The SF Giants would like to reunite with veteran first baseman, but will he be back?

Dominic Smith was a pleasant surprise for the SF Giants this past season. They are interested in bringing him back, but recognize that it would be a tough roster fit, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.

The SF Giants would like to reunite with veteran first baseman, but will he be back?

The Giants added Smith as they were moving on from a struggling LaMonte Wade Jr. at the beginning of June. They hoped to get even modest offensive production from Smith, but he exceeded those expectations.

Overall, Smith slashed .284/.333/.417 (111 wRC+) with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 26 runs in 225 plate appearances. This included a 6.7 percent walk rate, 18.7 percent strikeout rate, and .132 ISO.

While the veteran bat did not hit for much power, the Giants liked his contact skills and the knack for hitting with runners in scoring position. Plus, he played a solid first base.

In a vacuum, the Giants want more of that type of hitter, but there just might not be a roster fit for Smith. He is primarily a first baseman. The Giants have coverage at that position with Rafael Devers, and envision him splitting time with Bryce Eldridge at first base and DH down the road.

Smith does have some experience in the outfield, but it has been a few seasons since he saw regular playing time. By the way, Smith apparently made an appearance in right field for the Giants this season. Do you remember that? I do not. The defensive metrics painted him as a comfortably below-average glove in the outfield. Outfield defense is already a problem for the Giants, and using him out there would only exacerbate the problem.

That said, it is no surprise that the Giants have interest in bringing back the 30-year-old hitter. He was a quality addition to the team.

However, there are two sides to every discussion. The Giants might want to bring him back, but does that type of move make sense for Smith? The Giants already have coverage at first base with Rafael Devers, and that will not change anytime soon. Smith could see at-bats at DH early in the year if Bryce Eldridge begins the year in the minors. Once Eldridge is up, Smith's playing time likely disappears overnight.

The nine-year veteran will be looking for a landing spot that offers a clear path to playing time. On paper, the Giants are not one of those teams.

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