3 reasons why an SF Giants reunion with Brandon Belt makes sense

3 reasons why an SF Giants reunion with Brandon Belt makes sense

1. If they strike out on other free agents

Brandon Belt is not priority number one for the SF Giants this offseason. But, as we have seen in the past, the Giants have struggled to land big free agents in the past.

While they have been repeatedly linked to free-agent hitters like Matt Chapman and Cody Bellinger, there is certainly no guarantee that they land either of those guys.

If they miss on both of them, players like Rhys Hoskins are available, but a player like him presents drawbacks as well.

It would rankle a large portion of the fanbase, but bringing Belt back on a one-year deal as a DH may be in the cards if all other options fail for the Giants.

He will be entering his age-36 season and will likely deal with injuries again. However, he knows the ballpark better than anyone else and he still has enough power in that bat to drive some balls into McCovey Cove.

Plus, coming off a year when many Giants players said there was a lack of accountability in the clubhouse, why not bring back a guy who commands respect and is a proven veteran and leader who can also keep things light.

Belt is not option number one, but he could be a valuable safety choice if other free agent pursuits fail.

3 reasons why an SF Giants reunion with Brandon Belt makes sense

2. The Giants love to bring back old players

We all know that the SF Giants have a soft spot for bringing back old players. Just a few years ago, the Giants brought Hunter Pence back after a successful campaign with the Texas Rangers.

Several years before that, the Giants brought back Pablo Sandoval after a tumultuous tenure with the Boston Red Sox.

While Pence’s second tour with the Giants was complicated by the shortened COVID season in 2020, Sandoval had a resurgence with the Giants and essentially saved his career.

Having Belt come back would be very in keeping with this Giants tradition. While he is polarizing, many Giants fans recognize the fact that he was a Great Giant and was instrumental in the success the team had last decade.

While most fans think nostalgic signings like these aren’t helpful, Belt proved last year that he still has something left in the tank. If he can replicate that success with the Giants it would be huge for a team whose offense cratered in the second half of the season. On a different note, the 13-year veteran never truly had the proper sendoff that he deserved. That is not a reason to sign him, but it needs to be mentioned.

Speaking of which, Belt would address a current need in the lineup.

3 reasons why an SF Giants reunion with Brandon Belt makes sense

3. The Giants don’t have a DH

Last season, the Giants had Joc Pederson as their main DH option when he was healthy. However, injuries forced him to play in the outfield much more than they would have liked and he did not hit well enough for the Giants to consider bringing him back in all likelihood.

As of right now, it is not clear what the SF Giants plan to do with the DH slot in the lineup. Our own Jeff Young believes the DH will be a revolving door, giving position players a chance to take a day off from the field for a day.

There is also the possibility that Wilmer Flores could see a lot of time in the DH spot. He hit well for the Giants last season but can be a bit of a defensive liability at times.

Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger are options as well. Yet, they both carry question marks, especially Haniger, after last season.

Belt would solve this problem. He could be a DH for the team against righties and potentially against lefties not named Clayton Kershaw.

Many Giants fans have had enough of platoons after the Gabe Kapler tenure in San Francisco, but it may not be a bad option if they aren’t able to land any other big fish in free agency or via trade.

The likelihood that Belt re-signs with the Giants is slim. The Giants probably want other options and he does not necessarily fit into their plan to get younger and faster. It would be a tough positional fit as well, but it could work.

The left-handed bat should get an opportunity with another team though. He proved last year that in a DH role with limited time at first base, he can be a valuable component for a good team.

At the very least, whenever Belt decides to retire he should do it as a San Francisco Giant. He was a Great Giant no matter what and he deserves to be recognized as such even though he is often overlooked or undervalued by fans.