The Giants reportedly are one of four finalists in the bidding for prized free agent Trevor Story.
According to Audacy Sports MLB Insider Jon Heyman, San Francisco, the Boston Red Sox and two other mystery teams have emerged on Story’s short list. While the 29-year-old has played exclusively at shortstop throughout his six-year career, Heyman reports he is willing to make a short-term position change and wants to play for a winner.
Both of those nuggets are great news for the Giants, who have team MVP Brandon Crawford locked in at shortstop and are coming off a franchise-record 107-win season. San Francisco is currently sitting on an estimated Opening Day payroll of $150.3 million, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, but that’s still comfortably under the $230 competitive balance tax threshold. The Giants definitely have money to spend.
Story dealt with a shoulder issue and had a bit of a down year in 2021, but slashed .251/.329/.471 with 24 homers, 75 RBI, 53 walks, 139 strikeouts and a 103 OPS+ in 142 games. He made consecutive All-Star teams in 2018-19, when he averaged 36 dingers and 96 RBI with a .293/.355/.561 slash line.
During his appearance on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” Thursday, NBC Sports Bay Area Giants Insider Alex Pavlovic said he could see Story fitting with San Francisco.
“He’s really interesting to me,” Pavlovic said. “Because you can probably slide him in there pretty easily in second base I think and move to [Tommy] La Stella to DH a lot and move [Thairo] Estrada around the field. But I would imagine [Story] would find more money elsewhere.”
La Stella is expected to miss the start of the regular season as he deals with Achilles surgery recovery and Donovan Solano has signed with the Cincinnati Reds via free agency.
