Another Cleveland Guardians outfielder would fill an obvious need for the SF Giants lineup

While the Cleveland Guardians could look to move Steven Kwan this offseason, another outfielder would make sense for the SF Giants, and it would likely not involve a trade. Jo Adell is coming off three straight 20-homer seasons, but he is increasingly looking like a non-tender candidate.

Earlier this month, MLB Trade Rumors published its arbitration projections for each team. The Guardians have 13 arbitration-eligible players, including Adell. Adell is projected to earn $9.6 million in his final turn through arbitration.

That is a steep price for a player who has performed as a high-usage platoon outfielder for much of his career. Plus, the Guardians operate in a very specific way, and shave costs where they can.

Adell hits with a lot of power, but he does not reach base at a high clip, nor is he a strong outfield defender. In that regard, he would fit right in!

That said, the veteran outfielder can fill a role on any roster. He hits well against left-handed pitching, posting an .823 OPS across seven major league seasons. This includes a .971 OPS in 191 plate appearances against southpaw pitches in 2026.

Adell is not a particularly strong hitter against right-handed pitching. He can run into a few pitches, so that will keep his name in the lineup.

The Giants performed well against righties in 2026. They struggled quite a bit against left-handed pitching, as their 84 wRC+ was tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst mark in baseball.

If the Giants are going to invest so much into the roster, then they cannot be so vulnerable in matchups. They need to raise the floor against left-handed pitching.

Unfortunately, the Giants do not have a lot of at-bats available in the lineup. There is not much playing time available in the infield, as the club's core group of infielders rarely take a day off. There could be some time available at second base. As currently constructed, Casey Schmitt should see time there, along with a few other positions.

There is room to add another outfielder to the mix. Whether that is an everyday player or more of a role player remains to be seen. Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert should be in the lineup against right-handed pitching, but they could use a platoon partner against lefties.

This is where someone like Jo Adell would come into play. He excels in those matchups. That said, Adell is likely looking for more playing time than that of the weak side of a platoon. He is in an odd spot, where he profiles better as a platoon bat, not unlike Heliot Ramos, but hits with enough power to justify being in the lineup in same-sided matchups. He has averaged over 450 plate appearances over the past three years, which is more playing time than the Giants can likely offer.

That profile for a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder fits what the Giants need. Adell's projected salary might be too steep for Cleveland, but he still fills a role that most teams need.

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