One was expected, one was not. The Giants have something of a blank slate in the outfield.
The Giants nudged aside cost certainty on Wednesday night, declining Norichika Aoki's $5.5 option, and spending $700,000 to buy it out. The Giants also declined Marlon Byrd's $8 million option, effectively making left field a PIT OF ANARCHY. Unless Gregor Blanco and Mac Williamson fill the position. More on that later.
Aoki was excellent for the Giants for the first part of the year, hitting for average and getting on base. You hardly even noticed his weird defense and baserunning until, whoops, you noticed his weird defense and baserunning.