Kapler, Giants delighted about Bryant deal

“Great player, quiet, goes about his business — just like a lot of other guys in our clubhouse. So, I think he’ll fit in great.” Brandon Crawford, on Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant played more than 83 innings at five positions this season for the Cubs: center field, first base, left field, third base and right field, in ascending order of frequency.

So, Bryant’s righthanded bat that has produced 18 homers and an .861 OPS this season rates as only one part of the equation as to why Giants manager Gabe Kapler relishes the opportunity to put Bryant in his lineup.

“Part of the reason Kris fits so well is because he’s so versatile,” Kapler said in his pregame news conference Friday, a few hours after the Giants announced they had acquired Bryant from Chicago in exchange for minorleague outfielder Alexander Canario and minorleague pitcher Caleb Kilian.

Kapler said the 2016 NL MVP figures to start just about every day, though not at any one setinstone position. Kapler also expects Bryant to hit anywhere from second to fifth in the order.

Bryant’s enthusiasm during a Friday conversation with Kapler impressed the Giants’ manager.

Said Kapler: “He said, ‘I’m down to play anywhere. I’m down to hit anywhere. I just want to help this team.’ He was genuinely excited to be a part of this, and I said, ‘That’s awesome, because our team has kind of an unselfish vibe right now, and it’s exactly what we need.’

“I have so much respect for the way he approached that first conversation.”

Like Bryant, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has 18 homers this season and made the NL AllStar team. Crawford said Bryant “plays the game hard. Great player, quiet, goes about his business — just like a lot of other guys in our clubhouse. So, I think he’ll fit in great.”

In 2012, tradedeadline acquisitions Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence helped boost the Giants to their second World Series title in three seasons.

Crawford was asked to compare the addition of Bryant to those of Scutaro and Pence nine years ago.

“It’s hard to say that anybody could be bigger than Scutaro and Pence were for us in ’12,” Crawford said, “but (Bryant’s) just as big — if not bigger — of a name. (With his) skill set and what he can bring to our team, I think it’s at least just as big.”

For the record, Bryant probably won’t spell Crawford too often, but Bryant has played two innings at short this season.

Bryant wasn’t the only player the Giants added Friday. They reacquired lefthanded reliever Tony Watson from the Angels in exchange for three minorleague pitchers.

Watson spent the previous three seasons with San Francisco. He had a 2.50 ERA in 21 appearances for Kapler last year. Watson owns a 4.64 ERA this season, but has pitched better lately.

“I think we saw a very competitive, savvy individual out of the ’pen for us last year,” Kapler said. “I think his stuff is better now than it was last year. I think he’s healthier and fresher than he was last year.”

The week leading to the trade deadline can wear on players, coaches, managers and frontoffice personnel. Friday’s moves brightened Kapler’s outlook.

“Some really good things happened for us today, and we’re a better team now than we were three hours ago,” he said. “I think it’s energizing.”