The Giants have placed Evan Longoria on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, per MLB.com’s Maria I. Guardado (via Twitter). With Longoria back on the shelf, right-hander Gregory Santos was recalled from Triple-A.
Longoria has struggled with the injury bug throughout his Major League career. The 36-year-old hasn’t played in more than 100 games since 2019, although that somewhat mischaracterizes a healthy 2020 season in which Longoria appeared in 53 of the pandemic-shortened 60 games. This season, Longoria missed more than a month early on to repair a torn ligament in his finger, and he recently spent another turn on the IL because of an oblique strain.
When healthy, the veteran has been his usual self at the plate, slashing .243/.331/.459 with 9 home runs across 169 plate appearances, good for a 124 wRC+. Without his bat in the lineup, the Giants have relied on rookie David Villar, whose positive approach at the plate has led to a 21.2 percent walk rate and 132 wRC+ through his first 52 big league plate appearances.
Santos, just 22 years old, has four big league appearances under his belt, but just one so far this season. Santos is the Giants’ 7th-ranked prospect per Fangraphs, though he did not make Baseball America’s list of top-30 prospects in the Giants’ system. The power righty owns a 3.42 ERA across 26 1/3 innings in Triple-A.
I hate losing Longo right now. When healthy, he is having a good season! He wants to be playing with the team so much – you could see his frustration/pain in the dugout last night after double play. Sad as we can’t afford the leadership and loss of a great third baseman.
“When healthy…” The trouble is, that’s less than half the time over the last couple years. He should retire at the end of the season. That is, after the Giants buy out the option, of course.
I didn’t think Longo had an option for 2023. But if he does, it’s certain the Giants won’t pick it up. But at least when he’s been healthy, he’s been a plus at bat and in the field. More than you can say for Brandon Belt. $18M+ what a disaster!
I disagree. Belt is struggling now, but all players have their ups and downs. But looking at this season and last I would rather have Belt than Longo.
Belt, 153 games played, 141 OPS+.
Longo, 130 games played, 122 OPS+
Depends on how and if he bounces back. $13M with a $5M buyout so it’s an $8M decision.
Evan Longoria hurt? I doubt that, source has to be questionable. MLB.com? Sounds made up.
Yesterday game they were talking like the Giants would even think about picking up his option. He will be looking at a heavy incentive contract next year. There is probably a 50/50 chance he retires after making that much money the last 10 years.
Well it’s only 8 million when you account for the buyout. If he’s there 50% of games and playing 20-30% better than average I think that’s worth it
It’s an additional $8M, not only $8M. If the Giants want him back at age 37, which is a big if, they aren’t paying him $13M. They’ll sign him to something like $1-2M with incentives, probably based on games played. But, there’s zero chance the Giants exercise the option.
Honestly with the never ending litany of injuries for Longoria and Belt, it’s time to move on from both this winter. Yeah, they are both solid when healthy, but how often is that? It only gets worse with age.
It’s a shame they can’t jettison Crawford and LaStella, too.
Crawford especially. He got his extension and shifted back into coast mode. He went from career year to the same old meh production we’d seen leading up to it.
tad2b13 — They won’t ask Longo back anymore than they’ll take Belt back. It’s time to clean house and truly rebuild.
The buyout is a sunk cost, the question should be is if Longoria were a FA this winter would you be happy if the Giants signed him to a 1 year, 8M$ deal?! If so, then pick up the option. If not, decline it and either wish him luck elsewhere or hope that he re-signs for less.
That’s true. But IMO, no way is Longo getting an $8M deal from any team, if he were a FA. Availability is a big factor in a guy’s value. That’s a negative for Longo.
He’s been more productive than Pujols, but he’s played fewer games than him, and part-timer Pujols is making $2.5M. And Pujols a shoe-in HoFer, hugely popular in StL.
