Giants might rue adding Longoria
3B moving to park tough on hitters
The San Francisco Giants are doubling down on their expressed commitment not to rebuild but to reload. The Tampa Bay Rays are headed in the opposite direction.
By trading their longtime face of the franchise in third baseman Evan Longoria, the Rays are acknowledging they can’t compete for a playoff spot next season after finishing 80-82 in 2017. The Giants tied for the worst record in the majors at 64-98, but they’re convinced a turnaround is in the making.
So certain are the Giants that they were willing to give up their top prospect, infielder Christian Arroyo, as part of the swap. Arroyo, a first-round pick in
2013, broke into the big leagues this year at 21 but has seen his progress stalled by injuries. Still, he made an impression with his poise and ability to play multiple infield positions.
Longoria, 32, fills a huge void for the Giants, whose third basemen earned the “quadruple crown” of offensive futility last season by posting the majors’ lowest batting average at the position
(.216), the fewest home runs (nine) and RBI (51) and the lowest OPS (.568).
Longoria’s 20 home runs would have led a Giants club that ranked last in the big leagues in that department, and his
86 RBI would have been tops on the team as well. Longoria also won his third Gold Glove, and his presence further enhances the defensive credentials of a strong infield that includes shortstop Brandon Crawford, second baseman Joe Panik and first baseman Brandon Belt.
However, not only does Longoria arrive with a hefty price tag — he’s due to make $86 million over the next five seasons — but he’s also moving into a tough hitters’ ballpark while showing signs of offensive decline. Longoria’s .737 onbase plus slugging percentage last season was the second lowest of his career and ranked 20th among qualifying third basemen in the majors.
That did not deter the Giants brass, which is desperately looking for power hitting and is also said to be targeting outfielder Jay Bruce.
“We’re getting somebody who’s not only an accomplished third baseman of note but hits in the middle of the order, improves our defense overnight,” executive VP of baseball operations Brian Sabean said.
“And I think it proves that even though there’s heavy lifting to do, by making this move (general manager Bobby Evans) and his staff have positioned themselves for the next shoe to drop. And we hope to add accordingly and we hope it will be as significant of a move as this one.”
After making three All-Star Games and putting up a .870 OPS over his first six seasons, Longoria saw that figure plummet to .767 in the last four. He did bounce back with a .840 mark in 2016, but that was the only time his OPS climbed above .765 in those four years.
Longoria has proved extremely durable, averaging 160 games played the last five seasons, and he’ll be exchanging perhaps the majors’ least inspiring environment for one of the liveliest. The Giants’ streak of 530 sellouts ended this year, but they still ranked third in average attendance at picturesque AT&T Park. The Rays, stuck in drab Tropicana Field, have been last in attendance six years in a row.
“I definitely feel like I have a lot more to give. I feel like next year will be even better,” Longoria said. “I learned a long time ago not to put numbers on things, but I am always looking forward to improving. New coaching staff, new facilities, new life and feeling reinvigorated in a new environment will all add to that and make it a lot easier.”
The Giants, who are trying to stay be- low the $197 million luxury tax threshold for the first time in four years, got some relief in that regard by including outfielder Denard Span (owed $15 million, including a $4 million buyout for 2019) in the swap, along with two minor league pitchers. San Francisco is also receiving money to cover part of Longoria’s remaining salaries.
The budget-conscious Rays have finished below .500 each of the last four seasons, and as popular as Longoria was, he was a luxury they could no longer afford.
Plus, in a division where the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have clearly separated themselves from the pack, it was time to start anew.
The Rays appear to be open for business, and that likely means putting assets such as pitchers Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi on the trading block.
The Giants are not looking that far ahead. With more moves likely to come, their sights are squarely on the 2018 season.