The Giants have made their first big move of the offseason. According to multiple reports, San Francisco has acquired veteran third baseman Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for center fielder Denard Span and prospects Christian Arroyo, Matt Krook and Stephen Woods. The Giants are also reportedly receiving cash from the Rays.
Source: Giants get Evan Longoria for Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, Matt Krook and Stephen Woods.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2017
Full deal: #Rays send Longoria and cash considerations to #Giants for Christian Arroyo, Denard Span, Stephen Woods, Matt Krook.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 20, 2017
Longoria, 32, will take over as the Giants’ everyday third baseman. The Southern California native is a three-time All-Star and has appeared in more games than any major leaguer over the past five seasons. Longoria is coming off a bit of a down season at the plate by his standards, posting an average line of .261/.313/.424 (nearly 100 points lower than his career OPS) with 20 home runs. He did, however, win the AL Gold Glove at third base in 2017. Longoria has four years and $72.5 million guaranteed left on his current contract.
Arroyo, 22, was considered one of the top two prospects in the Giants farm system, ad will now join another former Giants third baseman, Matt Duffy, in Tampa. Left-handed pitcher Krook was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft and was listed by MLB as the Giants’ 25th best prospect. Woods, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in the eighth round of the same draft, and was listed by MLB as the club’s 29th best prospect.
More to come…