What Solano got from CIN this past winter is probably a close comp to Longoria entering FA this winter. IMHO
Maybe. Solano got $4.5M. But, it’s hard for me to see the Giants giving that to Longo. Solano has been much more dependable.
And Cincy didn’t have to first buy out Solano for $5M. I can’t see the Giants guaranteeing $9.5M, for a 37 year old guy, who misses more than half the games.
They probably wouldn’t mind paying that if he earned it through games played incentives. But I just can’t see them for that much guaranteed cash, given the track record of the last 2 seasons..
Keep in mind Solano is about to turn 35 and has played in 56 or more mlb games in only 2 seasons since 2014. Though, I’ll admit being demoted to the minors in 2016, 2017, and 2018 may have actually helped him become a better player in his 30’s – may have made him work for it more.
Sometimes ya just gotta rip the band-aid off and start anew
It’s that time in SF with Longo AND Belt. I was surprised they offered the QO to Belt this offseason.
Security of the 1 yr most likely trumped a high AAV and they had open payroll I just thought the money and spot was better used elsewhere on the market looking ahead more toward the future
But really no biggy, the ledger is pristine here moving forward
In other words, it’s a day that end in Y.
Longoria did look in pain running down first base line. Just another stint on IL and missed games. Hopefully Zaidi and Kapler will give Villar a full-time chance and not just platooning.
Is he a hall of famer? Just curious
A good player and surprisingly aging well despite all the injuries. A few GGs and All Star games but no serious MVP candidate seasons. He might stay on the ballot a few years
Hall of Very Good and I’ve been rooting for him since he signed his first contract the first week up.
Longo would need 2 more good years to get in the Scott Rolen WAR/HOF conversation. Longo needs to do more stretching and less lifting. The dude is so ripped he tweaks something every time he runs all out.
He’s still good at baseball when he’s healthy. Being most of the top players in the game spend chunks of the season on the IL I’m not going to get pissy about an older veteran player doing the same thing. Would take him on the Yanks any day of the week.
Giants have to improve their OF defense next year
So much open grass for opponents to score singles , doubles and advance runners already on when the ball hits the grass –
I expect Z to address this heavily in the offseason; tho it might take a little work in the trade market as free agency doesn’t hold many keys. They give close to an out and base or two a game currently/ can’t happen for a team playing on the margins
What’s Zaidi’s next move after Dodgers sweep the Giants 4 games? 48-47, 16.5 games behind Dodgers, and looking less and less like a playoff team.
Is Zaidi going to be a buyer, seller, stand pat, or continue dumpster diving?
Redwolves3 — As a diehard Giants fan, it’s time to be realistic: this is not a playoff team, even with a decent starting rotation. Time to clean house where they can: LaStella, Belt, Longo. They won’t move Craw and probably shouldn’t (and I doubt anyone wants him with both his bat reverting and his defense declining).
Get what you can for them and for the other “hangers on.” Slater is an everyday OF. Estarda will probably be the everyday shortstop next year. LaMonte at first. Yaz in RF. If Ruf isn’t moved, he’s got a spot at DH. And, of course, Luis Gonzalez, probably in LF or RF (with his arm). I don’t think anyone else is safe or should be. That includes Joey & Tyler Rogers.
If the Giants keep playing .500 ball, they’ll need to decide which way to pivot, personally I think they should sell what assets they have, some talent is coming from the farm but it still 1-2 years away. Should try and move La Stella, Wood might be attractive to starter needy teams, Rodon of course. Belt and Crawford should be Giants lifers but they need to transition to bench players. Lots of work to catch the Dodgers and Padres
LaStella has negative trade value. There might be a team that likes him, and be willing to trade for him, but it won’t be much. I agree that Wood does have some value, and Rodon could probably fetch a nice return. Maybe Wilmer. But that’s about it.
Some of their younger guys, like Gonzalez, might have some value, but they need to hold on to the guys under team control.
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to sell, if they continue to play as badly as they have lately. But they aren’t going to get much, other than the return for Rodon.