San Francisco Giants linked to former NL MVP slugger in MLB free agency

San Francisco Giants clearly tired of the subpar product the organization had been putting out on the field for most of the last decade, and team management expressed its displeasure with the firing of its former president of baseball operations. Farhan Zaidi.

As the team heads into the offseason, it does so under the leadership of a new man – a legendary three-time World Series champion catcher. Buster Posey. The franchise is still searching for a general manager, but until one is hired, Posey will be the primary decision-maker. While San Francisco’s results in recent years clearly point to the fact that there are plenty of upgrades that can be made, having another viable threat in the lineup should probably be top of mind this winter.

Surely the Giants will bet on a player like Juan Sotobut in the likely event that the team fails to catch the biggest fish on the market, there are still effective bats that won’t cost anywhere near what Soto will cost, no matter who signs him. One potential possibility is Chicago Cubs outfielder/first baseman and 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger. The slugger has the option to opt out this offseason, and the fact that he is represented by Scott Boras indicates that freedom of action is most likely. FanSided’s Zach Pressnell said Bellinger is a perfect fit for the Giants as they look to turn things around and get back to the promised land.

“The Giants need a player like Bellinger,” Pressnell wrote. “They can afford to come out of pocket for a four- or five-year deal that brings Bellinger to San Francisco. He could be the missing link that turns their roster into a real threat in 2025.”

Bellinger numbers in 2024 was slightly behind another top 10 in the MVP voting season for the Cubs in 2023, but he is still one of the most reliable hitters in the game, with 63 home runs and 243 RBIs over the last three seasons. Despite being just 29 years old, Bellinger is as reliable as it gets, having played at least 130 games in each of the last three years and played all 162 games in 2018.

If Bellinger does opt out of his Chicago deal, the Giants should be the first to turn to him.