3 potential non-tender candidates for the SF Giants

3 potential non-tender candidates for the SF Giants

3. Outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr.

We are sticking with former Twins players as LaMonte Wade Jr. could join both Zack Littell and Jharel Cotton as potential non-tender candidates. Oddly enough, all three had stints with the Twins organization in recent years.

I am on the fence about this one but Wade Jr. is coming off of a disappointing season in 2022. He blasted 18 home runs with an .808 OPS in 381 plate appearances for the Giants in 2021 while taking home the Willie Mac award.

However, he followed that up with a .207/.305/.359 (93 wRC+) with eight home runs, 26 RBI, and 29 runs in 251 plate appearances with the Giants in 2022. He did tally a 10.4 percent walk rate, 20.3 percent strikeout rate, and a .152 ISO, so there were some encouraging trends.

Perhaps, the Giants will see his .233 BABIP this year as a sign of bad luck that will not replicate itself next year. Of course, the Giants cut ties with Alex Dickerson after a similarly bad season in 2021, so there is some precedent for this.

To his credit, Wade Jr. recorded a 111 wRC+ in 218 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, meaning that he gave the Giants the leverage they desire in those matchups. The left-handed bat is projected to earn $1.4 million through arbitration.

The Giants need to remake the outfield next year and bringing the band back together limits the flexibility on what they could do. Wade Jr. had a strong 2021 campaign, but $1.4 million is a lot of money to commit to a role that they could upgrade with either a better left-handed bat or an everyday player.