7 Players Who Could Replace Pablo Sandoval For Giants
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The Panda has officially gotten loose, heading to Boston on a five year deal. Who will the Giants find to replace fan-favorite Pablo Sandoval? Here are a few of the most likely options...
Chase Headley
Headley has been rumored to be "Plan B" for several teams this offseason. Will he be that for the Giants now that Sandoval has gone? He's just two years removed from a Gold Glove year in which he was the number five vote recipient for MVP. Since then he has struggled to keep his batting average above .250 and was traded to the Yankees last season. He could be a good fit in San Francisco, if he can do more of this...
Mark Reynolds
This veteran is known for hitting towering homers, and for striking out a ton. Back in 2009 he homered 44 times (and struck out a whopping 223 times). The Giants will need a power threat with their free agent departures this offseason. They've previously revived the careers of Aubry Huff, Michael Morse and others. Could Reynolds be the same kind of bargain player that outproduces the contract he'd get from the Giants?
David Freese
Rumor is that the Angels are looking to deal Freese for pitching. The former All-Star is a .280 hitter with a ton of postseason experience, including the 2011 World Series MVP Award. Could he be in line to replace the man who took home the same trophy in 2012? Only if the Giants are willing to part with an arm.
Jed Lowrie
Another solid defensive option comes from right across the bay. The A's don't appear likely to bring back their former shortstop after a disappointing 2014, but a year earlier Lowrie showed the kind of power (15 homers) and range to be a strong everyday player. He wouldn't replace the threat in the middle of the lineup that Sandoval was, but the Stanford alum would add more defensive flexibility to the
Yasmany Tomas
The Giants have reportedly been scouting the heck out of Cuban defector Yasmany Tomas, including trying him out at third, according to MLB Trade Rumors. They'll have to outbid several other teams to get him, and he's really better suited for the outfield. But the Giants need power and the 24 year old appears to have a lot...
Will Middlebrooks
The Red Sox stole our third basemen, the least they could do is give us theirs. Middlebrooks is considered trade bait now that Sandoval has stolen his spot. Middlebrooks is just 26, but he's already being overlooked as a formerly promising prospect. A change of scenery to a more patient organization may be just what he needs.
Pedro Alvarez
The Giants would love to find a left hand hitting guy with some power, and rumors have surfaced that Alvarez could be available via trade after struggling last year in Pittsburgh. He's a .235 career hitter, but he's also only 27 and could quickly restore power to a lineup that could lose thumpers Sandoval and Morse to free agency. Here's a look at his pop:
Another option...
Joaquin Arias
Not the sexiest option, but the current Giants utility-man can play the position, and anywhere else on the infield. He's proven that in three seasons in San Francisco, and shown himself to be a decent postseason contributor when in his limited plate appearances .417 average with five runs scored. If the Giants choose to spend their Sandoval savings elsewhere, at least they won't be suffering from a big drop off in the field. Here's one of several key runs he's scored in a Giants uniform:
Read more on the Giants:
