Switch-hitting slugger could be power bat SF Giants desperately need

Juan Soto may be the biggest outfield slugger available in free agency, but the SF Giants may be better served going after someone else. Switch-hitting power threat Anthony Santander could be the big bat they are missing.

Soto is going to get a massive contract in free agency. There will be a large bidding war for him that the Giants may participate in, but it seems unlikely they will prevail. That is why they should set their sights on more realistic targets.

Santander is a right fielder who can absolutely mash. Last season with the Baltimore Orioles he slashed .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs and 102 RBI. He made his first All-Star Game last season thanks to those solid numbers.

Anthony Santander could be a great fit for SF Giants

He can bat from both sides of the plate and his career numbers are pretty similar as a left-handed and right-handed hitter. In his career his batting average is higher as a right-handed hitter at .253 compared to .243 as a left-handed hitter. He does have 112 career home runs from the left-handed batter's box in 2,022 at-bats compared to 43 homers in 808 at-bats as a right-handed bat.

He played 129 games in right field last season and graded out decently defensively. He also played in 25 games as a designated hitter last season.

If the Giants were to sign him, they may wind up trading right fielder Mike Yastrzemski to make room for him. Or, if they keep Yastrzemski, they could use Santander as their DH against right-handed pitching and then put him in right field against lefties and put Yastrzemski on the bench.

No matter what, the Giants would benefit greatly from having a bat like Santander in their lineup. His profile is somewhat reminiscent of Melky Cabrera in his prime in that they are both powerful switch-hitting outfielders.

They need another impact bat in their lineup so they can guard against some of those cold spells that characterized last season. Having a guy who can hit the ball out of the ballpark from both sides of the plate and can hit in the middle of the order would be massive.

Santander was extended a qualifying offer from the Orioles, but if he rejects that offer he will become a free agent. That also means that if the Giants signed him they would owe the Orioles a compensatory draft pick. This is not ideal but it may be worth it for the Giants.

They would also have to overpay for him considering Oracle Park can be a tough place to attract hitters, but he is 30 years old so he should still have at least a few more solid seasons left in him.

Soto is likely a lost cause, but Santander could be a much more realistic option to boost the lineup.