The Giants announced this evening that third baseman Evan Longoria will undergo surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger (via Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area). His timetable is unclear, but the team noted that his finger is expected to be immobilized for at least ten days.
More will be known about how long the Giants will be without Longoria in the next few days, but he’s at least slated to open the year on the injured list. Opening Day is eight days away, meaning his finger is likely to remain immobilized by the time games get underway. He’ll assuredly need some time between then and his return to MLB action to partake in some baseball activities and perhaps embark on a minor league rehab assignment.
It’ll be the fifth consecutive season with an injured list stint for Longoria, who hasn’t reached 600 plate appearances in a year since 2017. He missed a couple months last year due to a shoulder issue, but the three-time All-Star enjoyed something of an offensive resurgence when he was healthy. Last season’s .261/.351/.482 line was his best showing on a rate basis since 2016, although he only appeared in half of San Francisco’s games.
With Longoria out of action to open the season, the Giants figure to mix and match at the hot corner. Wilmer Flores will probably see a good bit of action there, while San Francisco has a pair of out-of-options utilitymen in Thairo Estrada and Mauricio Dubón vying for bench roles. All three of those players hit right-handed, as does the recently-acquired Luke Williams. The Giants have lefty-hitting corner infielder Jason Vosler on the 40-man roster as well, but the 28-year-old has a limited MLB track record and a pair of minor league option years remaining.
Mr. Glass stays true to his name.
He hasn’t aged well, has he?
Ironically he has aged pretty well
He just never “peaked’ that well
Hat tip to the Rays for ripping the band aid off early
Longo has had a positive impact for SF and hasn’t burdened the ledger too much so not a knock there just a hat tip to TB following thru on a difficult but correct call that probably pissed their own fans off quite a bit at the time…..That’s not easy to pull off….outside a message board ofc
They call me Mr. Glass
Rays were brilliant unloading Longoria. Too bad though Longoria looked a stud then hit about 30 and downhill since.
The return was Denard Span, who played in 43 games for them (..749 OPS) before being traded, Christian Arroyo, who played 36 games over two years (.710 OPS) before leaving and two pitchers, both now 26 years old and still in AA.
So it was all about the money.
Arroyo was a good prospect at that time so it wasn’t a straight salary dump. He was a T100 guy. Scuffled a bit in the bigs but had raked in AAA at the time.
I always have thought that trade was awful for SF since the day it was made. It’s turned out better for them than I thought, but anyone could see that Longoria was in serious decline already at the time.
I thought it would turn out worse as well Cosmo ….Not to say it’s been particularly great for SF but RH 3b capable dudes have dried up recently to help SF’s cause –
When Longo was coming into the league the league was flush with these types . Nobodies really replaced the Beltres Zimmermans DWright ect ect that have recently retired. The Chapmans Suarez Donaldson types seemed to slowly downgrade the position to the meh position it currently holds leaguewide
But position standards altogether have changed so much the last 15 years
I hurt my finger wiping once
Wiping tears from your eyes?
Flores to 3B, Dubon to 2B?
I hope Dubon goes to no base. He has something Crawford doesn’t, a low IQ.
No, Estrada (who would have been the everyday 2b) will move to third, Dubon to 2b.
VANTABLACK — What in hell are you talking about? Have you heard Dubon speak; I have. He’s a smart kid and talented defensively at multiple positions and raked at AAA last year. Why smear someone’s IQ when you know nothing about them?
Alex Blandino has looked good this spring. I imagine he makes the roster if Longo isn’t on it, since the only other option would be Vosler who’s a lefty.
(1) Now we know why they acquired Luke Williams. (2) a byproduct of the lockout and not being able to monitor medicals. No reason on earth why Longoria should just now be having this surgery when the injury occurred last season.
He told Susan Slusser this was a lingering injury from last year.
How do you not get that checked and MRI’ed last year? Or was it an offseason injury he failed to disclose?
Either way, it sucks. Giants can get by with Flores, Dubon et al but a healthy Longo is the better player.
He certainly was last year. I don’t understand how the Giants made no provisions for securing an everyday RH bat for this season.
Longo was assuredly going to have injuries and/or need lots of rest.
Hey Beavis. Pull my finger
Uh huh huh huh…
Incoming Jose Ramirez trade?
Or does Farhan Zaidi believe the Giants will not seriously be competitive this year? 3rd place NL West?
Guess again, but anything is possible. Cleveland is discussing an extension with JoRam.
Ham and egging it won them 107 games last year but I agree w you
I would have to doubt the Giants have the prospects to get a deal for Ramirez done.
Yeah, don’t see them centering a package around Luciano or (obviously) Bart for a non-extended JoRam.
You have no clue how deep the giants farm system is,, they most certainly have the prospects to get Ramirez lmaoo
CheapAsss Zaidi gonna run back a bunch of old men, ‘B’ guys and minor league cast offs and say “Look, it worked last year” LOL This weakasss line up is gonna get Crushed. Frisco will be lucky to finish above .500
It did work last year! SDP spent tons of money and that didn’t work. LOL
All I can say is you don’t win 107 games on luck
Rameriz would be a game changing move for Zaidi. No need for Longoria to return quickly or multiple players at 3B.
Every team dreams on Ramirez but Cleveland has been adamant that they weren’t moving him— unless it was for a boatload of major and minor league talent (which the Giants would be unwilling, at this stage, to offer them). Plus, the Guardians are in extension talks with him.
Every team dreams on Ramirez but Cleveland has been adamant that they weren’t moving him— unless it was for a boatload of major and minor league talent. Plus, the Guardians are in extension talks with him.
What the French toast
No problem. The Giants will just plug the next guy into the process.
La Stella is hoping to make it for opening day. That gives the Giants another bat and a guy who has played some third.
Ham and egging it while the dodgers are signing all stars. Hope they can catch lightning in a bottle two years in a row.
The Giants aren’t about all stars. They have made that obvious and aren’t about to go back to it. You can moan about it and make derogatory comments or you can get on board with what they are about.
Yea at some point the average fan might want to consider that the SF front office knows more than the average fan. It’s about efficiently putting together a winner, it’s NOT about collecting big names and spending stupid. Spending does not equal winning.
Star player blinkers. Such a narrow field of view.
Last year, best season since 2017, playing in only half the games. Gee, I thought every Giant had a career year in 2021.
Jose Ramirez will be 31.5 years old at the end of his current contract. He will then seek a Correa/Semien/Seager/Bryant sized contract. To get him the Giants would have to do a 180 from their plan. They haven’t gone after players like those listed above (remember, Ramirez about 32 at free agency) and they haven’t coughed up top prospects. A trade for Ramirez would go against the plan. Ain’t happening.
Longo is a great teammate, plays well when healthy and is still a plus fielder. The Giants would love 300-400 plate appearances from him. They have a more than capable back-up in Wilmer Flores whose fielding improved dramatically last year.
Longoria’s injury also gives Alex Blandino a chance to make the team. Blandino is a former first rounder out of Stanford who has had a great spring. It’s also a pretty good bet the Giants will keep Dubon who can play anywhere and is out of options. Thairo Estrada who can also play 3rd is a lock.
Then there’s LaStella who should be ready by mid April who can also play 3rd.
I think the Giants are okay at 3rd,
Nice Kevin. And I think Estrada is at the top of this list. Just my opinion. And Ruf was not bad in left last year, so vs lefties Flores DH and Ruf in left. I don’t feel there’s a strong desire to have Flores at 3rd. Lastella starts season on injured list I would guess
Blandino would need a spot on the 40-man, right? That works if Longoria’s out long enough to put on the 60-day IL.
The middle?