3 outfielders the SF Giants should target if they miss out on Aaron Judge

Most SF Giants fans are eagerly awaiting to see if the team can pull off the signing of free agent Aaron Judge, one of the premier players in baseball. But if the SF Giants lose out on Judge, here are three backup options for the team to pursue.

3 outfielders the SF Giants should target if they miss out on Aaron Judge

The SF Giants have made it abundantly clear that they want Aaron Judge on their baseball team in 2023 and beyond. There is no doubt that they will make a full-hearted push for his services this offseason.

The only problem is that the same can be said for many other teams in baseball. Judge is a premier talent coming off a sensational year. There will not be a shortage of suitors.

Plus, SF Giants fans are far too familiar with the disappointment of losing out on a high-profile free agent. Losing out on Bryce Harper readily comes to mind.

While it is easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the possibility of the Giants landing Judge, it is also wise to make contingency plans in the event that he signs elsewhere.

That is why this article will examine three outfielders that the Giants can pursue in the event that they lose out on the Aaron Judge sweepstakes.

None of these players have the name I.D., star power, or talent that Aaron Judge would bring to the table. Then again, probably no other free agent this offseason brings what Judge brings to the table.

However, they would be in keeping with the Zaidi M.O. of previous offseasons, which is under the radar guys who have the potential to make a bigger impact.

While Aaron Judge is still on the table, they are sure to be overlooked. But whether the Giants land Judge or not, it may be worth taking a look at these three outfield targets.

3 outfielders the SF Giants should target if they miss out on Aaron Judge

1. Adam Duvall

SF Giants fans will certainly remember the name Adam Duvall. He was traded along with pitcher Keury Mella from the Giants back in 2015 in exchange for pitcher Mike Leake.

He has gone on to have a solid big league career for a number of teams and has proven to be a consistent power threat at the plate.

Injuries have also plagued him throughout his career, as he has missed time due to injury in several of the last few years.

Last season with the Atlanta Braves, Duvall hit .213/.276/.401 with 12 home runs and 36 RBI in 86 games. Those numbers certainly do not jump off the page, but we have seen over the course of Duvall's career that he can hit the ball out of the park which is something the Giants, and every other team, covet.

Given Duvall's injury, age, and relative underperformance last season, the Giants could probably sign him to a similar deal that he received last year in the $9 million range. That would be a reasonable risk to take on Duvall given his power numbers over the course of his career.

He is certainly not Aaron Judge, but the Giants could always use another right-handed power hitting outfielder/designated hitter, and Duvall would certainly fit that bill for the SF Giants in 2023.

3 outfielders the SF Giants should target if they miss out on Aaron Judge

2. Kevin Kiermaier

Given last season's defensive struggles for the SF Giants, signing center fielder Kevin Kiermier could be a wise move to shore up the defense in the outfield.

After the Giants traded away Mauricio Dubon and Steven Duggar last season, they were left without a pure defensive center fielder. Both Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater have shown that they can be serviceable in that role, but the Giants still do not have a strong defensive center fielder on the roster.

Kiermaier has spent his entire big league career with the Rays. He has never put up gaudy power numbers, but he has won a Gold Glove and has decent speed.

Kiermaier would ideally not be an everyday starter with the team. Instead, he could start here and there based on match ups and be a late inning defensive replacement for someone like Joc Pederson to shore up the defense.

Whether or not the Giants sign Aaron Judge, they need to get back to doing the small things well in 2023 if they want to be a contending team. Signing someone like Kiermaier can allow them to do that on defense.