The SF Giants should take a flyer on power-hitting 2023 ALCS MVP

Winter is coming, and it’s nearly go-time for the SF Giants to make moves to bolster their roster. It’s a competitive National League, and giving newly hired skipper Tony Vitello all the pieces at his disposal is huge. Free agency has a new group of players after Friday's non-tender deadline. This includes 2023 ALCS MVP Adolis García. 

The SF Giants should take a flyer on power-hitting 2023 ALCS MVP

The biggest area of need is pitching, and more specifically, a starter behind Logan Webb. Tatsuya Imai would strike as a home run signing by Buster Posey. Also, this team needs outfield depth. Luring Cody Bellinger back to the West Coast would be enormous, but that deal could be too rich for the front office. That’s why taking a flyer on García makes sense for this team. 

García is 32 years old and was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers on Friday. He is a player who likely will not command top dollar and help round out the depth in the outfield. The players patrolling the outfield are Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and Drew Gilbert. García would provide an immediate boost in more ways than one. 

García Does Bring Elements to the Table

García wasn’t just non-tendered because the Rangers wanted to shed payroll. The production wasn’t matching up with what financial compensation would’ve been, and the Rangers are shifting course. This is where taking a flyer on him comes into play. 

The right-handed bat struggled at the plate over the last two seasons for the Rangers. In 2024, he finished the season with a slash line of .224/.284/.400 with a .684 OPS. The 2025 season wasn’t much of an improvement, seeing him slash ..227/.271/.394 with a .665 OPS.

Adding more salt to the wound, his combined on-base percentage of .278 from 2024-25 is the lowest of 120 batters that have had 1,000 plate appearances. This all doesn’t sound like a player that anyone wants right? But there is upside with the player as a whole. 

García is two years removed from being an integral piece to the Rangers' winning the World Series. He popped off for a career year that year, seeing career highs in OBP (.328), SLG (.508), and OPS (.836). If there is an area of need for the Giants as a whole, adding more raw power to the club is a factor. This is a team that finished 19th in home runs. That’s one area García can help. 

Since 2021, García has hit 20+ home runs every season and surpassed the 30 home run mark twice. Willy Adames becoming the first player to hit 30 home runs in a single season since Barry Bonds (2004) just shows how much the Giants are craving that raw power. García may not have the most impressive slash line, but the power is there. 

He’s also an elite defender. García finished with 16 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and one Outs Above Average (OAA). He has a cannon of an arm and would be a huge addition defensively. 

Is he the biggest fish in the outfield player pool? Probably not. But is he worth taking a flyer on? Absolutely if he can return to his 2023 form.