Evan Longoria turned back the clock and looked like he was 26, not 36, in the San Francisco Giants' roller-coaster win on Sunday. The Giants needed the win badly, and Longoria stepped up to the challenge. He nearly hit a home run, and then later on he hit his first grand slam in almost 10 years. He made multiple sparkling defensive plays. He was the best player on the field, and the question must be asked: will the SF Giants bring him back next year even though they don't have to?
Longoria has a $13M club option for 2023. It comes with a $5M buyout. So in reality, the Giants have to make an $8M decision on whether or not to retain Longoria in 2023, which would be the final year of his deal. He will be 37 years old for all of next year. Despite his age and the fact that he's been injury prone for the last couple of years, Longoria has been very productive when he's been on the field. He is a stabilizing force defensively and has hit well to boot. There's no obvious replacement for him in the minor leagues for next season (but after that there should be ... hopefully).
LaMonte Wade Jr.'s decision to lay down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 11th is discussed. The bunt ended up working out, but was it a smart play? Lastly, the Giants' record and position in the wild card hunt are discussed. The Giants remain on the fringes of the race but they're technically still in it with 41 games remaining.
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The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.
Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.
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