one of seven finalists in the mix for two-way Japanese wunderkind Shohei Ohtani before he stunned the baseball world and signed with the Angles on Friday.
As Evans and Sabean take bigger swings, the Giants and their fans must prepare for the whiffs that could follow. Gunning for Stanton and Ohtani isn’t an all-or-nothing approach as many have made it out to be, because the Giants still have plenty of time to step back in the box and take aim at McCovey Cove again. It is, however, a strategy employed by some of the game’s best home run hitters, many of whom strike out at an alarming rate.
On Thursday evening, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Stanton was unlikely to accept a trade to the Giants, but left the door open for a possible change of heart if the Marlins cannot work out a deal with a team like the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, or Astros. Stanton has every right to be picky after negotiating the first no-trade clause in Marlins’ franchise history when he signed a 13-year, $325 million contract in November of 2014, and he clearly has leverage over a Miami team that’s as desperate as it is directionless.
While the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs and Astros have the luxury of waiting until the Marlins’ situation becomes dire to coax Miami into a less favorable deal, the Giants do not. After a 64-98 season, Evans and several members of the Giants’ front office are likely concerned about their future job security, and understanding of the fact San Francisco’s roster issues are worse than most people realize. That’s why even if Rosenthal hadn’t published his report on Thursday night, the chances the Giants executing a trade for Stanton past the first week of December are still grim based on the franchise’s historical precedent.
With Ohtani off the board, and Stanton left mulling over his options, the Giants must move quickly to position the team to compete next season. Though there are several high-profile free agents San Francisco could pursue like J.D. Martinez, Lorenzo Cain or Todd Frazier, I believe the best course of action for San Francisco is checking in on another superstar.
That player? Manny Machado.
The Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2018 season, and the franchise is reportedly worried it won’t be able to re-sign the three-time All-Star who has become the primary building block within the organization. Machado will be just 26 years old if he enters free agency next year, which could set him up for a mega-contract the likes of which only Stanton and Nationals’ outfielder Bryce Harper could challenge. By reaching the Major Leagues as a 19-year-old teenager, Machado could legitimately pursue an eight-to-10 year contract if his offensive numbers rebound next year.
As a small-market franchise, the Orioles might not feel comfortable making such a significant financial commitment, and could be better served cashing in on the high-profile prospects Machado would undoubtedly command in a trade. While San Francisco doesn’t have the depth franchises like New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis do in their farm systems, the Giants could easily shift their attention from a possible Stanton deal to a Machado trade and spend the year trying to convince Macahdo to sign a long-term extension with the team next offseason.
Dealing top prospects like Christian Arroyo, Chris Shaw and even Heliot Ramos could be a risky venture for the Giants considering Machado is only under contract for one more season, but they’ve already demonstrated they’re willing to consider assuming a massive portion of the salary remaining on Stanton’s deal and that would hamper the team’s payroll for the next decade.
Machado has hit at least 33 home runs in each of the last three seasons, and he’s also an excellent young athlete with two Gold Gloves as a third baseman to his name. He would slide right in to the heart of the Giants’ order, and acquiring Machado likely wouldn’t preclude San Francisco from pursuing a trade for another star, perhaps a center fielder like Andrew McCutchen who also has an expiring contract.
Ultimately, Evans has pointed out on several occasions the Giants must be creative in their efforts to put forth a competitive, compelling product in 2018. The free agent market could net San Francisco a Frazier or a Mike Moustakas and the team would be saddled with another big contract, luxury tax penalties and a player who isn’t even an A-list star. In the end, it’s probably more likely than not this happens.
The Orioles could tell the Giants Machado isn’t available, and force the team to regroup with another contingency plan. But until that happens, the Giants have a fan base to satisfy, a stadium to fill and a terribly flawed product to fix.
Machado offers a temporary solution, and if all goes well, he could turn into a long-term local star.