Five Reasons Marcus Semien Fits the SF Giants Perfectly

Reason Marcus Semien Fits With The SF Giants:
2. Donovan Solano Insurance

Donnie Barrels carried his breakout 2019 campaign over to this season. At the plate, Solano produced an .800+ OPS for the second consecutive year and proved he could handle big-league pitching. However, his history of consistent defensive play evaporated.

While an early-season experiment at third base bears the brunt of blame, Solano struggled throughout the season defensively. His arm was clearly ill-equipped to handle third, but his glovework was never fully trustworthy when he returned to second either. Even if he’s been a solid defensive player for most of his professional career, the Giants should be cautious heading into next season.

It would be one thing if expectations were still low, but the Giants have made it clear they plan on competing for a postseason spot. Without an elite pitching staff, a strong defense will be critical to the team’s chances. Semien has been one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and would immediately become the most overqualified defensive second baseman in baseball.

Solano’s contact-heavy approach is perfect for deploying as a high-leverage pinch hitter, and his bat would obviously justify multiple starts a week. However, with so much riding on the team’s offense and defense, their current roster puts a lot of pressure on him. Solano would become a valuable luxury rather than a necessary piece with a qualified infielder like Semien in the mix.