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Editor’s note: Each day this week, Giants insider Alex Pavlovic and A’s reporter Ben Ross will debate where one of the top five free agents might land this offseason. Tuesday’s free agent to discuss is Michael Brantley, an three-time All-Star outfielder who has spent his entire career with the Cleveland Indians.
ALEX: Ben, yesterday we went right to the top of the market and discussed Bryce Harper. If you’re looking for outfield help — and a lot of teams are — it gets kind of sketchy after Harper.
Andrew McCutchen still is a good player, but he’s no longer an MVP candidate. A.J. Pollock has had a ton of injury issues. Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and others are really getting up there in age. But I’m intrigued by Michael Brantley, who has never really lived up to the hype because of his own injuries. If you’re looking for a guy who has a moderate amount of pop and gets on base at a high rate — hellooooo, Giants — he could be your guy.
BEN: He might be a great fit for the Giants, but the A’s already have enough outfielders, for a fraction of the cost. What have you heard about the Giants’ interest in Brantley? Where else do you think he could end up?
ALEX: I haven’t heard anything concrete regarding their interest, but I think he’s an interesting case. On one hand, they’ve been burned over and over again by giving money to position players — particularly outfielders — in their 30s. But they also have two corner outfield spots open and desperately need established hitters.
Brantley, who has always been a good OBP guy, would fit in that respect. Perhaps Farhan Zaidi can pull a Chris Taylor or Max Muncy out of another organization, but if Brantley’s price drops, he could be a fill-in for a couple of seasons.
I wonder if he’ll end up with a team that missed out on Harper and still has that need. The Phillies could fit there. The Braves have been a rumored destination. Maybe the White Sox? Who am I missing?
BEN: I think he makes a lot of sense in San Francisco. As you mentioned, he has a great career OBP with decent power and speed. It looks like he’ll probably get around $15 million per year, which is reasonable for a back-to-back All-Star.
I think the Phillies and Braves both make a lot of sense, especially if Philadelphia doesn’t land Bryce Harper. Maybe the Nationals if Harper leaves? He also could be a nice A.J. Pollock replacement in Arizona, although Pollock plays center. How about the Rockies? Both Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra are free agents.
ALEX: It sounds like the Diamondbacks are rebuilding, and I think the Rockies need to spend that money elsewhere. This feels like a #MysteryTeam situation, but in the end, I’ll go with a safe prediction.
I think Brantley ends up with the Braves as a Nick Markakis replacement, but the twist will be that it’ll be a shorter deal. I don’t believe the talk that last year’s free agency dip was a one-year thing. I think the second tier of veterans again will struggle to get those long-term deals, so I’ll put Brantley down for a two-year, $32 million deal. What’s your call?
BEN: It sounds like the Braves are pushing hard for Brantley, so they’re my prediction, too. As you said, they need a Markakis replacement. Brantley played his college ball at Coastal Carolina University, which isn’t too far from Atlanta. While he’s been a bit injury-prone, he’s still just 31 years old. I’ll say he gets three years, $45 million.
Editor’s note: This week across the NBC Sports Regional Networks, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at some of the top free agents in baseball. Tuesday is dedicated to free agent outfielder Michael Brantley.
How Brantley could help solve one of the Giants’ biggest issues
Why the outfielder-rich A’s should pass on Brantley
Does Brantley really fit the White Sox’s long-term plan?
Brantley should be far down on Red Sox’s free agent list
Phillies should pursue Brantley if they whiff on Harper
Could signing Brantley soften blow of Nats losing Harper?
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