How does Correa’s signing impact Crawford?
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants had loads of holes getting into this offseason, however shortstop wasn’t essentially one in every of them.
Brandon Crawford was coming off a down 12 months, however he performed good protection down the stretch, stoking optimism that he’d have the ability to return to type in 2023, the ultimate 12 months of the two-year, $32 million extension he signed in August ’21.
But after falling wanting expectations this previous season, the Giants made it clear that they deliberate to discover each possibility to enhance their roster this offseason. And it simply so occurred that a number of of the highest free brokers play Crawford’s place.
The Giants tried exhausting to pry reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge away from the Yankees, however after these hopes had been dashed, the pure pivot was to delve into the deep class of free-agent shortstops.
Enter Carlos Correa, who agreed to a landmark 13-year, $350 million take care of the Giants, a supply advised MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. After securing the fourth-largest contract in Major League historical past, Correa is poised to grow to be the brand new face of the franchise, giving the Giants a charismatic star to market to their followers and to assist hold tempo with the talent-rich Dodgers and Padres within the National League West.
The largest query now could be what Correa’s arrival will imply for Crawford, the membership’s longest-tenured participant and the ultimate remaining hyperlink to the Giants’ championship period now that first baseman Brandon Belt is a free agent.
As of this previous week, San Francisco hadn’t spoken with Crawford a few potential place change, however these conversations will certainly should occur now that the 28-year-old Correa is predicted to anchor their infield for the following decade-plus. Crawford, 35, has completely performed shortstop throughout his 12-year profession within the Majors and has received 4 Gold Glove Awards on the place, most not too long ago in 2021, the identical 12 months Correa took house the Platinum Glove because the league’s greatest defender.
With Correa set to earn practically $27 million subsequent season, the most probably situation in all probability entails asking Crawford to shift to second or third base. Crawford, who swings left-handed, might be paired with right-handed hitters reminiscent of David Villar, J.D. Davis or Wilmer Flores at third — or Thairo Estrada at second — serving to the Giants optimize matchups on any given night time.
Either manner, Correa’s arrival ought to go a good distance towards bettering the Giants’ protection, which was a obtrusive weak spot in 2022. San Francisco ranked twenty eighth within the Majors in Outs Above Average this previous season, fueling the membership’s need to get youthful and extra athletic up the center.
The Giants achieved that aim by touchdown Correa. Now comes the exhausting half: Figuring out the very best function for Crawford shifting ahead.
“This guy is the greatest shortstop in franchise history,” president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi stated in October. “Obviously, I’ve a world of respect for him, seeing what he’s completed the previous couple of years and over his complete profession. He’s been not only a nice participant general, however a terrific shortstop. We noticed that this 12 months.
“I wouldn’t get any more specific than saying we’re going to have to look for ways to improve the roster to improve the defense. The best way to improve your defense is by targeting really strong defensive players. Really strong defensive players tend to play up the middle. I think he knows that. He wants to win, he wants us to be as good of a team as we can be. In an offseason like this, everything has got to be on the table.”
