San Francisco Giants Should Trade For Kirk Nieuwenhuis
By John Shea
@real_johnshea
Charles LeClaire – USATODAY Sports
The offseason-challenged San Francisco Giants proved to be an inefficient trade suitor with the Tampa Bay Rays for super utility-man Ben Zobrist, in part because of a likely unwillingness to cough up top prospect Kyle Crick. The Giants have been consistently unable to effectively execute multiple dealings in free agency, most notably failing to sway highly-coveted left-handed ace Jon Lester.
Their inability to find a match with the Rays for Zobrist, one of the game’s most versatile difference-makers, only adds insult to injury.
The Giants remain in dire need of an additional outfielder. At the moment, Gregor Blanco, who supplied the orange and black with stellar defense and an occasional spark at the top of the order in the 2014 postseason, is currently slotted as the club’s everyday left fielder. Even though Blanco performed well in the second half of last season (.296 AVG., four HRs, 22 RBI in 196 ABs), he’s a less than ideal starting option.
The Giants need another outfielder for multiple reasons. Blanco is best-suited for a bench role, where he provides a safety net in center field if (and when) Angel Pagan succumbs to injury. The “Crazy Horse” has endured season-crippling injuries in back-to-back seasons, and has played in more than 100 games just three times in his nine-year career. The Giants are also in dire need of additional offense, considering the losses of Michael Morse and Pablo Sandoval.
As the countdown to Spring Training gets underway, the Giants appear willing to enter camp with their current crop of outfielders. The free agent market is bleak, and includes names like Colby Rasmus and Jonny Gomes. The Giants could make a push to ink an offseason leftover, but could also re-enter the trade market, perhaps for Kirk Nieuwenhuis of the New York Mets.
Nieuwenhuis isn’t a household name by any stretch, but has the potential to be serviceable player. He also remains under club control until 2020. The former third-round pick has been slow to develop, but showed some signs of promise last season while recording a 1.4 WAR in 112 official at-bats. He posted a respectable .828 OPS with 18 extra-base hits and 16 RBI in 61 games, but is extremely prone to the strikeout (30.6 percent of career plate appearances over three seasons).
The Giants are running out of options. It’s obvious at this juncture that general manager Brian Sabean doesn’t have any interest in parting with the club’s premiere pitching prospects for a 0ne-year rental (see Zobrist). The Mets have a crowded outfield, and could benefit from adding a mid-level prospect. Their early offseason addition of Michael Cuddyer makes Nieuwenhuis expendable, and the Giants should take note.
Even though Sabean isn’t accustomed to taking fliers on unproven players, especially those who have never maintained a significant role, Nieuwenhuis doesn’t figure to be costly, and it’s not as if the Giants currently have a more promising option.
John Shea is an MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @real_johnshea. Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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