‘I’m here to win,’ says new Giants third baseman Longoria
Longoria looking for a ‘seamless’ integration
One of Evan Longoria’s duties on the day he was introduced at AT&T Park was meeting with season-ticket holders inside the home clubhouse.
Some asked the Giants’ new third baseman about his background and interests off the field, but mostly they wondered where he felt he would fit on the team — on the field and in the clubhouse.
“There are a lot of veteran players,” Longoria said at a news conference Friday after the Q&A with fans. “There are some very established faces. My message was, ‘I think I’m smart enough to figure out where I fit in there.’ The goal is not to ruffle any feathers. The goal is to make this transition seamless for everybody.” Longoria raised a salient point. Last winter, the Giants made one significant roster move, signing Mark Melancon to close just weeks after a bullpen meltdown against the Cubs in the playoffs ended their season.
“There of There veteran are are some players. a lot very established faces. My message was, ‘I think I’m smart enough to figure out where I fit in there.’ ” — Evan Longoria, Giants third baseman
The spotlight shone on Melancon alone. No matter how cool a cat is, that raises expectations and pressure. Melancon could not have had much fun when he blew the save on Opening Day and then got hurt.
This year, Longoria has Andrew McCutchen as well as the experienced center fielder the Giants are sure to get. Expectations will still rise that they can energize an offense that was impotent last year, but they have a better chance to blend in more than stand out.
And that is important to players coming to a new team.
“I think it makes our jobs easier,” Longoria said, noting that all the established players — Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford — will be the ones to field questions about the shape and direction of the 2018 Giants. That will allow the new guys to keep their focus on the field.
“Not to say that I’m not open to answering those questions,” Longoria said, “but that takes some pressure off our shoulders.”
Longoria understands who rules the roost at Third and King, saying the first players he texted after the trade were Bumgarner and Posey. His message to them: “I’m excited to be here. I’m here to win and here to follow the example you guys have set over the years.”
Longoria did the ceremonial jersey-and-cap photo op, donning No. 10 for the first time. Giants President Larry Baer joked that he made an executive decision not to unretire Longoria’s old number, 3, which is retired for Hall of Fame player and manager Bill Terry.
McCutchen gets to keep his No. 22. There should be one more number to give out to a new center fielder.
General manager Bobby Evans reconfirmed that finding an experienced and athletic center fielder remains his top priority. He reiterated a statement he made before trading for Longoria and McCutchen:
“I’m pleased with our choices.”
Jarrod Dyson, Austin Jackson and Ben Revere remain in free agency. On the premium aisle is Lorenzo Cain.
Trade talks with the Reds for Billy Hamilton have gone nowhere. The Cardinals traded Randal Grichuk to Toronto on Friday. If the Blue Jays make center fielder Kevin Pillar available, he would be a desirable option.
Evans would not rule out a bullpen acquisition but said it was “not lost on us” how much money was thrown at middle relievers and setup men when free agency began this offseason.
Asked about losing pitcher Kyle Crick in the McCutchen deal, Evans said the club hopes that Julian Fernandez, a powerthrowing right-hander the Giants selected in the Rule 5 draft, could force his way onto the team even though he has not played above Class A.
He said Melancon’s arm is healthy post-surgery and he is expected to be a full participant in spring training. The staff will be more cautious with lefthander Will Smith coming off Tommy John surgery.
The front office also seems content, at least publicly, with young pitchers Chris Stratton, Ty Blach, Andrew Suarez and Tyler Beede competing for the final two rotation spots, with Stratton and Blach holding the edge going to spring training.
“At some point,” Evans said, “you have to rely on your system.”