After adding Evan Longoria, the Giants are eyeing a move for outfielder Jay Bruce, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via Twitter). That longstanding connection remains realistic in part because the move for Longoria does not significantly alter the team’s competitive balance tax considerations. The inclusion of Denard Span took care of that consideration and also opened a hole for a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder.
The 30-year-old Bruce would represent a big upgrade in terms of power, as he swatted 36 home runs in 2017, though he has also been in terms of on-base percentage and defensive ratings in recent years. It’s not clear whether San Francisco will be willing to guarantee Bruce four years, per Olney.
Meanwhile, Bruce’s agent, Matt Sosnick, tells KNBR 680’s Gary Radnich and Larry Krueger that his client is trying for a four-year pact and would “be thrilled” to end up in the Giants organization. Sosnick adds that the Astros and Giants were Bruce’s “top two” landing spots, but the Astros have made clear that there’s simply no fit in their organization at present. Sosnick says Bruce has been fielding offers but plans to see “how it shakes out with the Giants” before making any final decision on where to sign. That said, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that there’s no indication the sides are close to a deal at present.
What’s clear, though, is that the Giants organization views the Longoria acquisition as the first of multiple steps in its offseason plan. President Brian Sabean and GM Bobby Evans held a conference call with reporters today (link via KNBR’s Kerry Crowley), voicing a focus on bolstering their lineup — specifically by adding a more well-rounded replacement for Span.
“Our focus in addressing our outfield and our lineup, that remains an important part of our offseason,” said Evans. “It’s a work in progress, there’s no destination for us to speak to right now, we need to wait and see how things play out.”
Sabean, meanwhile, suggested that the Giants now “…hope to add accordingly and we hope it will be as significant of a move as this one.” That the Giants have their eyes on bolstering an offense that ranked last in the Majors with an 83 wRC+ last season and batted just .249/.309/.380 on the season as a whole is hardly a surprise, though their avenues for improvement are a bit more limited now that Longoria is slotted in at the hot corner.
Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik and Brandon Belt figure to round out the infield, with Buster Posey behind the dish and Hunter Pence‘s bloated $18MM commitment occupying a corner outfield spot. Certainly, the Giants have room to add at least one outfielder to the mix, with center field standing out as a particularly thin area in terms of MLB-ready options to step into the fray. Bruce wouldn’t fit that bill, though the organization has also been linked to Billy Hamilton in trade rumblings and, speculatively, could pursue a similarly cost-effective/defensive-minded center field option if signing a corner bat is the preferred route.
Trying to recreate the 2011 All Starz
why not? Bochy managed that team too, and they won. lol!
But i get it. Old guys…
I’m not sure why the Giant’s don’t sign a guy like Jarrod Dyson instead of trading prospects they don’t really have for a guy like Hamiltion. He’s not going to hit a ton, but he flat out flies, and can play really good CF defense. Then you’re able to sign a guy like Bruce to hit. If they’re wanting more power, this might be the way to go. Not sure what kind of OF prospects you have though.
Agreed, Dyson would be a good fit
I agree on Dyson. He has posted fantastic defensive numbers and an OBP in the 330 range. Sure, it would be great if it were 20 points higher, but if he were able to post those kind of numbers I doubt the Giants could get him on a one year deal. But he is a great fit
Jon Jay could be a seemingly inexpensive fit for them too
Jay has posted negative numbers in center over the last two seasons. While he does have solid contact skills and OBP, his range is not wide enough to cover spacious AT&T, and prevent those triples in the alley. He ultimately is not a good fit for what this club is trying to build.
But he would be playing LF… the same LF that old slow Bonds played. Pat the Bat did as well.
– and morse played LF too –
with span gone there is a spot for corners open – pence is slotted to be a bench guy if they can’t trade him so that is all 3 positions open – you could bring any combination of dyson, blanco, jay and some form of power (though I don’t favor bruce) to play primarily in left and you have a pretty big defensive upgrade to the defense – and with how bad they were offensively probably an upgrade there as well.
