SF Giants: 5 cheap potential shortstop depth targets

5 Cheap Potential SF Giants Shortstop Targets
4. Richard Ureña (Toronto Blue Jays)

Richard Ureña has long been a glove-first shortstop prospect in the Blue Jays organization, consistently ranking among their ten best prospects from 2015-2018. As Toronto struggled to find a trustworthy everyday option at shortstop, they promoted Ureña, who had never played a game at Triple-A or posted a .700 or better OPS at Double-A, to the big-leagues in 2017. At just 21, Ureña struggled as one might expect offensively.

Over the next three seasons, Ureña oscillated between Toronto and Triple-A, primarily playing shortstop and showing some versatility at second base, third base, and left field as well. Yet, as players like Bo Bichette matriculated through the Blue Jays farm system, Ureña’s offensive struggled have slowly pushed him down the organization’s depth chart.

After spending the 2020 season with the Baltimore Orioles at their alternate site, Ureña is back in Toronto on a minor-league deal. He is currently slated to play at Triple-A, but the Blue Jays have the depth to make do without him. Santiago Espinal made his debut last season and seems primed to be the Blue Jays, primary utility infielder. While Ureña has struggled offensively this spring, Espinal is hitting .400. When you add in players like Logan Warmoth and Kevin Smith, it’s easy to see the Blue Jays parting with Ureña in a minor deal.

Still just 25, it’s not hard to dream a bit on Ureña’s potential. He once looked like a borderline everyday player and has shown the contact ability this spring that he could never carry over from his minor-league performance to Toronto. Given how obviously Toronto rushed him to the big leagues, a change of scenery and some consistent playing time at Triple-A could finally give him the time to develop offensively. Perhaps that will come with San Francisco.

5 Cheap Potential SF Giants Shortstop Targets
3. Adeiny Hechavarría (Chiba Lotte Mariners)

Adeiny Hechavarría is in a unique predicament. He would easily top this list if he were a free-agent or in a competition for a roster spot stateside. His career .641 OPS obviously leaves a lot to be desired, but the nine-year veteran is a proven big-league shortstop that would be just the insurance a team like the Giants should want. The only problem is, he’s currently under contract with the Chiba Lotte Mariners in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan.

Unlike professional basketball, where contracts often include player opt-outs for NBA opportunities, Hechavarría is probably locked into his international contract. However, the unique circumstances surrounding professional baseball amidst the COVID-19 pandemic could make him an option. Due to Japan’s current travel restrictions, Hechavarría, and many other players have been unable to join their respective teams in Japan.

Depending on the status of things in Japan. It might not be out of the question for Chiba to let Hechavarría out of his contract, especially if he has interest from a big-league team like the Giants.

5 Cheap Potential SF Giants Shortstop Targets
2. Wilfredo Tovar (New York Mets)

If the Giants are eyeing some upside, Ureña and Chatham would easily move up the list. If Zaidi is just aiming to fill a roster though, someone like Wilfredo Tovar would require an even smaller return in a deal. A 29-year-old signed by the Mets to a minor-league deal this offseason, Tovar has a very similar profile to Ureña, just with more experience and less upside.

Tovar is a career .188/.241/.238 hitter across 110 MLB plate appearances split between cups of coffee in 2013, 2014, and 2019. In the minors, he’s posted a passable .268/.324/.352 triple-slash with an elite 11.0% strikeout rate and below-average 6.6% walk rate. Defensively, he’s moved around the diamond a bit, playing nearly 200 professional games at second base. However, Tovar is an undeniable above-average defensive shortstop. For a Giants team devoid of strong defenders at short aside from Brandon Crawford, he could be the cheap insurance they target.

5 Cheap Potential SF Giants Shortstop Targets
1. Luis Rengifo (Los Angeles Angels)

This probably goes a bit beyond the confines of “cheap.” However, Luis Rengifo has seen his stock drop rather substantially over the past two years. Once one of the ten best prospects in the Los Angeles Angeles system, Rengifo is not far from finding himself on the outside of their long-term plans.

Rengifo’s minor-league profile fits the Giants’ recent front-office tendencies almost perfectly. The Venezuelan switch-hitter moved through the Angels farm system quickly, while avoiding strikeouts, posting exceptional walk rates, and even generating decent power. Over the past two seasons, the Angels have given Rengifo an opportunity to lock down their everyday spot at second base. However, he’s failed to do so, posting a meager .221/.310/.331 triple-slash across 512 plate appearances. This spring, as Angels Rule 5 selection Jose Rojas has excelled, the organization has optioned Rengifo to the minor-leagues.

A solid defensive shortstop with extensive experience at second base, he would immediately become the Giants’ strongest option at Triple-A. Moreover, he’s shown impressive offensive flashes at Double-A and Triple-A in the past. Over his career, Rengifo has hit .284/.374/.450 triple-slash at the two highest minor-league levels, striking out in 14.8% of his plate appearances and walking 1.3% of the time.

Rengifo was promoted to the big-leagues at just 22-years-old and has not seen any time in the minor leagues since. He could probably use some extended playing time against weaker competition. Still 24, he’s far from a lost cause. In fact, even though he was demoted this spring, he was not overmatched in preseason play. He posted a solid .250/.389/.393 triple-slash with six walks and seven strikeouts in 36 plate appearances this spring.

The Angels have also invested quite heavily in their middle infield depth. Last year they acquired former Athletics top prospect Franklin Barreto. This offseason, on top of selecting Rojas in the Rule 5 draft, they added Kean Wong on a minor-league deal and claimed Jack Mayfield off waivers. In the rest of the farm system, seven of MLB Pipeline’s top 30 Angels prospects are listed as shortstops. The fact is, if the front-office views Rengifo as a part of the organization’s long-term plans, they have not acted like it.

It’s hard to know what a player like Rengifo would cost the Giants in a trade. Prospects do not lose their luster at an equal rate. His defensive versatility and relative youth make it easier to see Los Angeles holding onto him. One thing is clear though, they have prepared themselves to replace him internally if they find a deal. Given his contact abilities, defensive versatility, and strong plate approach at the plate, it seems like the Giants would be interested.

There are dozens of directions the SF Giants could go to address their middle-infield depth. Many players remain on the free-agent market and many others will be able to opt-out of their minor-league contracts if they do not make an MLB roster. If the Giants are looking for more than just a depth piece though, there could be some intriguing players available at bargain prices.