With the holiday break over, general managers and agents will return to work this week eager to find landing spots for the top players still available on the free agent market.
Thanks in part to a slow offseason and a complicated market, the Giants still have plenty of time to fill the team’s roster needs. General manager Bobby Evans and vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean are determined to add a center fielder, a corner outfielder with pop and a relief pitcher before the regular season begins, and while the Giants can swing a trade or two to accomplish their goals, free agency could be the best route for San Francisco to take if it hopes to plug up its holes.
The Giants are unlikely to sign the top free agent center fielder, Lorenzo Cain, because Cain received a qualifying offer from his previous team, the Kansas City Royals. Inking Cain to a deal would cost the Giants draft picks as well as international bonus pool compensation, and with San Francisco eager to keep its payroll under the competitive balance tax threshold of $197 million this year, Cain isn’t exactly a financially feasible option either.
With the team’s desire to add a low-cost center fielder in mind, I looked at the pros and cons for the five most realistic free agent options still available for the Giants.
Jon Jay
Pros: Of all the realistic options available to Evans and Co., Jay is the most consistent hitter as he carries a career average of .288 and a career on-base percentage of .355. Jay was a valuable asset for the Chicago Cubs last season, and though he doesn’t bring much power to an offense, his .749 OPS last season was actually better than new Giants’ third baseman Evan Longoria’s.
Cons: The Giants want to add a versatile defender with range, and speed isn’t a strong suit for Jay. He ranked 168th among all Major League outfielders last season in Outs Above Average (OAA), and he’s not the type of prototypical center fielder who would thrive at AT&T Park. Jay isn’t going to steal bases at the top of the order, and he’s probably going to cost at least $8 or $9 million next year, which might be a bit above the Giants’ price range.
Jarrod Dyson
Pros: Dyson is an excellent center fielder, ranking 7th among all outfielders last season in OAA even though he played just 111 games for the Mariners. Dyson isn’t a high-average type, but since 2012, he’s posted an on-base percentage of at least .324 in five of six seasons. Dyson is good for anywhere between 25-35 stolen bases, which means he could slide right into the top of the order and set the table for a Giants lineup that should pack more of a punch this season.
Cons: Dyson has never played more than 120 games in a single season, and the Giants are desperate for a sense of stability in the outfield. If Dyson can stay healthy and play a full season, he should be at the top of the Giants’ list, but he’s coming off season-ending sports hernia surgery and is clearly a medical risk. Additionally, Dyson is a singles-only type at the plate, so San Francisco couldn’t expect much pop.
Austin Jackson
Pros: Jackson has never played for a National League team, but he’s coming off a productive year in which he hit .318 and was a major force for the Cleveland Indians. At just 30 years old, Jackson is a bit younger than some of the other free agents available, which means if he signs a multi-year deal, his speed shouldn’t trail off as much as his counterparts.
Cons: There are several unknowns with Jackson, including whether he has the durability to play a 162-game season considering he played in just 85 games last year and 54 games in 2016. While he has an ability to make highlight-reel catches, Jackson actually grades out below some of the other top options defensively, and his range isn’t what it used to be. Jackson also has three 20 steal seasons in his career, but none have come since 2014. (So maybe that speed is trailing off)
Carlos Gomez
Pros: Gomez has bounced all over the map, playing for five different teams across an 11-year Major League career in which he’s demonstrated a relatively consistent ability to get on base.and play solid defense. Gomez doesn’t have any “Wow” tools, but he hit 17 home runs last season and finished with an OPS above .800, which could help a power-starved Giants lineup.
Cons: Like several other free agent options for the Giants, durability is a question mark as Gomez hasn’t played in more than 120 games in each of the last three seasons. At 31 years old, his speed is wearing off a bit, as he stole just 13 bases last year, his lowest mark since his rookie season back in 2007. Gomez also figures to be among the more expensive options available, which could mean the Giants might need to offer a multi-year deal to sign him.
Cameron Maybin
Pros: A versatile defender with 11 years of Major League experience, Maybin hasn’t been a model of consistency throughout his career, but he’s shown flashes of promise at times and is pretty lethal on the basepaths. Though hitting for average hasn’t been a strong suit of late, Maybin did reach base at a .318 clip last season and pounded out 32 extra base hits in 114 games. Maybin is likely the cheapest available option.
Cons: Signing Maybin would be a massive risk for San Francisco, and would essentially offer prospect Steven Duggar an invitation to compete for the Opening Day job. Is Maybin definitively better than Gorkys Hernandez? While he’s a better base runner who hits for more power, Hernandez plays better defense and would probably reach base more often. Maybin is definitely not a multi-year solution in center field, and he’s not a clear-cut leadoff hitter.