You forget Slater.
Yeah, the same old slow Barry bonds that was a 40/40 guy… bonds wasn’t slow until 35+
AT&T park opened in 2000, when Bonds was 35. So he was correct, it was the slow Bonds playing LF.
Also Randall Grichuk from the Cards could be a fit! Both of them can play all 3 OF positions. Grichuk comes with a lot more power
than Jon Jay, but Jays OBP is much better!
OF prospects? Those would be Austin Slater and Steven Duggar, the latter of whom is a long-term CF candidate but shouldn’t realistically be counted on to be ready for 2018.
Duggar is ready. He’s gotten nothing left to prove in the Minors. After missing most of 2017, he hit really well in the AFL. He hit with power, which was the main thing that was holding him back.
evans and sabean said that they see duggar as a CF solution very soon – he could very well start in 2018 if they have that kind of faith
According to MLB.com Chris Shaw (OF/1B) is now their top prospect. Last year 24 HR, 78 RBI, 292 AVG, .346 OBP, 525 SLG, .871 OPS
I could see them trying a platoon of Shaw/Slater in LF
I think they are looking at Duggar as their CF for next season. With Bruce, they can hide Duggar’s bat to start the season. But Duggar is good at making adjustments.
Who do you think Bruce is? You’re not going to hide any bat. I doubt they want to get into another ’17 LF situation. They need proven OF’s. 3 would be great. But realistically either Hamilton/BradleyOrDyson in CF with Bruce and Pence sharing time with Duggar, Williamson, Shaw, whoever shows they are ready. If any of em prove worthy Pence becomes the 4th OF
bradley was a great rumor but it seems like that ship has sailed
Why would you play Duggar in LF? He’s a natural CF. He’ll need a little time to adjust to big league pitching. Hamilton can’t hit. Slater is better then Parker or Williamson.
He played RF at Clemson because of his arm, last year in the minors they moved him to CF. but yes he is seen as the next CF.
Agreed Slater is better than Parker and Williamson, but Shaw could be the best option. Platoon Slater and Shaw in LF.
The Giants could conceivably field an OF of Shaw in LF, Duggar in CF, and Slater in RF. But noooooo, the Giants are so old and their farm system is so terrible!
I don’t expect anything out of Parker or Williamson anymore. They had some potential, but too many injuries between them and time has likely passed them by.
i don’t see how Dyson makes sense i get the defensive metrics, but the offensive metrics are worse than span. not only that but he has only been averaging about 100-110 games played a year. who is going to fill those remaining 50-60 games?
“i don’t see how Dyson makes sense”
Because of the position. CF, like SS, is a position where the defense is more important than the offense. Any above average hitting you get at important defensive positions is gravy. But in CF Dyson is much preferable to Span.
“…not sure why the Giant’s don’t sign a guy like Jarrod Dyson…”
I agree, but whose to say they’re not? Just because there hasn’t been much of anything written about the Giants and Dyson doesn’t mean nothing is going on. If Dyson makes sense to us, I’m sure the Giants are aware of the fit. Dyson isn’t the kind of guy that will get a lot ink, like Bruce or Cain will.
Good idea with Jarrod Dyson. Half these rumors are started by the writers. Was Hunter Pence injured last season?
Pence has been wracked with injuries the past three seasons. His 162 game seasons and his consecutive game streak are now distance memories.
It’s like watching a train crash in slow motion.
Nice troll attempt. 4/10.
Any train crash that has 3 world series wins is a train wreck I’ll watch and support!
Maybe Giants really trying to prove 2017 was “odd year” paradox.. ?and 2016 was a fluke.
All kidding aside, I think Bruce and the Giants are a good fit.
I would put Belt in LF and have Panda play First base. They need a CF – Cain would be nice addition. Good D and another good bat.
giants moving in right direction. longoria bruce add a cf. I hope Jerry Kenny and Rick are paying attention
Lol
To get both Longoria and Bruce would be some good work done. 2 good quality veteran hitters after the Stanton mess..
