SF Giants: Unexpected Infield Roster Glut Emerging

The SF Giants have done well in recent seasons to build up organizational depth all around the field, but they have a surplus at one position that they may need to address before the start of next season.

As currently constructed, the SF Giants have Mauricio Dubon, Wilmer Flores, and Donovan Solano penciled in to see time at second base next year.

With that being said, Dubon saw the bulk of his time in center field in 2020, and it would not be surprising to see that trend continue next year. However, he is a versatile glove who can move seamlessly around the field, and that type of skill does not grow on trees.

We do not know if the designated hitter is going to return to the National League in 2021, but if it does, then that will give the Giants some breathing room.

Either way, the presence of Flores and Solano give the Giants a surplus of offensive-first players at second base, which is not a bad problem to have, but they have some of the same strengths and weaknesses.

Both struggled in the field in 2020. Solano was worth one DRS and -3.9 UZR, whereas Flores registered one DRS and 0.7 UZR. I would caution against taking any defensive metrics in a short season as gospel. Though these are not horrendous numbers by any means, but the eye test told a different story for both.

Solano committed seven errors at second base, and Flores did not commit an error, but he only saw 112 innings of action at the position in 2020. The Giants seemed hesitant to use Flores in the field based off of the fact that he spent over one-third of the season at DH.

Both infielders saw limited action on the left side of the field, but that was out of need and they struggled badly to make the routine players.

So, in essence, we are talking about two players capable of playing second base and not much elsewhere. In the batter’s box, they both add value in different ways. Flores hits for more power as he led the Giants with 12 home runs in 2020, whereas Solano hits for a higher average as he led the Giants with a .326 batting average.

To add to the equation, the Giants have depth behind these two infielders with Dubon and if they choose to retain Daniel Robertson.

Furthermore, they will look to add a left-handed bat, and my assumption is that they will want that player to be able to spot start at second base and third base to give both Solano and Flores a day off as well as Evan Longoria.

The type of player they will target will likely be in the Brad Miller–Jurickson Profar–Tommy La Stella aisle at the local bargain store.

What this all means is that if the Giants look to add to their middle infield depth without subtracting, they are going to have a shortage of at-bats to go around between Solano, Flores, Dubon, and a future addition at second base.

They can make it work, but it might result in one of Flores or Solano accepting a lesser role in 2021. That may be a difficult issue to account for, especially considering one player led the team in home runs and the other in batting average just last season.

The SF Giants do not need to make a move tomorrow, but it is worth at least considering trading from a surplus to address a need such as starting pitching. As the Giants gear up for the offseason, this is one dynamic that they will need to address sooner rather than later.