For Kent, time with SF Giants was ‘turning point’ in Hall of Fame career

ORLANDO, Fla. — Jeff Kent was not on a Hall of Fame trajectory when he arrived in San Francisco.

Kent was 29-years-old when he was traded from Cleveland to the Giants in November 1996 (along with José Vizcaino) for third baseman Matt Williams. The deal was met with so much vitriol in the Bay Area that Brian Sabean, the architect of the trade, “Well, I’m not an idiot.” Williams was a four-time All-Star and a fan favorite. Kent was a fine player up to that point, but Cooperstown did not appear to be in his future.

In San Francisco, Kent blossomed into one of the best power-hitting second basemen of all-time. This summer, he’ll be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame after being elected as part of the Contemporary Baseball Era Ballot.

“That was the turning point of my career,” K