Gigantes are garbage. They need pitching
They need hitting more. starting pitching needs to have better year. Stratton 4th starter and let another farm hand have 5th starter job.
As a Jays fan/the Bruce to Toronto rumors never seemed like anything I’d want any part of. Giants can have him, maybe trade for Pillar too. And I know, dude’s a wizard with the glove but the salary is rising and his bat is almost non-eslxistant.
How can you be opposed to the fun of Blue Jay Jay Bruce?
Maybe Toronto should get Jon Jay?
How about an outfield of Jay Bruce, Jon Jay and Jayson Werth?
haha best comment of the day
Living up to the username
I think Bruce’s camp is terrified. The Giants are bidding against themselves on this one.
Terrified he might have to re-sign with the Mets? Ha.
He doesn’t seem daunted by hitting at AT&T Park, which is a positive sign.
If he can hit HR’s in Citifield, he can hit them in AT&T Park. His HR’s aren’t short.
Terrified that no one wants to sign him for anything near what he thinks he’s worth is what I meant.
Need CF more than LF. Belt could play LF. Concussions are major concern. Another one and he may be done. Panda could play 1st.
If The Mets don’t work out for him, Ruben Amaro Jr. should give the Giants a call. They’re clearly playing from the same playbook after all.
Man if they get Bruce and team him up with Longoria that gives them two sure fire sluggers who you can always count on during the season!
This seems overly enthusiastic. I acted this way when I bought a $150 TV changer and needed to justify it to everyone who came over.
I know…I was joking
can we get another right handed bat?? left handed power has not worker well for the giants other than that one guy…..
They got one … Longoria. Bruce has had no issues hitting at ATT … 6 homeruns in 50ish career at bats.
Just imagine if he could keep that pace up. A 45 hr season from a player wearing orange and black would be nice.
Sign Bruce then sign the much cheaper Jarrod Dyson and the Giants are competing for a WC in 2018.
Bull pen is not reliable.
As long as they aren’t giving up draft picks I’m happy. At the same time signing Bruce for anything over 3 years doesn’t necessarily excite me.
As long as they are giving up draft picks I’m happy. But signing Bruce for over 2 years doesn’t necessarily excite me.
Bobby Evans must dream of Hunter Pence’s $18M magically coming off the books this holiday season. At least Span is out of the picture and the 3B need is filled. Signing Bruce will help the offense tremendously, but that huge hole in CF isn’t gonna fill itself. Need to find a fleet of foot natural CF who likes to run and is allergic to the DL. Keon Broxton?
i wish we could afford him, don’t think we have the prospects to part with seeing as we are rebuilding are farm system at the same time we are trading them away…
Cain.
Bruce would be an okay get but if they want to compete with the Dodgers and Dbacks then JD Martinez would put them in that conversation.
Yes, J.D. Martinez in LF and Lorenzo Cain in CF.
Pay the taxes and roll on.
No, and no. The OF at AT&T is too big for a defensively deficient fielder to cover. And losing the high draft choices to sign Cain would be a foolish move. One that the Giants have said they will not make BTW.
Um, no.
No more older players who play outfield. Not at AT&T Park.
Who, exactly, is going to man CF for the Giants this year? Are they going to try to play two left fielders?
Need someone young, healthy, and able to cover a lot of ground. If he can hit it will be a bonus. Nobody over age 30, please. It takes youthful legs to patrol the Grand Canyon out there.
Corky Hernandez at this point.
He spoke with P-Con. Gary and Larry are off this week.
I guess Bochy and the Giants are gearing up for one last run. I’d like to be optimistic but can’t help to think we got a 3B who is on the decline. If the Giants finish 2018 well below .500 it is probably bye-bye to Sabean and Evans and hello to a rebuild. Scary….but that’s the nature of the game these days. Branch Rickey’s philosophy of getting rid of a player one year too early being much better than one year too late is very true today.