The Giants are in the market for a shortstop. President of baseball operations Buster Posey acknowledged as much at the start of the offseason. San Francisco has been tied to Willy Adames and Ha-Seong Kim in recent weeks.
While Adames could play shortstop on Opening Day, that’s not the case with Kim. He underwent surgery to repair a labrum injury in his throwing shoulder. There’s still not a ton of clarity on when he’s expected back in game action. Kim’s agent Scott Boras has unsurprisingly taken an optimistic stance on the infielder’s recovery. Boras said at last month’s GM Meetings that Kim could be ready early in the season — potentially before the end of April. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has previously suggested the rehab could carry into “May, June, July,” a much more nebulous timeline.
Whichever team signs Kim will need a stopgap shortstop for at least a few weeks, potentially months. For the Giants, that could be Matt Chapman. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reports that the star third baseman told team officials he’d be willing to play shortstop early in the year while Kim recovers. According to Rosenthal, that’s one of various possibilities the team is considering.
That’d be a creative solution. It’s not an outlandish one. Chapman is one of the sport’s best defensive third basemen. He’s a five-time Gold Glove winner. Both Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast’s Outs Above Average have graded him as a strong defender in every season of his career. Chapman tied Milwaukee’s Joey Ortiz for the league lead among third basemen in Outs Above Average this year. He’s fifth at the position by that metric across the past three seasons.
Chapman, who has 10 career innings at shortstop, has plenty of arm strength. He certainly has the hands for the position. The only question is whether he’d have enough lateral quickness to be a plus in the middle of the diamond, but he could probably at least play a competent shortstop for a month or two.
Sliding Chapman to shortstop would open a short-term hole at third base. Tyler Fitzgerald, Marco Luciano, Brett Wisely, Casey Schmitt and David Villar are among the options for work there. Aside from Villar, everyone from that group has some shortstop experience as well. None seems like a long-term answer. Wisely was primarily a second baseman in the minors, while Schmitt has spent most of his career at third base. Luciano has come up as a shortstop but was a disaster defensively in a limited MLB look. His long-term future is probably in the corner outfield.
Fitzgerald got the majority of the shortstop reps late in the season. He’d probably start there if the Giants came up empty in their pursuit. While he hit well enough to earn everyday playing time, the Giants seem to prefer him elsewhere. Posey suggested last month that Fitzgerald could be a second baseman. He also implied they were hopeful they could avoid bouncing him around the diamond as much next season.
“Tyler Fitzgerald did a great job at short last year. I think he has value and in multiple spots on the field,” Posey said at the GM Meetings (link via Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle). “I do think it’s hard to play multiple spots at the same time during the season. Whether he’d be better suited to play second base long-term is a discussion we’re having.“
I’m looking forward to reading these comments.
Kim will be wasted money nor does he fill the Giants needs at SS—not like Willy Adames does. The Giants need to go large while they have the chance. SF’s offense cannot afford HSK’s weak bat.
A good defender at such an important position that gives you close to league average offense is not wasted money. I’d rather Adames, but the Giants can’t force him to sign with them. Kim is a great option if they can’t sign Adames.
The defense of Kim is better for SF, Adames will get a long-term contract and be overpaid. I’d rather they take a low-risk pleasant guy like Kim over the big headed sub-star SS. They should splash out on someone better than him when its time to cash out on a bat.
Liam, strange take on a pretty universally renowned good guy and clubhouse leader in Adames who took Chourio under his wing and was beloved by fans, teammates and coaches alike in Milwaukee.
Willy almost immediately became the leader of the Brewers after coming over from the Rays. He was always a pretty damn good ss except for his struggles last year and has big power at short, although is streaky and sells out for hrs a bit too much. Absolutely a good guy and fun player to root for no matter what.
MrSeptember;
Adames has hit homers with Milwaukee. But keep in mind he’s been playing half his games in a home park with a retractable roof, so the ball carries no matter the weather. Balls don’t carry anywhere near as well in Oracle Park, and the yard is quite a bit bigger. Not to say that Adames can’t adjust and try to hit more line drives.
