Breaking down potential landing spots for Marcell Ozuna

3. San Francisco Giants

With a new manager coming to town in Gabe Kapler and a somewhat positive 2019 season that saw them approach the .500 mark, the Giants could be looking to make a splashy signing this winter. The team’s payroll commitments for 2020 have currently dropped below $130 million and they hold a compensatory pick in their back pocket after losing free-agent reliever Will Smith to the Braves. The Giants could also pick up another draft pick if Madison Bumgarner is not re-signed.

Luck may have played a big part in pushing the Giants to the fringes of playoff contention for a few weeks in July, but they are trending in the right direction. The veteran infield core remains intact and young outfielders Alex Dickerson and Mike Yastrzemski came out of nowhere to combine for 27 home runs and 81 RBI in 163 games last year. The Giants can expect to field another middle-of-the-pack pitching staff again in 2019, but will need more pop from their offense to get over the hump.

The Giants are approaching the end of their rebuilding phase and are freed up to begin spending on free agents again. Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto’s big contracts expire after 2021. By non-tendering center fielder Kevin Pillar, the Giants created an opening in their outfield.

Marcell Ozuna or Nicholas Castellanos are the two best outfielders in this free-agent class, and the Giants could sign either of them and have enough left over to pursue a starting pitcher like Zack Wheeler or re-sign Bumgarner. Ozuna should come cheaper than Castellanos and is a rebound candidate. Buying low on Ozuna makes more sense than paying a premium for Castellanos, who is going to be pushing for a bigger deal on the strength of his 1.002 OPS in 51 games with the Chicago Cubs down the stretch.