Former SF Giants slugger joins the Chunichi Dragons of the NPB

Former SF Giants outfielder Alex Dickerson has not been in the news much lately but he is today. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Dickerson has agreed to join the Chunichi Dragons of the NPB.

Former SF Giants slugger joins the Chunichi Dragons of the NPB

There was a time when the left-handed bat was an example of the savvy nature of the front office under Farhan Zaidi. He joined the organization along with Mike Yastrzemski, Darin Ruf, Thairo Estrada, and LaMonte Wade Jr. on very minor trades or signings.

Regardless of the lack of prospect capital to acquire players like Dickerson, Yastrzemski, and Wade Jr., they all found a way to make an immediate impact. However, that momentum slowed down and it feels like the Giants have not hit on a move like that over the past couple of years.

Sure, acquiring J.D. Davis from the New York Mets in exchange for Ruf in 2022 was a win by the front office. Adding Blake Sabol in a very minor move last offseason was also a shrewd addition. However, there have been fewer of those success stories since the start of 2022.

With all that being said, Dickerson made an immediate impact for the Giants. He was acquired from the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Franklin Van Gurp midway through the 2019 season. The fact that the left-handed bat remained a fixture in the lineup is a solid trade success given what they gave up.

Dickerson's first game in a Giants uniform was a memorable one as he tallied three hits, including a grand slam, with six RBI in an 11-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The veteran outfielder continued to post solid numbers with the Giants over the next few seasons.

In parts of three years, Dickerson posted a .823 OPS while frequently batting in the middle of the order against right-handed pitching. His production tailed off to the tune of a .723 OPS by 2021. The Giants released him in that following offseason where he briefly caught on with the Atlanta Braves.

The 33-year-old remained with the Braves organization for 2022 after clearing waivers following 36 rough plate appearances. Since then, Dickerson has been playing in non-affiliated ball. He now heads overseas where he will join a Dragons team that finished in last place with 56 wins.