The Giants have had recent talks with free agent outfielder Randal Grichuk and his representatives at Excel Sports, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. The Giants have been looking for ways to upgrade the offense, and the veteran Grichuk would give them a right-handed bat to pair with lefty-swinging outfielders Jung Hoo Lee and Mike Yastrzemski.
Grichuk, 33, was outstanding at the plate for the division-rival Diamondbacks in 2024, batting .291/.348/.528 with a dozen homers, 20 doubles, a pair of triples, a career-best 7.2% walk rate (still below league-average) and a career-low 16.5% strikeout rate. As is typically the case, he was used selectively, with 184 of his 279 plate appearances coming versus left-handed pitching.
Grichuk, as he tends to do, absolutely torched southpaw opponents. He slashed .319/.386/.528 against lefties — good for 51% better than league-average production, by measure of wRC+. He was more strikeout-prone and less likely to walk against righties, but Grichuk maintained his power output even against same-handed opponents; in 94 plate appearances against right-handers, he hit .242/.274/.527.
Also by measure of wRC+, the Giants were one of the ten best teams against lefties in 2024. That’s largely due to the preposterous production of young righty-swinging outfielder Heliot Ramos in such situations (.370/.439/.750). Any player would be hard-pressed to replicate stats that outrageous, however, and San Francisco also lost two of its better hitters against southpaws from last season; Jorge Soler (.277/.387/.500) was traded to the Braves at the deadline, and Michael Conforto (.284/.349/.537) signed with the Dodgers.
Shortstop Willy Adames, who signed a seven-year deal with the Giants earlier this winter, also hits right-handed but has been far more productive against righties than lefties in his career (and in 2024). A signing of Grichuk would help to deepen the lineup against lefties and offset some of the production lost to the departures of Soler/Conforto and some likely regression from Ramos.
As things stand, RosterResource projects the Giants’ payroll just shy of $182MM. That’s not particularly close to the franchise-record $200MM. Their CBT ledger sits at $222MM, leaving them $19MM from the point at which they’d have to pay the luxury tax for what would be a second straight season. Impressive as Grichuk’s 2024 season was, he won’t command anywhere near the type of guarantee that’d push the Giants close to that tax threshold, so he’d be an affordable add that also leaves room for some additional spending, even if the aim is to reset their CBT penalty level.
I would hope the Reds have too.
This seems like the type of cheap low risk move they would/should make. They probably won’t though
He’s cut his strikeout rate, that was always his problem.
couldn’t agree more. perfect fit.
Reds……it gets confusing. new Reds broadcast deal……is it same Reds announcers?
They have not said yet. Allegedly will be announced in the future. Makes me think there might be a change.
I’ve heard Colby Rasmus is also in touch with the Giants. Tough choice, nothing but great things ahead for San Fran
A 1+1 contract with a potential $12MM? Who says no?
Not sure he even gets $12M on a one-year, and I doubt SF wants to sign him for more years.
looks like the Bucs will be scraping the bottom of the dumpster for their next outfielder
I thought he’d be a great fit in Pittsburgh. Hits for average, pop, and can effectively play all three OF positions if needed.
Do it. Sign him. Go Giants.
This is an excellent fit with Yastrzemski and Wade both struggling against lefties and the Giants needing insurance for Ramos regression or a Lee underperformance. With that being said, I’m hoping this isn’t the only offensive move the Giants make. Indicates to me the team is not confident in Encarnacion staying on as a short side platoon option.
@Andy I don’t think it necessarily means that. We need right handed platoon options for 1B, RF and DH.
the 3 positions Encarnacion plays?
Would be the most Giants signing ever
wrong
I feel like a middle infielder or backup catcher that is bounced back and forth between the Giants and Mariners feels more Giantsy to me. Then again, that may have been more a Farhan signing that the Giants as a team.
Either way, this is certainly up there.
I don’t thik the teams match up this time, unfortunately. Looking at their rosters and depth, the Mariners don’t really have (or are willing to give up) what the Giants need, even if we look at their Top 20 or so prospects.
Guess they aren’t sold on Matos just yet.
Lat Matos?
No. MVP Matos.
Absolutely tore up the winter league in Venezuela. Thought maybe he earned a platoon with Yaz this year with that MVP. Grichuk would fit that role as well. Stay tuned I guess… could be just agent play.
I didn’t know that, OldG. Thanks. Luis is fighting hard.
Ya scope it out. He’s still real young so would not hurt to stay another year in the minors if Grichuk gets signed.
But last year’s hard hit rate was near zero, so until he duplicates what he did this winter, he’s not yet that valuable either for SF or as trade bait.
Spring Training stats are worth a grain of salt and winter league stats are worth less. The positive thing for Matos is he continues to get ABs. He is only 23, has an option left and needs to play everyday even if that means it’s in AAA.
Player development isn’t linear and he is currently blocked in CF by Lee. The current version of Matos isn’t a bat that necessarily profiles as an everyday corner OF, he’s been a high contact, low K/BB player and he needs a better approach, where maybe both his K/BB rates go up but so too does his barrel/hard hit rates that result in more 2B+HR’s,
While capable in the short term of doing the role of Grichuck, why not let Matos continue to develop. If an OF goes on the IL, he’s likely the first man up and in perfect world he grabs that job on an everyday basis. and stays.
Good fit and Grichuck is better when he doesn’t play everyday so as a platoon player he should continue to thrive
Obviously hoping Grichuk can be what Austin Slater never really provided consistently
Slater was a good Giant he destroyed LHP. He was only. bad last year.
Ha-Seong Kim market has been very quiet however unless his medicals say otherwise I like him long term. It kicks Fitzgerald out to LF and the team has the makings of a stellar defensive team. This would be a far cry from the past several seasons.
The formula to win in this park hasn’t really changed, pitching, defense and professional ABs and the best part about that formula is it wins in October as well. I am bummed they missed out on Paul Goldschmidt, on a power light OF as currently constructed, I thought he was the perfect fit to pair with Flores/Wade to take most of the 1B/DH ABs. At the same time Pete Alonso, the risk-reward-cost to sign him doesn’t add up for the Giants, especially when their best prospect plays 1B + likely takes them out on Kim
A Randal Grichuk signing doesn’t stop SFG from targeting Kim. Not knowing what the trade market offers, he’s the best available roster fit both for his ability to play both corner OFs competently + lefty masher. While Yaz takes great ABs against LHP, entering his age 34 season, it’s time for him to be a something less than full-time player.
This obsession with Kim is so weird. We signed Adames, a much better player. Let it go.
His point was that signing Kim (as second baseman) moves Fitz to left and Ramos to right. I’ve thought this was a good solution when the winter began, and I still think it has merit.
Check Ramos numbers vs RHP. He has a serious platoon split and should be losing time against RHP,
It’s weird you have no interest in adding a player under 30yo who in 3+ seasons of playing time has accumulated over 15 wAR, is a plus defender at 2nd and SS, has 78 career SB and NO qualifying offer. The roster fit is there and he’s only available because SD’s team finances are a mess, take advantage.
He has a serious shoulder injury there’s a reason no one has signed him.
Dude has over 200 career homers!
I can’t wait to be a Giant, although the Reds should be calling.
SF would be a Giant mistake. Go see your Oracle, you would like hitting in GABP a lot better.
If they get him it will be one of the okayest moves of the off-season
Learn to write, Adams. “Impressive as Grichuk’s 2024 season was” is not proper English. You can’t leave out “as” to begin the sentence; it’s not optional. You’re a professional writer and using correct grammar isn’t optional either.