Report: SF Giants a finalist for free agent Kiké Hernández

Feb 26, 2024, 8:44 AM

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Wilmer Flores #41 of the San Francisco Giants is forced out...

(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Spring Training is underway, but several key MLB free agents remain without teams for the 2024 season.

While the San Francisco Giants have had a busy offseason, they might not be done making moves. According to The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal, the Giants are one of four finalists for free-agent utility man Kiké Hernández.

Hernández, 32, spent the 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent innings at every position other than catcher. The ten-year veteran has been primarily used in the outfield and middle infield spots, but has proven that he can also play at the corners.

Over 140 games in 2023, Hernández hit .237 while mashing 11 home runs and driving in 61 runs.

Free-agent utility man Kiké Hernández is down to four teams. Here’s how he’d fit with each. https://t.co/A1vZryKQ4T

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 24, 2024

More on Giants free-agent target Kiké Hernández

Free-agent super-utility man Kiké Hernández is choosing between four teams, according to sources briefed on his discussions. The finalists, in no particular order, are the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.

This fit is more about the bat than the glove for the Giants and Hernández, probably. The Giants were 24th-best against lefties last year (about six percent worse than league average). For his career, Hernandez has been 15 percent better than league average in those situations. He represents a right-handed stick with power and patience against left-handed pitchers, at the very least.

The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal – February 24, 2024

The Giants have done a solid job of bolstering its roster following a lackluster 2023 season.

Team president Farhan Zaidi has inked Korean star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract, slugging All-Star designated hitter Jorge Soler to a three-year, $42 million pact, and bullpen-arm-turned-starter Jordan Hicks to a two-year, $44 million contract this offseason, but San Francisco continues to be linked to names on the market.

Hernández would provide the Giants with a Swiss army knife-type player who could play all around the diamond, as well as a player who could bring some pop at the plate to a lineup that finished 27th in the MLB in slugging percentage one season ago (.383).

San Francisco currently has the recently-signed Gold Glove award winner Nick Ahmed penciled in as bench depth on FanGraphs, but the signing of Hernández could add to a roster that already possesses multiple utility-type players like J.D. Davis, Wilmer Flores, and LaMonte Wade Jr.

Could the Giants bring in another player who can play around the field? We should have an answer to that question shortly.