Former SF Giants third baseman, 16-year veteran "weighing his options" on future

Former SF Giants third baseman Evan Longoria is a free agent again after spending the 2023 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times added a nugget of clarity on Longoria's 2024 status, saying that the 16-year veteran is "weighing his options" for the upcoming season.

Former SF Giants third baseman, 16-year veteran "weighing his options" on future

Longoria might be in a similar position as Brandon Crawford where there could be a few interested suitors, but if the right opportunity, then he could decide to hang up his spikes.

That said, the 38-year-old infielder still offers some upside with the bat as well as a veteran voice in the clubhouse. He reached free agency for the first time in his career last winter and decided to join the Diamondbacks on a one-year, $4 million pact.

That proved to be a nice move for both player and team. The righty bat registered a .223/.295/.422 line (93 OPS+) with 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and 25 runs in 237 plate appearances. This includes a 9.7 percent walk rate, 30.8 percent strikeout rate, and a .199 ISO.

While he is no longer the MVP candidate he was earlier in his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, Longoria still brings some occasional power and a serviceable glove at third base. Of course, the 84-win Diamondbacks snuck into the playoffs and reached the World Series before losing to the Texas Rangers in five games.

Longoria spent his first 10 years with Tampa Bay where he helped to put the Rays on the map. Tampa Bay reached the World Series in his rookie year in 2008 but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games. During his time with the Rays, the righty bat was an all-around solid performer while finishing in the top-10 in MVP voting twice (2010 and 2013).

He came over to the Giants in a five-player move that sent Denard Span to Tampa Bay. During his time with the Giants, Longoria provided above-average power and good defense at the hot corner but struggled to stay on the field due in part to freak injuries. He generally gave the Giants solid value when healthy. San Francisco bought out his team option for 2024, thereby making him a free agent.

As a free agent last year, the veteran infielder had identified the Diamondbacks, Giants, and Rays as teams he would like to join. His wish came true with Arizona. There have been few rumors connecting him to any team, but perhaps, an organization like the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers could be in need of a third baseman. The 2023 season showed that he could still help a team in a part-time role and it would be nice to see him back out on the field in 2024.