The San Francisco Giants look like one of the strongest teams heading into 2017. With a few options at third base, who should they use primarily at the hot corner?
Last season ended in heartbreak for the San Francisco Giants. The club watched a 5-2, ninth inning lead evaporate and eventually turn into a 6-5 Cubs win. The loss eliminated the Giants from the playoffs and ended their “even-year” run.
Fast-forward to 2017 and the Giants with the signing of closer Mark Melancon look ready to compete again. The team has very few weak spots. They lack a true left fielder and don’t have a locked up third baseman yet. Although, the Giants do have plenty of options at third base.
The players battling for playing time at the hot corner are Eduardo Nunez, Conor Gillaspie and Kelby Tomlinson. MLB.com projects Nunez as the starting third baseman in 2017 but Spring Training could change that. The Giants also have veterans Aaron Hill and Jimmy Rollins on minor-league deals. Both guys could work their way into third base playing time with a successful Spring.
With an already above-average infield, with Brandon Belt at first, Joe Panik at second and Brandon Crawford at short, the Giants can’t really go wrong with naming any of these guys the starting third baseman.
There’s also a good shot that the Giants use a platoon at third base. In order for the Giants to compete with the Dodgers for the NL West, they’ll need their best lineup out there at all times.
Let’s take a look at the Giants’ third base options, in order of the likelihood that they become the primary man at the hot corner.