It’s always baffled me why the Giants don’t go out and get at least 2-3 position players that are contact hitters, can spray line drives to all field, and can run. Lot’s of doubles and triples. Speed in the OF chasing down balls on D, along with a strong infield D. That’s how they can take advantage of their park. Would be an exciting team to watch play.
Will Clark has entered the Chat
“150 strikeouts batting .250 hitting 20-30 homeruns……”
Nonsense news.
It came from Rosenthal. What do you expect from Mr. Irrelevant?
web,
You misspelled Heyman. Or Bowden.
Acuña open to playing catcher if Braves sign Soto
It seems that it would make more sense for the Giants to sign Adames to a contract instead of Kim.
I feel like that is an inevitable signing for SFG. (Adames)
One would hope!
Yes, but what if Adames wants to play elsewhere, like in more of a hitter’s park, or a team with a better shot at a title. I’d prefer Adames, but it’s good to have a plan B.
So Farhan neglects shortstop for most of 2023 and 2024 only to have Buster take over and unnecessarily address the position this offseason? Both courses of action are downright idiotic.
The Giants have a pile of internal options with two talented youngsters in Fitzgerald and Luciano at the top. Let youth play.
Fitz can hit but is a weak fielding shortstop. Luciano will eventually hit but is a weak fielding middle infielder. If they sign HSK one to be the shortstop, they should also sign HSK two to be the utility and play short until HSK one returns.
A total of O DRS last season suggests Fitzgerald was average in the field. Since his defense improved as he progressed through the minors, they should give him more time to adjust to the speed of the big league game.
Personally, I think it’s a case of misplaced priorities when they have larger needs in the outfield, DH and bullpen.
0 DRS, but -4 OAA. There’s a reason why the Giants are exploring Chapman temporarily at SS over Fitzgerald if they sign Kim and he isn’t ready.
Sure they have other needs, but this news doesn’t mean they aren’t looking at those areas as well. I assume Posey can walk and chew gum at the same time..
But wouldn’t the problem just move from shortstop to 3rd base if Chapman fills in for Kim while he rehabs? Then the Giants have to pick from the same set of players to play third base that they’d prefer not play at shortstop. Seems like shuffling the problem instead of solving it.
Baseball77, No. Not at all. There’s a reason why up-the-middle defense is important, and corner positions are more accepting of mediocre defense with better hitting.
SS has more chances, and needs to turn the DP with a ball hit to the right side. You hear about glove first SSs, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a glove first 3B.
Read the article above about Maikel Garcia. He’s a shortstop turned 3rd baseman whom the Royals played regularly because of his glove. Third base is a pretty important spot in the infield as well. Guys who hit well but play poor 3rd base don’t play at that position for very long.
Maikel Garcia was moved to 3B because they had a better player in Bobby Witt Jr to play SS.
A lot of teams will play a glove first guy like Garcia at SS because of the importance of the position. I hear about glove first SSs, and catchers, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a glove first 3B.
At some point a team can live with a lesser fielder at SS when the delta is 99 points of OPS+ like between Witt and Garcia. And while Witt is definitely a regular every day player, Garcia profiles more as a utility guy.
No doubt, a good defensive 3B is an asset, but no way is it close to SS in defensive importance.
But can he also rub his tummy while patting his head?
Luciano isn’t an option, he’s horrendous defensively
Fitzgerald has neither the arm nor the range for SS and Luciano will never play the infield again; he’s slotted to learn the OF.
Adames is going to cost more than the Giants want to pay.
Not really. Their goal was to reduce payroll. That doesn’t mean not spending at all. Adames can be signed and the Giants can still have a lower payroll than last season. It would mean not also signing someone like Burnes, but Adames is still a possibility.
I don’t believe Kim has a QO so I can see the discussion being made about this.
Kim doesn’t have a QO.
Would playing SS expose himself to any more of an injury than 3b? And what would you do to relabel him at 3b? Seems like it would be a lot simpler just finding a glove first SS and hope the rest of the lineup can cover the hole in the lineup.
