San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Bryant: Giants’ focus short-term
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants did make an effort to bring back Kris Bryant, the outfielder told The Chronicle on Saturday before San Francisco’s 8-5 win over the Rockies at Salt River Fields.
“We had conversations, for sure,” Bryant said, one day after signing his seven-year, $182 million deal with Colorado. “I got the sense that they were going for shorter-term, quick-turnover guys. It obviously worked for them last year. I feel they’re staying with that mode. It doesn’t mean they’re smarter, but they know what they’re doing over there. I respect it.”
The Giants acquired Bryant in a trade-deadline deal with the Cubs last July, and he turned in a good if not overwhelming second half with them, hitting .262 with a .344 OBP, seven homers and 22 RBIs. He was among their best players in the postseason, going 8-for-17 with a homer. A Barry Bonds fan growing up, Bryant said Saturday that he had always known he would play for the Giants at some point, in his career, and that he thoroughly enjoyed his brief stint with them.
“I had a great time,” he said. “I’ve told a lot of people that the players there are some of the most genuinely good people, and it was really fun to have that experience.”
Now Bryant is with a division foe, a surprise big signing for a team better known for trading Nolan Arenado and failing to keep Trevor Story. Even with Bryant, the Rockies aren’t projected to finish better than fourth in the NL West.
“It’s a tough division,” he said. “I mean, the Dodgers are always going to compete. The Padres are going to be without Fernando Tatis for a little bit, but they’re going to be good And the Giants, who knows? Buster Posey left, there are a lot of new faces.
“I’ve always felt like the Rockies really competed. The pitchers always had the highest velocities, and they play really well home . ... I mean, we could definitely surprise some people and I like being on that side of things. The Giants totally surprised people last year, and hopefully we kind of do some of the same things.”
Briefly: Infielder Thairo Estrada was hit by a pitch in the first and left after the inning; he had his right elbow wrapped after the game and said he was heading to see the doctor. X-rays were negative. ... Tyler Beede, who is out of options, started Saturday and allowed five hits and two runs in two innings. He he struck out one. Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Beede is drawing a good deal of interest from scouts this spring, because he had looked like a potential frontline starter before his injury . ... LaMonte Wade doubled and homered in his first two atbats of the spring.