Giants obtain third baseman Evan Longoria in trade
Span, Arroyo and 2 minor-league pitchers sent to Tampa Bay
The Giants, unable to swing a deal for Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton this month, struck a deal with Florida’s other team Wednesday, acquiring longtime Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria.
The deal sent infielder Christian Arroyo to the Rays, along with outfielder Denard Span, in order to offset some of Longoria’s salary. Minor-league pitchers Stephen Woods and Matt Krook also are heading to Tampa Bay.
“I am excited at the opportunity in front of me,” Longoria said on a conference call. “I know I’m coming into an organization and a group of guys that wants to win and that’s committed to winning. And there are some veteran leaders in that clubhouse already so I’m happy to be in a place where all of the weight or a lot of the weight doesn’t feel like it’s on my shoulders . ...
“It’s an even year coming up, and I know the Giants win in even years. That I am looking forward to.”
Executive vice president of baseball operations Brian Sabean confirmed the Giants, who finished in last place in 2017, are receiving cash in the deal, too. For 2018, but not beyond, the trade is a wash financially.
“The organization just got better,” Sabean said. “Hopefully, the fan base and our organization recognizes that this affirms our commitment to turn our fortunes around as quickly as possible.”
Longoria, 32, is a three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2008. He has spent his entire 10-year career with Tampa Bay and he noted several times Wednesday how impressed he was with the Giants’ attendance, even in a down year. The Giants drew 3.3 million fans last season, third best in the majors; Tampa Bay’s attendance was a major-league-low 1.25 million.
“It’s exciting to come to a fan base that’s that dedicated to the team,” he said, going on to praise the Giants’ core group of players. “Obviously, the names Posey and Bumgarner come to mind when thinking about the franchise — two guys who know how to lead a ballclub to a championship,” he said.
Another plus for Longoria: moving off the artificial turf at Tropicana Field.
There is $86 million remaining on the $100 million extension Longoria signed in 2012. Span, who lives in Tampa, has $15 million left on his deal, including the $4 million buyout on his 2019 option.
Span was part of the Giants’ offer to the Marlins for Stanton, The Chronicle reported. Stanton wound up being traded to the Yankees after turning down deals to the Giants or Cardinals.
“This deal makes sense on the field for the Giants and for Tampa Bay’s bottom line,” one American League scout said. “Longoria can still hit and he shows up to play every day.”
Manager Bruce Bochy had talked to Span about moving from center field to left in 2018 amid a defensive decline, possibly in a platoon with Hunter Pence. Now, Pence could man left field in combination with a younger player such as Austin Slater.
The Giants needed to add Span in the Longoria deal not only to offset Longoria’s $13.5 million salary this year, but equally important, to help the Giants get under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold.
By trading Span to Tampa Bay and Matt Moore to Texas, the Giants lowered their 2018 payroll for tax purposes by about $21 million.
“This is very much in character with each club,” another AL scout said. “Big-market/ small-market kind of deal, now versus future money and years of control. The Giants are hoping this gets them a step closer to the Dodgers in
“It’s to a fan exciting base that’s to come that dedicated to the team.” Evan Longoria, Giants third baseman
the short term; win now, worry about the rest later.”
Longoria put together one of his best seasons in 2016, batting .276 with 36 homers and 98 RBIs, but he is coming off a year in which he hit .261 with 20 homers and 86 RBIs while winning the third of his Gold Gloves. Over his 10-year career, Longoria has averaged 29 homers and 100 RBIs per season, catnip for a Giants team with an anemic offense in 2017.
“This is a good trade for both sides,” one major-league executive said. “Longoria is an icon in Tampa Bay, he provides the Giants with stability at third base and adds another veteran presence in the middle of the order.”
The Giants remain in talks with outfielder Jay Bruce. The free agent has drawn interest from several other teams, but Bruce’s agent, Matt Sosnick, said that the Giants are Bruce’s top choice. Sabean hinted that general manager Bobby Evans is closing in on another move, saying, “In making this move, Bobby 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 a significant of a move as this one.”
The Giants now will boast a superb defensive infield, especially on the left side, with Longoria and shortstop Brandon Crawford.
Arroyo, 22, also is from the Tampa area, and he was the Giants’ first-round pick out of Hernando High in Brooksville in 2013. When he got his first big-league call-up in late April, he sparked the Giants, offering hope that he could be their third baseman for years to come.
But he quickly fell into a prolonged slump. He was hitting .192 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 34 games when he was sent back to Triple-A in June for a breather. That breather lasted the entire season. He twice was hit in the hand by pitches with Sacramento, the second time resulting in a fracture of the fifth metacarpal in his left hand. He did not play again and required surgery after the season to stabilize the hand after aggravating the injury.
Arroyo was listed as the Giants’ top prospect entering 2017, according to MLB.com; Baseball America rated him as the team’s No. 4 prospect going into 2018. Krook was listed as the team’s 25th-best prospect by MLB.com, and Woods No. 29 entering the season.
Woods, 22, was an eighthround pick in 2016 who went 6-7 with a 2.95 ERA in 23 starts with Class A Augusta last season. Krook, who is from St. Ignatius High, was a fourth-round pick the same year out of Oregon. The 23year-old went 4-9 with a 5.12 ERA in 25 games, 17 starts, with Class A San Jose in 2017.
Span, 32, signed a threeyear, $32 million deal with San Francisco before the 2016 season. He hit .272 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs in 129 games in 2017.