According to a report by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Giants are adding veteran shortstop Paul DeJong on a major league deal.
DeJong, 30, was a having a solid all-around year for the Cardinals before falling off in a brief post-trade deadline stint with the Toronto Blue Jays. The glove-first shortstop ranks in the 94th percentile in outs above average, per Baseball Savant.
Toronto designated DeJong for assignment after he went 3-for-44 with 18 strikeouts in 13 games.
In his seven-year career, DeJong has a 94 OPS+, meaning he’s been a slightly below league average hitter. He was an All-Star in 2019 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017.
Estrada is back and producing, but Crawford has returned to the injured list with a left forearm strain. Casey Schmitt and journeyman Johan Camargo are currently with the team to provide depth, but neither should have a significant upper hand on DeJong.
Of the 54 shortstops who have had at least 50 plate appearances this season, Schmitt ranks 52nd in wRC+ (45) and Crawford ranks 47th (59). Camargo doesn’t qualify, but his 62 wRC+ is just a tick above Crawford’s.
DeJong, meanwhile, ranks 34th with a 74 wRC+. Despite the brutal slump in Toronto, his 13 home runs in 2023 are more than Crawford, Schmitt, Camargo and Brett Wisely combined.
In other words: DeJong will get an opportunity to compete for playing time. And given the Giants’ options, he has a real shot to win a regular role.
