Pete Alonso and other free agents SF Giants would do well to avoid

A lot of major free agents have already been signed this offseason, and the SF Giants have been connected to, or thought to be a good fit for, some remaining ones. However, the Giants would be wise to stay away from several free agents.

The Giants made a splash of their own in signing free agent shortstop Willy Adames to the largest contract in franchise history. There was some thought that they could be serious players for starting pitcher Corbin Burnes but that did not come to fruition.

Now, there is some thought that the team could be players for some other top free agents out there. Let's take a look at why the Giants should not pursue a deal with these players.

Pete Alonso

First baseman Pete Alonso is probably the best remaining offensive player in free agency. He has been a premier power hitter, blasting 34 home runs or more in each of the past four seasons. Our own Jeff Young has pondered whether the Giants should pivot to Alonso after missing out on other free agent first basemen as well as Burnes.

First base is an area the Giants can improve in after the combination of Wilmer Flores, Mark Canha, and LaMonte Wade Jr. was somewhat lackluster in 2024. However, the Giants have their top prospect first baseman Bryce Eldridge waiting in the wings. Any deal for Alonso would block Eldridge and could signal that the Giants would trade Eldridge.

Alonso will also most likely command a large contract which seems like something the Giants' ownership group may not bee to interested in at this time. Plus, there is no guarantee that Alonso's bat will transfer to the more pitcher-friendly confines of Oracle Park. For these reasons, the Giants should stay away from Alonso.

Jack Flaherty

After Burnes signed with the Diamondbacks, the top remaining free agent starting pitcher became Jack Flaherty. The Burbank native had a bit of a bounceback year in 2024, posting a 3.17 ERA pitching for both the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His 2023 campaign was much less impressive, posting a 4.99 ERA in 144 and 1/3 innings pitched. He has only had one great season that was unencumbered by injury, and that was back in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals when he had a 2.75 ERA in 33 starts and 196 and 1/3 innings pitched.

It is tough to see how Flaherty could reach that same level again, and it just feels like a contract with him would not age all that well. Plus, he helped the Dodgers win a World Series which means he cannot be trusted.

Anthony Santander

If the Giants are looking to upgrade their outfield, one option would be switch-handed slugger Anthony Santander. However, the 30-year-old is not a complete player and would not be as much of an upgrade over Mike Yastrzemski as people think.

Santander hit 44 home runs last season and was an All-Sta for the Baltimore Orioles, but he does not offer a ton defensively or on the basepaths.

He could be an offensive improvement over Yastrzemski, but he would make the outfield defense worse. Plus, because he declined Baltimore's qualifying offer, that means the Giants would be on the hook for draft compensation if they signed him which they already ceded after signing Adames. If the Giants want to rebuild their farm system, they cannot keep giving picks away especially for a limited player like Santander whose WAR of 2.9 in 2024 is not that much more than Yastrzemski's 2.1 WAR especially when one considers how much more money Santander would cost.

These three free agents are certainly flashy, but all three seem unlikely to live up to whatever contract they will get. That is why the Giants should stay away from them this offseason.