Should the SF Giants be interested in a reunion with a veteran shortstop?

The SF Giants could and should have a need for a shortstop at the trade deadline. One familiar name would make some sense. Could the Giants target veteran shortstop Paul DeJong at the deadline?

Should the SF Giants be interested in a reunion with a veteran shortstop?

DeJong's stint with the Giants last year was mostly forgettable except for his debut with the club where he recorded three hits, including a home run, with four RBI in an 8-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Giants turned just about every stone they could to milk more offensive production from the shortstop position. With Brandon Crawford making several stints on the injured list in 2023, this led to them try out DeJong, Johan Camargo, and even Mark Matthias.

None of those options worked out, including DeJong. The eight-year veteran recorded only nine hits in 50 plate appearances with the Giants before he was released at the end of the season. Last year was a tough one for him as he played for three teams and struggled to get out of a slump in the second half of the season.

DeJong joined the Chicago White Sox on a major league deal this year due in part to the fact that they had a need for him at shortstop. The right-handed bat has posted a .226./.276/.446 line (102 wRC+) with 10 home runs, 21 RBI, and 23 runs in 192 plate appearances. While his overall stat line may not jump off of the page, his 10 home runs would lead the Giants currently.

Plus, DeJong is not quite the shortstop that Nick Ahmed is, but he is still passable at a premium position. He has recorded 0 Outs Above Average (OAA) so far in 2024, but he is coming off of a year in which he tallied +9 OAA. This is to say that he is a capable defender.

The White Sox are open for business and DeJong could be one of the players on the move. Given his struggles, he will not fetch much on the trade market, so it fits in the Giants' risk tolerance for trades.

Shortstop remains a soft spot on the roster. Giants shortstops have posted a .270/.310/.386 line this season. That is not bad at all, but none of the current options offer both good offense and defense. To an extent, DeJong does.

With both Ahmed and Marco Luciano on the injured list, the Giants have been using Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisely to fill in the gaps. However, Ahmed suffered a setback in his rehab outing, whereas Luciano needs more time at shortstop in the minors.

When Ahmed was healthy, he did exactly what the Giants signed up for and that is play solid defense. The Giants lineup could use another bat. The addition of DeJong would move Ahmed to more of a reserve role with a lot of experience at shortstop. The cost is minimal and the upside could be worth the flyer.