Giants: Five players who won’t be on the Opening Day roster

1B Brandon Belt

Let the Belt wars begin!

Actually, pause.

I love Brandon Belt and I believe he’s a top 10 first baseman in the league when healthy. But health has been an issue, and frankly, luck has been an issue.

I know everyone has said this, but if you put Belt in Cincinnati, New York, or even Texas, he hits 35+ home runs a year and everyone talks about him being a top three or four first baseman in the league.

Instead, he plays in San Francisco for 81 games of the year. And he has teammates that hit him in the head with baseballs. Opponents are also good for a pitch to his helmet every three months or so. The guy just can’t ever seem to catch a break.

That’s why it might be in the best interest of everyone involved to move on.

Come at me, Belt stans. I don’t care. If the Giants are ever going to get back into contention, they probably aren’t doing it with Brandon Belt on the roster.

He’s still good enough to be a first-choice player. So let him be that player on a contender, in a ballpark where his power plays, and where he can not get hit in the head with a ball every 200 plate appearances.

It’s also worth mentioning that Chris Shaw made significant strides at the plate last season, and the Giants either are going to need to deal him, or get him on the MLB roster. Belt stands in the way of that.

If they believe they have someone in Shaw who can replicate Belt’s runs created, and do it for significantly less than $17 million a year, then they sure as heck should pull the trigger on trading Belt this offseason.

Be sure to let us know what you think. Disagree? Did we miss someone? Let us know in the comments below!