A few weeks ago we mentioned that Grady Sizemore would be a good fit for the Giants if the Indians declined his option.
Well, the Indians did just that. However, the Giants recently traded for another centerfielder, Melky Cabrera, leading to some speculation that Sizemore was no longer an option in San Francisco.
That doesn't appear to be the case, however, as ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Giants are one of eight (!) teams interested in the 29-year-old outfielder.
Crasnick lists the Giants, along with the Cubs, Phillies, Rockies, Red Sox, Indians and Yankees as potential suitors for Sizemore and notes that the A's, Mariners and Nationals could pursue him as well.
(Worth noting: Susan Slusser reports in Tuesday's San Francisco Chronicle that the A's are out on Sizemore. So there's that.)
So how are the Giants still in on Grady? Well, it's because Sizemore still remains a perfect fit. The Giants need a bat, and Grady is a bat -- a very good one if he's healthy. The Giants don't want to spend at on of money, and Grady reportedly just wants a one-year deal to prove that he's healthy and land a bigger contract before he crosses the dreaded 30-year mile-marker.
And Grady's fine with not playing centerfield, too. This is probably for the best considering Sizemore's negative UZR (Ultimate Zone Rating, an advanced fielding statistic) and his decreased range -- Melky was a better fielder last year.
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So the Giants could potentially nab Sizemore to play right field, put Brandon Belt in left and run Melky out to center.
It's not the type of outfield that will crank out Silver Slugger awards, but it's a group that's slam full of upside and an immediate improvement over 2010's group, without committing a pile of money to someone like Carlos Beltran.
