Having missed out on Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins, the San Francisco Giants are apparently setting their sights on another All-Star player.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, San Francisco has a “keen interest” in Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria.
The #SFGiants have keen interest in acquiring #Rays 3B Evan Longoria, but the Rays would have to take one of Giants' high-salaried players such as Hunter Pence or Denard Span to make it work.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 18, 2017
Linked to Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, the idea of adding Longoria might make more sense for San Francisco. He’d come cheaper in terms of prospects heading the other way and long-term salary.
Longoria, 32, hit .261 with 20 homers, 86 RBI and a .313 OBP last season. He also earned the third Gold Glove award of his 10-year career. An All-Star his first three seasons, Longoria has not made it back to the Midsummer Classic since. Though, he has hit at least 20 homers in nine of his 10 MLB seasons and posted a career-best 36 homers back in 2016.
The weak-hitting Giants could definitely use someone of his ilk. Though, any trade with Tampa Bay would likely have to include the Rays taking a big contract back in return. It’s unknown if that is even a possibility at this point.