SF Giants decline Evan Longoria's team option, making him a free agent
The SF Giants have declined the club option in third baseman Evan Longoria's contract, per a conversation San Francisco Chronicle Giants beat writer Susan Slusser had with Longoria on Thursday. The news does not come as a surprise. USA Today's Bob Nightengale had reported the team's intention to decline the option in October. Instead of guaranteeing Longoria a $13 million salary in 2023, they will pay him a $5 million buyout.
SF Giants third baseman Evan Longoria takes a swing. (2022)
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Still, this decision does not rule out Longoria playing for the Giants in 2023. Both Zaidi and Longoria have said they are interested in a reunion even if the option is declined. Per Nightengale's original report, "The only teams Longoria would consider playing for are the Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks."
Longoria has been the Giants starting third baseman since he was acquired in a trade during the 2017-18 offseason. Injuries have nagged him throughout his tenure in San Francisco, but he has been productive when healthy.
Longoria has hit .251/.312/.428 with roughly 24 home runs per 162 games over his Giants career. In 2022, Longoria posted a .244/.315/.451 triple-slash with 13 doubles and 14 home runs in 89 games before a fractured thumb ended his season.
Longoria also remains an excellent defender at third base. Even with his injuries this season, he was graded as a +1 defender, according to Baseball Savant's Outs Above Average Metric in 2022. When healthy, he has consistently been an above-average everyday player.
The SF Giants have officially made Evan Longoria a free agent. However, that does not mean they have ruled out a reunion with the 37-year-old. The team will have to weigh Longoria against other potential offseason acquisitions, and younger options at the hot corner already on the team, like J.D. Davis and David Villar.
