Outfield unclear: Giants still hope to get Harper
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.— For a player whose biggest imprint in 2018 sadly was the one his head caused when he smashed it into a padded wall, causing a concussion, Mac Williamson could not have sounded clearer as he considered the strange state of the Giants’ outfield as spring training begins.
Williamson knows the club is trying to get Bryce Harper to be the Opening Day right fielder. If it happens, the two men have something to discuss. Harper hit the foul ball April 24 that Williamson was chasing before he
tripped over the Giants’ bullpen mound and hit the wall.
Or, hey, right field could be manned by Drew Ferguson, who has zero big-league at-bats. That’s quite a spread. Mainly, Williamson wanted to state the case for himself and the other holdovers on the roster: Steven Duggar, Austin Slater and Chris Shaw.
“Obviously, Bryce is a tremendous player,” Williamson said. “If we’re able to get him, he’s going to help the team win games. There’s no shock there. From a personal perspective, I think I and Duggar and Shaw and Slater bring a lot more to the table than people realize.”
As rehabbing players, Williamson and Duggar can participate in workouts as pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday to begin a spring training that promises an odd stew of familiarity and uncertainty.
On one hand, almost every incumbent is returning, defying expectations that the tectonic front-office changes would trigger a flurry of trades. On the other hand, considerable changes still could happen before the March 28 season opener in San Diego, including — but not limited to — a Harper deal.
Farhan Zaidi, the new president of baseball operations, continues to search for two experienced outfielders, plenty of whom remain unemployed in a glacial free-agent market, and a backup catcher.
Zaidi also is still talking trade, so some of the players who did not feel safe during the winter might be wise to hold off on those South of Market apartment leases.
Several players phoned or texted manager Bruce Bochy over the winter to gauge where they stood. Some were more anxious than others. Many swore they did not sweat it.
“I’m not on MLB Trade Rumors every day,” reliever Tony Watson said, smiling.
Second baseman Joe Panik, who has been “traded” by rumor 15 times already, put it this way: “I don’t know what Farhan is thinking. It’s one of those things where you have to sit back and wait.”
The Giants usually enter spring training with the stability of a blue-chip stock. This spring might not be as whack-adoodle as the bitcoin market — a lot of players have no-trade clauses — but consider the view from the manager’s office.
“It’s fair to say, as far as spring training, this is probably the deepest we’ve gone without knowing exactly what our roster will be,” said Bochy, who is entering his 13th season as the Giants’ manager. “That’s going to be ongoing until we get to spring training and during spring training, probably.
“There are some pretty good players we’re still talking about.” Particularly in that outfield. For now, Bochy will assume the Opening Day roster will be comprised of the players he has currently. As for specifics, he offered some clues.
Bochy and Zaidi agree they would like to see Duggar build on the rookie season he was forging before he dislocated his shoulder Aug. 28 and secure a permanent 25-man roster spot, and perhaps the starting center-field job.
“I love this young kid,” Bochy said. “You have to love what he brings defensively, the speed, the bat. He’s a really good player and he’s only going to get better. We were actually playing decent baseball until he went down. I think we really missed him.”
Zaidi expressed hope that Ferguson, a 26-year-old Rule 5 pick who has a career .848 OPS in four minor-league seasons with the Astros, is part of the mix, and feels the same about Williamson, who is out of minor-league options.
Zaidi had to have heard about the three homers that Williamson hit in five games before the concussion and cannot ignore that type of power. Williamson wants Zaidi to know he has the tools and desire to do it for a season.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m Bryce Harper,” Williamson said. “He’s one of the elite players this game has seen. Do I think I can come in and be an above-average player and help the team win games?
“Absolutely.”