San Francisco Giants: Projecting the 2018 Outfield Group

The Giants Make No Moves to Bring Someone In

The first plan is if they make no significant moves from outside the organization to bring someone in. That’s via trade, free agency, or international signings. We do have to be prepared for that. Why? Well, while the free agent class for this offseason is pretty impressive, the 2019 list is absolutely stacked. The Giants may just wait to make their play until then. So who could they possibly be interested in during that window that would make them not attempt to upgrade that miserable outfield core right now? Here’s a glimpse:

• Bryce Harper
• Daniel Murphy
• Adam Jones
• Andrew McCutchen
• Greg Holland
• Andrew Miller
• Brian Dozier
• Patrick Corbin
• Drew Pomeranz
• Cody Allen
• Dallas Keuchel
• Michael Brantley

That’s just to name a few.

The Giants could easily just wait out some of the ridiculous contracts that they have under their belt, and then clear a lot of room and re-tool mainly for 2019 and beyond. According to Spotrac.com the Giants would have about $146 million on their roster for 2019 with just current contracts they have.

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Matt Moore and Madison Bumgarner both have club options for that year. The way things are going, you can assume Bumgarner is there, and Matt Moore is not. You also have Johnny Cueto and Mark Melancon who both will have player options at that point.

So it could be even less. Throw into account the fact that the luxury tax threshold will jump up to $206 million by then, the Giants will have plenty of room. If they choose to make their play in the 2019 window and not worry so much about competing in 2018, and look for development, I could see this as your Giants’ 2018 outfield:

• Left Field: Austin Slater

Slater was very good in his minimal time at the big league level. He’s been showing he has what it takes at each level, and certainly will be a part of the big league picture in 2018. I think he ends up as the starting left fielder and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him stay there.

• Center Field: Steven Duggar

This depends entirely on how he does in the Arizona Fall League and in Spring Training. But at his best, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a solid shot at the center field position. He’s the best true centerfield prospect they have in the organization right now. Denard Span will play in left for the most part, if he’s even around in 2018, so Duggar gets the nod for me, especially if he shows he’s ready for it.

• Right Field: Hunter Pence

Pence will stick around if they see 2018 as a development/rebuild year. It’s possible he phases out as an everyday player, especially if someone like Chris Shaw, Mac Williamson, or Jarrett Parker can wrestle the job away from him. He has been pretty awful this year, so it’s also conceivable that the Giants may be looking to move on from him after this season. If that’s the case, then obviously they have something else planned.

• Fourth Outfielder: Jarrett Parker

Seems logical. He can play both left and right, can somewhat play centerfield, and has solid pop. I expect him to stick around, but maybe not as an everyday player.

• Fifth Outfielder: Gorkys Hernandez

HE’S NOT THAT BAD. He was awful to start the season, but somehow worked his average up to .268. I wouldn’t want him in a bigger role than fifth outfielder though.

What if they get a big bat via trade or free agency?

The next thing would be if they really went after someone in the offense. There has to be a contingency plan for that! While everyone knows about the prospect of Giancarlo Stanton thanks to the apparent renewed, or strengthened interest in him, there are still other names that could be available. J.D. Martinez, Jay Bruce, and Lorenzo Cain are a few names that really pop out for outfielders in the upcoming free agent market.

All of those options would be expensive, but an immediate boost, especially if they wish to contend in in 2018. A Johnny Cueto opt out, or trade (trade seems more likely at the moment), would mean the Giants drop a cool $22 million off their payroll. One of Bruce/Martinez/Cain could easily fit under that. If the Giants work their salary a few other ways including getting rid of expensive but not as productive contracts (Pence and Span especially, since they combine for a cool $27.5 million for two guys who are clearly on their way out as everyday players), the Giants could easily still work out room for Giancarlo Stanton to come in via trade.

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This would be the dream scenario if they want to really try to contend in 2018:

• Left Field: Austin Slater

I still think he’s going to be the left fielder next year no matter what. I know there are other guys like Parker and Mac who have shown flashes, but he was consistently solid and provides good defense in left. Slater will be cheap as well, so frankly it’s worth it to keep him around, considering I think they add at least one bat, if not two in the outfield.

• Center Field: Lorenzo Cain

Cain hasn’t showed significant signs of slowing down defensively, and has had an incredibly productive year at 31 for the Kansas City Royals. He’d be miles better than any other center field option they have, best centerfielder on the market, I would love to see the Giants make a run at him. He’d be an easy candidate for a leadoff, or two hole type hitter.

• Right Field: Giancarlo Stanton

With Stanton in a recent interview talking about how much of a help Barry Bonds has been to him, throw in the Giants added interest, and potential moving parts, they could conceivably get a deal done for him. Yes it’s a significant contract to add on, but they really don’t have to pay Madison Bumgarner for a while, and if they can hold off on that until he absolutely has to get paid or he walks, the Luxury Tax threshold should be high enough that they can fit everyone at that level, reasonably. There really isn’t another slugger like Stanton in this league. His right handed power at AT&T will do pretty well, and if he can stay healthy, the Giants would finally get the big piece they need in the lineup.

• Fourth and Fifth Outfielders: Jarrett Parker, Steven Duggar

Parker is a known quantity and can still provide decent enough defense, even if his bat isn’t going at times, to where he can be a viable fourth outfielder. That’s probably the peak of his ability anyways, so I’m sure the Giants see him there. The other thing they would need is someone who can play centerfield decently. While it might be jumping the gun on Duggar here since we haven’t seen much of him yet, we’re going to see a decent amount of him in the Arizona Fall League, so expect him to battle hard for a roster spot come Spring Training of 2018.

Next: What should the Giants do with Moore?

While those two scenarios are somewhat on the extreme end of things, I think they likely end up somewhere in the middle, which means it would look a lot like this:

• LF: Slater
• CF: Jackson (Austin)
• RF: Stanton
• 4th: Parker
• 5th: Duggar

Have anything to add? Feel free to drop in and let us know by commenting below!