Giants: Three free-agent infielders to avoid this offseason

Eric Sogard

Aside from his time with the Oakland Athletics, Giants fans may also remember the name Eric Sogard as a name that popped up as a potential trade target around the 2019 trade deadline.

While on the hunt for players who could help the Giants in their fleeting push for a wild-card spot, Sogard was rumored as a possible addition to the team.

He was in the middle of an efficient summer with the Toronto Blue Jays where he smacked a .300/.363/.477 line with 13 home runs and eight steals prior to the trade deadline. He also brought valuable versatility on defense with time spent at second base, third base, shortstop and the corner outfield positions.

A quick comparison of those numbers to the rest of the 33-year-old’s career should provide some reason for hesitation.

First off, don’t expect that many home runs again, especially if he were to play half of his games at spacious Oracle Park. Those 13 home runs in 396 at-bats last season are a statistical anomaly; he hit just 11 long balls in 1,743 plate appearances through the first eight years of his career.

His above-average offensive numbers last season were also inflated. If you look at his career line, which includes last season’s performance, he sports a .248/.318/.343 line, which is probably more in-line with what his next team should expect.

And though Sogard has some speed in his artillery, it is not base-stealing-threat speed. He has cracked double-digit steals twice in his career, and that was in 10 in 2013 and 11 in 2014 while he was with the A’s.

Sogard is a nice back-up piece to have for many teams because of his ability to play many positions, and he brings a steady approach to the plate. However, he would not be a game-changing piece for the Giants, and Donovan Solano is a much cheaper option who can fill a similar role.