SF Giants: Three Right-Handed Power Hitting Targets

The SF Giants have had great success finding right-handed hitters on small free-agent deals. Could they duplicate their success this offseason?

The SF Giants have struck gold in recent years with their signings of players like Wilmer Flores and Darin Ruf. While finding a left-handed power hitter seems like a more obvious fit this offseason, there’s no reason the Giants could not look to improve a strength. The Giants surprised us all with how well they hit last season. Bringing in some more talent would be a great way to make sure they replicate that success in 2021.

Can Zaidi recreate some of the magic he has found in acquisitions in recent years this offseason? It is important to note that not all of Zaidi’s moves have worked out. In case you blinked last year and missed it, Justin Smoak played for the Giants and did not exactly make a loud impact during his short time on the roster. Still, the fact that Zaidi has had an impressive record in his tenure with the Giants (and with the Dodgers) of acquiring low-risk, high-reward players that turn out to be key contributors should give us some hope that he can do it again.

This article will examine some of the players that Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris may take a flyer on this offseason. With plenty of left-handed hitters already in the lineup, we will focus on some right handed power hitters who could platoon with a lefty or even potentially start with the team.

Without further ado, here are three right handed power hitters the SF Giants could target this offseason.

3 SF Giants Right-Handed Power Hitting Targets
1. Adam Duvall

Giants fans do not need reminding that Adam Duvall was drafted by the organization back in 2010. Since they traded him in 2015, he emerged as a young, power hitting, right-handed left fielder; basically exactly what the Giants were missing.

Duvall debuted with the Giants in 2014, hitting a home run in his first MLB game against pitcher Mike Leake. In a bit of irony, the Giants traded Duvall to the Reds in exchange for Leake the following year. It almost immediately seemed as if the Giants had made a severe error in giving him up for Leake who wound up being a pretty ineffectual rental.

Duvall set the world on fire in 2016 and 2017. In 2016 he hit .241/.297/.498 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI. Those numbers earned him an All-Star nod that season. In 2017 he hit .249/.301/.480 with 31 homers and 99 RBI.

In 2018, though, in the middle of another solid year with the Reds, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves prior to the trade deadline. He struggled mightily with Atlanta and only appeared in 41 games total in 2019. He did manage to turn things around in 2020 though, hitting .237/.301/.532 with 16 home runs and 33 RBI in the shortened season.

Duvall is projected to earn a contract in the $5-7 million range this offseason. That may be more than the Giants are willing to dish out for a 32 year old player. However, the NL West was already stacked with left-handed starters like Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, and Kyle Freeland before the Padres acquired Blake Snell.

While Duvall is a more expensive right-handed power bat, he could help the team in the outfield and infield picture, with extensive experience at third base and left field. Still, if the Giants are looking for a cheaper option, and Duvall were looking for more consistent playing time, here are some cheaper alternatives.

3 SF Giants Right-Handed Power Hitting Targets
3. C.J. Cron

The powerful first baseman C.J. Cron has spent his entire MLB career in the American League. He has put up solid power numbers throughout his career, most notably with the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. There’s no denying his defensive limitations and he would only be a fit if the Giants knew the National League was adopting the universal DH in 2021. Still. he’s posted some impressive numbers.

In 2018 with the Rays he hit .253/.323/.493 with 30 home runs and 74 RBI. In 2019 with the Twins he hit .253/.311/.469 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI. He spent last season, however, with the Detroit Tigers, only appearing in 13 games before he had to have season-ending knee surgery. But in those 13 games he still had 4 homers and 8 RBI.

Cron was signed to a $6 million deal by the Tigers last year. But after the injury and in a particular difficult free-agent market, it’s easy to see Cron struggling to find high demand for his services. Almost entirely limited to first base and DH, he may be even more redundant than Gyorko compared to Flores, of course, that could all change if Solano or Flores are shopped in a trade for a starting pitcher.

In all, the SF Giants could always use powerful bats and guys who could take on full starter duties should someone get injured. These three players all fit the bill as powerful right-handed bats who could provide needed pop for the Giants if they want to contend with the Padres and Dodgers in a powerful NL West.