SF Giants rumors: team seen as a fit for top free agent slugger on the market

The SF Giants are linked to yet another free agent slugger. What could possibly go wrong? Even if the Giants are fit for left-handed slugger Kyle Tucker, do they really stand any chance at landing him this offseason?

MLB insider Mark Feinsand listed the Giants as a team that could be in on Tucker this offseason. This is what Feinsand wrote: "The Giants added a big salary to their payroll when they traded for Rafael Devers this season, but San Francisco ranked 17th in the Majors in runs scored and needs another impact bat to compete in the loaded NL West. Tucker – who could slot in as the Giants’ right fielder – would certainly qualify."

SF Giants seen as potential suitor for Kyle Tucker by MLB insider

Of course, Feinsand listed the Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees as potential landing spots before he mentioned the Giants which speaks to the difficulty the Giants would have in trying to lure Tucker to the Bay Area.

The lefty slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers and 73 runs batted in last season. Those are solid numbers, but they are not the kind of numbers one would expect for a player some are predicting will land a $400 million contract this offseason.

Tucker dealt with some injuries throughout the season which may have impacted his numbers, but giving him a contract that large would be taking a big risk especially since he will be 29 years old next season.

San Francisco clearly has a need in right field. After trading away Mike Yastrzemski at the trade deadline, a void was left out in right field. Luis Matos and Drew Gilbert did well at times, but neither was consistent enough to give the Giants confidence that they could be everyday players next season.

Still, the Giants must feel like they need to improve the offense somehow after the bats went ice cold for long stretches last season.

Getting into a bidding war for Tucker does not seem like a great strategy, though. The Giants have lost out on free agents to the Dodgers before, and taking a $400 million risk on Tucker clearly seems like something the Dodgers can do while the Giants do not really operate that way.

Nevertheless, expect to see the Giants connected to Tucker this offseason even though it does seem fairly unlikely that they will land the slugger.