Time is ticking for the San Francisco Giants.
Yes, they brought in outfielder Mitch Haniger, formerly on the Seattle Mariners, to help the lineup, but the unit needed more than just one talented hitter.
That’s why they heavily courted New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, and that’s why they are now focusing on the shortstop market once he opted to re-sign in the Bronx.
The problem is that most of the heavy bats in free agency are flying off the board.
Trea Turner already signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, and Xander Bogaerts did the same with the San Diego Padres.
The Giants could consider Dansby Swanson to fill in at shortstop, but the real big fish remaining at the position is Carlos Correa.
According to several outlets, San Francisco did have a meeting Correa’s representatives this week.
“The #SFGiants have spoken with Carlos Correa’s representatives about the free-agent shortstop this week, source says. Credit to @Ken_Rosenthal for linking the Giants and Correa earlier today,” insider Jon Morosi tweeted.
Update: Credit to @susanslusser for being first to report the Giants’ face-to-face meeting with Correa. https://t.co/ou9JHlXxow
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 8, 2022
The Giants Want A Considerable Offensive Upgrade
The Giants were prepared to pay Judge $360 million and also met with Bogaerts before he signed in San Diego.
Evidently, they are looking for a sizable offensive upgrade, and the position is not as important as this hypothetical player’s potential impact.
Correa could be an impactful shortstop for years to come.
In 2022 with the Minnesota Twins, he slashed .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 4.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
He is obviously not Judge, but he is an above-average shortstop offensively and a star with the glove.
Maybe the Giants will land a top player after all.
We will have to wait to see who.
NEXT: Giants Insider Insists The Team Should Make A Splash