Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SPORTS
The San Francisco Giants have pulled their scouts from Cuba and are no longer interested in signing prospect Jose Abreu, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
After watching the first baseman play in his native Cuba, team officials believe Abreu is more suited to play in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter. Front-runners for Abreu now appear to be the Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.
Related: Disappointment, Relief as San Francisco Giants End Jose Abreu Pursuit
Regardless of where he fits into the Major League lineup, the Giants already have first baseman Brandon Belt, who looks like he is ready to finally make a significant splash in the big leagues. Belt posted career-highs in batting average (.289), home runs (17), RBIs (67) and OPS (.841) in 2013. It really would have been pretty foolish to completely give up on Belt. The Giants can expect big things from his this upcoming season.
The Giants will continue to recruit Cuban defector Alexander Guerrero, a 26-year-old infielder. Guerrero, who now is under agent Scott Boras, nearly signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last winter but his then-representatives were not officially certified. Guerrero is considered to a second-base prospect for the MLB, a position San Francisco is in need of considering Marco Scutaro’s chronic injuries. Scutaro is now 37 years old and has two seasons remaining on his contract, but the Giants wouldn’t hesitate to his the younger Guerrero should the opportunity present itself.
If San Francisco cannot ink Guerrero, look for the rival Dodgers to step in a throw a ton of money at him. If Los Angeles did not already have Adrian Gonzalez at first base, I’m sure they’d be in on Abreu as well.
The Giants have come up with ways to sign quality players at the same rate as their rivals down south. Guerrero could be a start, but he’s definitely no means to an end.
Ron Gleeson is a San Francisco Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @rtgleeson and add him to your network on Google.
