MLB: Three Teams That Still Have Position Needs
By Anthony Sosa
San Francisco Giants – Left Field
The Giants filled their biggest need in the offseason when they signed closer Mark Melancon to a four-year, $62 million deal. San Francisco looks poised to compete for the NL West title but they have a large position gap. The Giants are missing an everyday left fielder.
Gregor Blanco and Angel Pagan, both part of the Giants’ 2012 and 2014 championship teams, are no longer with the club. Pagan remains a free agent and Blanco signed a minor-league deal with the Diamondbacks.
The remaining outfielders include veterans Hunter Pence and Denard Span, along with Mac Williamson, Jarrett Parker and Gorkys Hernandez. Span and Pence fill center and right field, respectively. That leaves Williamson, Parker and Hernandez fighting for left.
All three players contributed for the Giants last season. None played more than 63 games for the club. Parker has the highest career average at .267 in a small partial two-year sample. MLB.com predicts Williamson as the starting left fielder for the Giants in 2017.
The Giants could also use first baseman Brandon Belt in left field. Belt has some experience in the outfield. They could move Buster Posey over to first base and use recently signed catcher Nick Hundley behind the dish.
Not too many everyday outfielders remain on the free agent market. The Giants should take a chance with free agent outfielder Coco Crisp. Crisp is a switch-hitter and hits for contact over power. Gap-to-gap hitters tend to succeed at AT&T Park.