Simple answer to glove first SS = Nick Ahmed
Been there done that.
There shouldn’t be any greater injury risk. SS has more chances, but a shorter throw, And that’s not where injuries happen anyway.
The question is if Chapman has the lateral range. If he does, moving him temporarily is better than Fitzgerald at SS. Fitzgerald is a below average defender. And it’s better offensively than Chapman at 3B and a glove first guy at SS.
@Jean
who triste him at 3b?
I assume triste is supposed to be trust?
Fitzgerald isn’t a great fielder. But SS is much more important than 3B. Any defensive liability hurts less there than at SS. And it shouldn’t be too disastrous as a temporary arrangement.
Obviously has a very steady glove and a cannon for an arm, but Chapman is also one of the most athletic 3rd basemen I’ve seen. Very quick feet.
Shortstop is a different animal from third, but if any 3rd baseman could make the move, even temporarily, and have success, it would be Chappy.
Or they could ride fitz for first month or however long.
I think they’d like to keep Fitzgerald away from the SS position. He’s not that good there.
Who cares?
Everyone commenting here, including you.
Giants will want Kim but will Ha-Seong want to downgrade from SD to SF, especially when LA might need a SS too? Maybe if Posey outbids the market it could work=
Hopefully, Giants don’t try to get a stable of Korean players, to put into perspective about the korean league, Jerry Sands who couldn’t make it in MLB was hitting over .300 hit better than Kim and similar to just below Lee
Korean league seems to be able to produce DF’A major leaguers into solid productive players.
HS Kim has done pretty well the last few years
Every league has elite players, and a few of the best from the KBO come to MLB.
Datashark
The same could be said about AA minor leagues. Some become stars, most become fodder. Making it at the MLB level is rare.
Sounds like Gleyber Torres
Please no. Giants don’t need that concrete glove.
Good old lead fingers
So you would make one of the best third basemen in the league a shortstop of unknown quality and replace with a worse third baseman? Wouldn’t it make more sense to just sign a veteran utility player with experience at short to cover until Kim is ready if they signed him? Signing a Nick Ahmed or Jose Iglesias to cover short for however long would makes a lot more sense than moving your Gold Glove 3B off the position.
Trade for Bo Bichette, he has better hair than Crawford, and frankly the Giants have been missing the flow factor since Crawford left.
Kim is a major mistake for the Giants; they need offense! Kim can’t provide that.
Likelihood of a SS recovering from late September labrum surgery by May next year is low to nil. And if he can play later in season his game will be weak. Anyone signing Kim should Kim should expect 2024 Kim (not 2023 Kim), and not until 2026.
So this would be a temporary fill in move. Just sign a competent backup shortstop and leave Chapman at third.
I think Chapman could be the backup shortstop for a couple months and that would prevent an additional signing. I woulsnt start Chapman at shortstop but a few games here and there seems like no big deal.
If they’re gonna do that they might as well play Casey Schmitt at SS because there’s no question he has the glove and arm for it.
True.
Casey plays good D at 3rd or short.
His problem is plate discipline, but still has potential.
I couldn’t disagree more. Are you assuming Posey has completely forgotten that Schmitt is on the roster. Schmitt has the arm, but not the glove He has a -6 DRS at SS. The Giants don’t need that. They’ve have been trying to get better defensively for a couple years now. Schmitt is an emergency SS at best, and depth at 3B. There’s a reason why, with that plus arm, that he came up as a 3B, not a SS.
Interesting
Preller said that Kim would not be able to start throwing until after the season began. Not spring training, the regular season. May was an extremely optimistic prognosis. July is the most likely time frame for Kim returning to MLB action.
Assuming Preller is right…
I think everyone is aware that Kim will not be ready for the beginning of the season. That’s why the Giants are exploring options at SS if they were to sign him.
And, not sure how you derived at July as the “most” likely. What Preller said is “…the rehab could carry into May, June, July,” making July the worse case scenario. Of course Preller wouldn’t have any ulterior motives being so negative about his return.
