Aaron Judge is the big fish, but there are other marquee talents that the Giants are going to look at this offseason.
They’ll do more than just look at Dodgers All-Star shortstop Trea Turner according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale writes that the Giants will pursue Turner in free agency. Via Nightengale:
The San Francisco Giants will pursue not only Yankees star Aaron Judge in free agency, but also Dodgers All-Star shortstop Trea Turner.
If the Yankees won’t pay the $300 million Judge wants, he could wind up in San Francisco – just two hours away from his hometown.
Turner is open to staying in Los Angeles, but is believed to prefer the East Coast and may be the No. 1 target for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Yet, money may be no object, with the Giants willing to do anything for a return to the postseason, winning 26 fewer games than a year ago.
Turner, 29, is a two-time All-Star and was a key piece of the Washington Nationals World Series winning team in 2019. Turner played in 160 games in 2022 for the Dodgers, and led the National League in both plate appearances (708) and at-bats (652).
Turner was still very solid at the plate, posting a slash line of .298/.343/.466 with 21 home runs, but posted his lowest OPS since 2018. Still, Turner would have led the Giants in batting average, doubles (39), RBI (100) and stolen bases (27).
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said last week the Giants would be aggressive in trying to improve the team this offseason.
“Everything’s on the table for us,” Zaidi said, “including going out and being aggressive at the top end of the free-agent market.”