SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Giants are continuing to try to stockpile position player talent as report day nears, and they may be zeroing in on a very familiar infielder.
The team has had discussions with longtime Padre Yangervis Solarte, NBC Sports Bay Area has learned. Solarte, 31, could enter the mix as the Giants search for more infield depth behind Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik and Evan Longoria. Solarte has played all three spots in the past.
Solarte, a switch-hitter, is familiar to both the Giants and new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi after four solid seasons with the San Diego Padres. His best season was 2016, when he posted a .808 OPS and hit 15 homers, and overall he has four straight seasons with double--digit homers.
Solarte spent last season with the Blue Jays and dropped to a .226/.277/.378 slash line. He did hit 17 homers, which was more than any Giant. Solarte primarily played third base for the Blue Jays but also has played second, short, first and left in his career.
The Giants have Pablo Sandoval and Alen Hanson as frontrunners to win backup jobs on the infield, but there's not a lot of experience behind them. Abiatal Avelino, Ryder Jones and Breyvic Valera are the only other backup options on the 40-man roster, and Jones does not play the middle infield spots.
