San Francisco Giants' trade for Evan Longoria carries significant risk

While this winter’s MLB free agent market remains curiously stagnant, with all but a handful of the top available hitters and starting pitchers still seeking employment for 2018, the trade market remains rich and thriving — two realities that are almost certainly more than coincidental.
On Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants, who had been on the lookout for a veteran third baseman, pried away three-time all-star Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays for infielder Christian Arroyo, veteran center fielder Denard Span and two prospects. The Rays also kicked in an undisclosed amount of money to offset the $86 million owed to Longoria, the greatest player in the franchise’s history, through 2023.
The trade was a powerful indication the Giants were not ready to commit to a full rebuild, even after their disastrous 98-loss season in 2017, when they finished 40 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. For a team already loaded with aging veterans, the trade for Longoria carries significant risk for the Giants, as Longoria, 32, has shown signs of entering a decline phase, posting career-low numbers in 2017; he is, however, just a year removed from a 36-homer, .521-slugging season in 2016.

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