FROM BAY TO BAY AREA
Tampa Bay trades face-of-franchise third baseman Longoria to San Francisco in five-player deal,
SAN FRANCISCO— Evan Longoria expects to win immediately with the San Francisco Giants, whose run of success in even years is well documented — and the club’s new third baseman knows all about that.
The Giants’ brass realizes adding Longoria to the lineup and a talented infield gives San Francisco a far better chance of bouncing back from a surprising last-place season in the NL West.
An offence-producing third baseman the Giants sought this winter, Longoria was traded from Tampa Bay on Wednesday for outfielder Denard Span, star infield prospect Christian Arroyo and two minor league pitchers.
“I’m looking forward to bringing everything I can and more to the clubhouse and the organization and being back in the post-season and winning like I expect to do,” Longoria said. “It’s an even year coming up and I know the Giants win in even years. That I am looking forward to.”
The position had been a priority for San Francisco, and Longoria’s durability means so much, too. He has played at least 156 games in each of the past five years, all 162 in 2014, and also hit 20 or more homers in each of those five seasons.
“He’s sorely needed and will be a great addition for us,” Giants general manager Bobby Evans said.
It marked the first big off-season move by each organization.
Tampa Bay in effect is responsible for $14.5 million (U.S.) of the $88 million Longoria is owed, and the Rays took on $13 million in guaranteed money due Span.
Longoria had $86 million in remaining guaranteed salary and buyout as part of a contract that runs through 2022 and contains a 2023 club option. The $9.5 million in deferred money included in that total was converted to an assignment bonus payable by the Rays from 202529. Tampa Bay will give the Giants $2 million by this Dec. 31 to cover Longoria’s assignment bonus and an additional $3 million by Oct. 31, 2022.
The 32-year-old leaves Tampa Bay as the longest-tenured player in franchise history, after spending10 of his big league seasons in a Rays uniform.
He is the club’s leader with 1,435 games, 261 home runs and 892 RBIs. Longoria started all 30 of the Rays’ post-season games at third.
Longoria slashed .261-.313.-.424 with 20 homers and 86 RBIs last season. The 2008 AL Rookie of the Year and three-time Gold Glover has played at least 156 games in each of the past five seasons and hit 20 or more home runs in all of those years.
Longoria grew up in Southern California as an Angels fan but has plenty of friends who cheer for the rival Dodgers. “I’m going to be saying a lot of sorries.”
Also, he’s getting off turf, noting, “I’m excited to be playing on grass.”
In November 2012, Longoria received a 10-year, $136.6 million contract with Tampa Bay that added six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal. If exercised, the option would make the agreement worth $144.6 million over 11 years.
Rays general manager Erik Neander said trading Longoria “was in the best long-term interest of our franchise.”
Still, he was the face of a smallmarket franchise and meant so much to the city.
“The decision itself was one that was incredibly difficult for us to make,” Neander said.
San Francisco, which won World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14, made its first big off-season move after missing out on Giancarlo Stantonand Japanese star Shohei Ohtani. The Giants went 64-98 to avoid the club’s first100-loss season since1985.