Giants: 3 free agents to sign to make 2022 World Series

Giants should lure Bay Area native Marcus Semien back home

I’m operating under the assumption that the Giants take care of their pitching staff — as in Johnny Cueto’s team option is turned down, giving the Giants room to re-sign Kevin Gausman and hopefully Anthony DeSclafani.

If that’s the case, the Giants can focus solely on holes in their current lineup, which no doubt includes second base. Tommy La Stella and Donovan Solano filled in admirably, but neither player really compares to what Marcus Semien can do at the dish.

The former Oakland Athletic turned Toronto Blue Jay has experience playing by the Bay. He was a longtime shortstop of the rival A’s who would surely have interest in returning home. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi said as much in a recent article.

"“The competition for him, even in what should be an historic free-agent shortstop market, will be fierce and the San Francisco Giants are expected to try and lure the Bay Area native back home,” writes Davidi. “During the Blue Jays’ recent series in Tampa, they had a senior front office member there to advance scout the Rays, but surely also to keep an eye on Semien.”"

Semien’s transition to second base went smoothly north of the border, and the damage he did with his bat is significant enough to demand one heck of a contract. The 31-year-old finished the season with 45 home runs, which would’ve been first on the Giants by a country mile.