Guardians Named Among Best Fits For Rising Giants Outfielder

The San Francisco Giants, as of Wednesday afternoon, rank fourth in the NL West division with a 42-59 record. They have been one of the worst squads in the National League.

As a result, the Giants can be expected to offload some veterans and potentially valuable pieces to contenders. The Cleveland Guardians, top of the AL Central together with the Chicago White Sox and owners of a 54-48 record, fall into that last category.

By now, the Guardians’ need for outfielders is pretty well documented. Even though Steven Kwan is surging, he hasn’t always been good this year, not to mention that Angel Martinez is still injured and Chase DeLauter, while supremely talented, is still prone to injuries.

ESPN analysts Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel noted that the Giants could be interested in trading outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, and included the Guardians in the list of potential fits.

“While the Giants’ desire to dump their high-profile players with high-priced contracts will run into plenty of resistance, they should be able to cobble together a market if they really are interested in moving Lee. The 27-year-old ranks sixth in MLB in batting average and strikeout rate, and while his slugging numbers have gone down recently, Lee would fetch a strong return if the Giants indeed moved him,” Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan wrote.

The Guardians are listed because they need outfield help, basically. Other clubs included among potential fits for Lee were the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves, the San Diego Padres, the Arizona  Diamondbacks, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Rays.

However, it’s important to understand that a player like Lee wouldn’t be the ideal trade acquisition for the Guardians this year. First of all, he is expensive, earning $18.83 million per year for three more seasons after 2026, though he can opt out of the deal after the 2027 campaign.

He is also a lefty hitter, and the Guardians would prefer a right-handed hitter. Additionally, he is not too powerful, with just five homers to this point, and Cleveland needs more thump.

Still, he should be considered because he is a solid hitter, with a 111 wRC+ this year, who also happens to avoid strikeouts like the plague. He is a solid major league asset, although not exactly what the Guardians are looking for.