Could this former Dodgers infielder serve as the SF Giants back up at shortstop?

With the SF Giants looking for shortstop help, could Kiké Hernandez serve as a utility man for the team?

Division Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Two
Division Series - Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Two | Harry How/GettyImages

The SF Giants have made it clear that they are seeking depth at shortstop even though they are hoping Marco Luciano can run with the job. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that they are not pursuing Tim Anderson or Amed Rosario, so could they go after former Los Angeles Dodger Kiké Hernández?

It would not be an SF Giants offseason under Farhan Zaidi if the team did not sign a former Dodger. Hernandez would fit right in with the signings of Alex Wood, Jake McGee, Joc Pederson, and Ross Stripling that Zaidi has made in his Giants tenure.

Could this former Dodgers infielder serve as the SF Giants back up at shortstop?

Hernández has established himself as a solid utility man in the league, playing at every single position at some point in his career except for pitcher or catcher. Last season, he spent time with the Red Sox before being traded back to the Dodgers. With the Red Sox, he played 64 games at shortstop so it is a position he is still familiar with.

The veteran infielder does not have the strongest profile with the bat despite the fact that he has had a fair amount of success against the Giants to the tune of 10 career home runs and 40 RBI against the orange and black.

Last season with both the Red Sox and Dodgers he slashed .237/.289/.357 (74 OPS+) with 11 home runs and 61 RBI in 508 plate appearances. Those numbers do not jump off the page, but they are pretty solid, especially for a guy who provides so much value with his defensive versatility.

The right-handed bat makes a lot of sense for a Giants team that does not fully trust Luciano at shortstop yet. If we find out early next season that Luciano is not quite ready to be the everyday shortstop then having Hernández as an insurance policy that you can also move around to anywhere on the diamond is a very valuable asset to have.

Many Giants fans would roll their eyes at Zaidi signing another mid-level former Dodger when the Dodgers themselves are continuing to add to their Super Team, but they did check on him at the trade deadline. Could they reignite that interest this winter?

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