Giants: Three imperfect outfield targets that would add power

Kole Calhoun became a free agent after the Los Angeles Angels declined his $14 million option for 2020.

The long-time Angels outfielder swatted a career-high 33 home runs in 2019, so the team’s decision to part ways with him was a mild surprise.

Unlike Castellanos and Dickerson, Calhoun has a long track record of strong glove work. Over the course of his career, the 32-year-old has generated 13 DRS and a 4.8 UZR in the outfield. He is adept with the glove, but he still fits best at a corner spot.

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Similar to Castellanos, Calhoun possesses a powerful bat, as he has averaged 23 home per season over the past five years.

Unlike Dickerson, Calhoun does not hit for a high average. The Arizona State University product has produced a .249/.322/.424 line across 3,980 plate appearances.

Below the surface, Calhoun offers stronger career peripheral numbers in comparison to either Castellanos and Dickerson. He has posted a 9.2 percent walk rate against a 21.7 percent strikeout rate.

The Giants will look to add power, but will also look to improve upon the .302 on-base percentage they recorded as a team in 2019.

One of the reasons that Pillar was non-tendered was the fact that he posted a .293 on-base percentage. The blame for the team’s low on-base percentage lies more on the overall roster than on any one player. Adding a player such as Calhoun would help in improving that .302 mark in 2020.

Similar to Dickerson, Calhoun hits from the left side, so adding him would create an imbalance in the outfield. This is part of the reason why Calhoun would not be an ideal fit.

In addition to this, Calhoun is the oldest of the bunch. If the Giants want to add more youth to the roster, then Calhoun would not be the ideal target. The good news with his age is that he will likely not be seeking a long-term deal.

This offseason, the Giants should toe the line between improving the roster in the short-term as well as the long-term. Calhoun may not be a long-term fit, but they can still aim to improve the roster in 2020 without sacrificing long-term player development or financial capital.

There are better fits in free agency, but with a clearly set goal of adding power, signing one of Calhoun, Dickerson, or Castellanos would help in achieving that end. It would create some complexities due to each payer’s unique circumstances, but any of the three would immediately be a middle-of-the-order threat in the 2020 lineup.

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