Are 98-loss Giants crazy to add depreciating asset in Evan Longoria?

SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner breaks down the Evan Longoria trade. USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are doubling down on their expressed commitment not to rebuild but to reload. The Tampa Bay Rays are headed in the opposite direction.

By trading their longtime face of the franchise in third baseman Evan Longoria, the Rays are acknowledging they can’t compete for a playoff spot next season after finishing 80-82 in 2017. The Giants tied for the worst record in the majors at 64-98, but they’re convinced a turnaround is in the making.

So certain are the Giants that they were willing to give up their top prospect, infielder Christian Arroyo, as part of the swap. Arroyo, a first-round pick in 2013, made his major league debut this year at 21 but has seen his progress stalled by injuries. Still, he made an impression with his poise and ability to play multiple infield positions.

Longoria, 32, fills a huge void for San Francisco, whose third basemen earned the “quadruple crown’’ of offensive futility last season by posting the majors’ lowest batting average at the position (.216), the fewest home runs (nine) and RBI (51) and the lowest OPS (.568).

Longoria’s 20 home runs would have led a Giants club that ranked last in the big leagues in that department, and his 86 RBI would have been tops on the team as well. Longoria also won his third Gold Glove, and his presence further enhances the defensive credentials of a strong infield that includes shortstop Brandon Crawford, second baseman Joe Panik and first baseman Brandon Belt.

"We are pleased to bring Evan Longoria to the Giants organization," Giants general manager Bobby Evans said in a statement. "Evan gives us a Gold Glove caliber player at third base and also provides us a middle of the order presence in the lineup. His durability and leadership will strengthen our club moving forward."

However, not only does Longoria arrive with a hefty price tag – he’s due to make $86 million over the next five seasons – but he’s moving into a tough hitters’ ballpark while showing signs of offensive decline. Longoria’s .737 on-base plus slugging percentage last season was the second-lowest of his career and it ranked 20th among qualifying third basemen in the majors.

After making three All-Star Games and putting up an .870 OPS over his first six seasons, Longoria saw that figure plummet to .767 over the last four. He did bounce back with an .840 mark in 2016, but that was the only time his OPS climbed above .765 in those four years.

The Giants, who are trying to stay below the $197 million tax threshold for the first time in four years, got some relief in that regard by including outfielder Denard Span (owed $15 million, including a $4 million buyout) in the swap, along with two minor-league pitchers. San Francisco is also receiving some money to cover part of Longoria’s remaining salaries.

That was part of an extension Longoria signed in November 2012, when both he and the Rays were enjoying better times. Tampa Bay was in the midst of a stretch when it won at least 90 games four years in a row, and Longoria had just produced a career-best .896 OPS.

But the budget-conscious Rays have finished below .500 each of the last four seasons, and as popular as Longoria was, he was a luxury they could no longer afford. Plus, in a division where the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have clearly separated themselves from the pack, it was time to start anew.

The Rays appear to be open for business, and that likely means putting assets such as pitchers Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi on the trading block. Heck, they might even reach out to the Giants again. It was less than a year and a half ago when the teams connected on another deal for a third baseman, with Matt Duffy going to Tampa Bay along with prospect Lucius Fox in exchange for left-hander Matt Moore.

That trade did not pan out for either club, although Fox is highly regarded as part of Tampa Bay’s future.

The Giants are not looking that far ahead. Their sights are squarely on the 2018 season.

GALLERY: Top MLB free agents

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last Slide Next Slide

Let's block ads! (Why?)