When Brandon Belt signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this week, it ended his time with the only organization he’s ever known and ensured the Giants will have a different first baseman on Opening Day for only the second time since 2011.
It will likely be LaMonte Wade Jr. who emerges from the dugout and jogs to first base before the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day, March 30 at Yankee Stadium, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said Thursday over Zoom.
The Giants remained in touch with Belt — Zaidi said he even visited him in recent weeks — but ultimately it came down to a “timing and fit issue,” Zaidi said. The Giants committed this offseason to getting younger and more athletic. Belt, like Evan Longoria, didn’t fit into those plans.
“As the offseason progressed and we started filling out our roster, we obviously added a couple outfielders, and that moved Joc (Pederson) and LaMonte Wade more into the first base/DH mix,” Zaidi said. “We knew we would be faced with some challenging decisions on players that we’re fond of … We really wish Brandon the best. But we’re looking forward to what LaMonte and other guys in that mix can do for us.”
Belt, who turns 35 in April, signed a one-year, $9.2 million deal with Toronto. He underwent surgery on his knee late last season, and Zaidi said the Giants kept tabs on his rehab. During a recent visit, Zaidi said Belt looked to be in great shape.
Between Wade, Pederson, Wilmer Flores, J.D. Davis and David Villar, there wasn’t room for Belt on the roster, Zaidi said.
While Zaidi said the Giants could still add a veteran to the first-base mix, he said Wade was, “in particular, someone we’re really high on,” despite a down year in 2022. The Giants believe he will benefit from the new restrictions on infield shifts and a fresh start after multiple stints on the injured list last season.
In addition to Wade, the Giants felt the need to carve out opportunities for young players such as Villar and Joey Bart, Zaidi said. Of Villar, who has hit 56 home runs the past two seasons between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors, Zaidi said, “if you’re not going to give a guy an opportunity after what he’s gone the last couple years … not sure he’s gone anything more to earn that opportunity.”
The Giants had been rumored to be interested in adding a catcher, but Zaidi said it’s “unlikely” they bring in anyone else at that position besides extending a non-roster invite to a veteran or two. Austin Wynns, who was designated for assignment earlier this week, cleared waivers, and Zaidi made it clear that the Giants very much would like him back.
“When we get to this point in the offseason and there are still some veteran guys out there, it’s tempting to add a name that adds some level of comfort when you’re looking at the roster,” Zaidi said. “But to really give those young guys opportunities, you have to deal with a little bit of discomfort at this point, leaving open some of that opportunity for them to claim.”
If they make another addition, it’s likely to be a middle infielder, where they currently have only Brandon Crawford and Thairo Estrada. A “speed and defense guy” who can play multiple positions would be ideal, Zaidi said, “but that bumps somebody off the roster. Right now, the way it looks, everybody’s kind of got a clear role.”
Although their haul doesn’t include Carlos Correa or Aaron Judge, the Giants have signed six free agents this offseason, in addition to bringing back Pederson on a $19.65 million qualifying offer. With a 40-man collective bargaining tax payroll estimated at about $207 million by Baseball Prospectus, they are only about $25 million shy of the first tax threshold of $233 million.
“We feel really good about it,” Zaidi said, noting many are already at the club’s Papago Park facility in Arizona. “If you count Joc, we brought in seven free agents. Five of them have been to All-Star games. Three have been a part of world championship teams. It’s a lot of pedigree. They’re all excited to be Giants. They all picked us over other teams. …
“I understand there’s some skepticism because we had a couple pursuits fall short, but we also did a lot of good work and we think we got better.”
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