If I find a $100 bill on the ground I plan to…
Really like Kim, but Adames is the answer. Giants need to be at full strength to start the season.
They end up with Adames is my bet. Probably an overpay situation but they do need somebody substantial, especially someone with pop.
But that’s all nonsense, the only story that matters is that the Yankees, specifically Hal, has to sign Soto and should look to sell the team if he can’t afford what it costs to keep our guy.
Fitzgerald played well enough last year to get a shot at job IMO.
He also looked better defensively as the year wore on.
Giants need to sign Gleyber to make sure he doesn’t come back to New York. I don’t want Yankees crawling back to Torres if they don’t bring back Soto.
I think the Giants disagree with you. Why else would they be looking for other options beyond the obvious one?
The Giants don’t need glove first fielders at any position,
they need guys that can hit, work the count and not swing
at crap while striking out. Don’t be cheap sign Adames and Kim.
My Christmas wish !
Put Kim at second (easier on the arm).
Fitz can fill in until he’s ready then move to utility guy after that. Done & done. Great defensive infield.
Chapman saying this kinda throws the kids under the bus a bit. If they sign Kim, just have Luciano and Fitzgerald play there till Kim is ready. Giving them reps is a better alternative than hurting 3b as well.
Also, it feels like Chapman is more taking one for Team Boras than the Giants. I feel like Kim is going be hard pressed to find more than a one year deal with his oddball recovery time either way.
The entire premise of this article is a perfect example of convoluted offseason speculation that accomplishes little more than filling space. Moving Matt Chapman, an elite defensive third baseman, to shortstop—a position he’s barely played—is a desperate and clumsy solution to a self-inflicted problem. Rather than concocting patchwork ideas, the Giants should address their glaring need with a competent shortstop instead of forcing players into positions that compromise their strengths. If anything, this strategy reeks of mismanagement, as it devalues the defense-first contributions of both Chapman and the potential replacements at third base.
Reading your post would lead someone to think Chapman at SS, was not a temporary fix allowing for a good player time to recover, but some permanent, out-of-the-box, wild idea. If they fail to sign Adames, Kim is the next best option. Of the Giants’ IFs, Chapman is the best of the bunch by far.
Defense at 3B just isn’t nearly as important as defense at SS. It seems silly to have the guy playing SS a significantly worse defender than the guy at third. That hurts a team more than the reverse. Good defenders are just good defenders. It isn’t tied to their position.
Wrong, it is tied to their positions. Just because Machado was fluid enough to play a good SS doesn’t mean any gold glove 3B can just slide over to SS without missing a beat. Play a guy like Fitz at SS because he is a SS and don’t mess with the defensive alignment to sign a busted up player that isn’t ready
Wrong. Chapman came up as a 3B because of his size and plus arm. That doesn’t disqualify him as a SS. He’s far superior to Machado with the glove. He’s one of the best defenders in baseball. He was a platinum glove winner, which goes to the best overall defender. He can play SS for a couple of months.
Fitzgerald has played SS but that doesn’t mean he’s good at it. The numbers say he isn’t. Fitzgerald playing SS does mess with the alignment, since he’d be moving off SS when Kim was ready. Since he’s not a plus defender, letting him settle in at 2B for the entire season benefits him.
Posey will never let that happen
Sign Adames. Don’t sign an injured Kim to a 1+1 “prove it” contract. If that’s the plan, you could have kept Farhan. That’s his specialty.
So if Adames rejects the Giants’ offer to go to a more hitter friendly park, or a team with a better shot at a title, what do they do?
Solution: Get Correa from Minnesota
Dumbest idea ever tbh. Let’s Fitz figure it out or go get the healthy HSK until the original HSK can play.
Every bit of this plan sounds terrible. Signing a defense first SS that can’t play at the beginning of the year because of shoulder surgery is an unnecessary risk. Who knows if his arm strength will ever be the same. Play Fitz at SS if there isn’t a trade or Adames signed
Chapman has played ten innings of shortstop in his career. This isn’t like moving from right field to left field.
Happy Arson Judge day Giants fans!