SF Giants: 5 cheap potential shortstop depth targets

Less than a week before Opening Day, SF Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi revealed the organization is contemplating adding depth at shortstop in the coming days. With a plethora of options at first base, in the outfield, and bullpen, Zaidi and general manager Scott Harris should have plenty of intriguing upper minor-league options of their own to offer in return. Of course, they could also target even lower hanging fruit that would only cost the team cash or a player to be named later.

The Giants’ front-office prioritized adding relief pitching depth and opted against adding any experienced shortstops aside from Arismendy Alcántara this offseason. Now, they will likely have to make a late-spring trade to find an additional piece. Here are five of the better players that could be available for a low price.

5 Cheap Potential SF Giants Shortstop Targets
5. C.J. Chatham (Philadelphia Phillies)

Easily the least proven player on this list, C.J. Chatham was the Boston Red Sox second-round pick in the 2016 MLB draft out of Florida Atlantic. Chatham has always combined strong bat speed with the defensive potential to stick at shortstop. He’s consistently avoided strikeouts and has the all-fields approach that should sustain a high batting average. However, an aggressive approach limits his power and on-base potential.

A series of severe injuries have stalled Chatham’s development. Most notably, a shoulder injury has raised questions about his defensive future at shortstop. Given the Giants’ aggressive defensive alignments, though, Chatham probably has the instincts to handle shortstop for manager Gabe Kapler. An above-average defender at second base as well, Chatham has a good shot at becoming a big-league utilityman.

Never excelling at any minor-league level, Chatham has posted a .800 OPS above rookie-ball. However, from 2018-2019, he posted an OPS between .735-.760 at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. If the Giants are looking for depth, Chatham seems like a high-floor option worth considering.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski did send cash or a PTBNL to Boston to acquire Chatham. They also have Didi Gregorios and Jean Segura already on the big-league roster, with Bryson Stott, Luis Garcia, Nick Maton, and Arquímedes Gamboa in their farm system. Chatham seems like an obvious trade chip, especially if Philly is eyeing some upper minor-league outfield depth. The Giants might be able to intrigue them with someone like Luis Alexander Basabe.

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.