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A year ago at this time, Giants boss Buster Posey had very few roster spots to fill. He was closing a monstrous seven-year deal with shortstop Willy Adames and added one more big piece a month later, pitcher Justin Verlander.
Now there seems to be a laundry list of roster issues to resolve, and they’ll be the focus for Posey and his posse at next week’s winter meetings in Orlando, Fla.
So far, the big news has been hiring a new manager, Tony Vitello, and coaching staff. The only roster moves have been minor. The Giants signed reliever Sam Hentges to a one-year deal and claimed reliever Reiver Sanmartín from the Reds, both lefties.
They also traded cash for outfielder Joey Wiemer from the Marlins and claimed outfielder Justin Dean from the Dodgers. Nothing that will have much impact on the payroll. Of the four newcomers, Hentges will make the most at $1.4 million.
The big holes remain unfilled. Starting pitchers, late-inning relievers, a right fielder, and perhaps a second baseman.
It’s a hefty shopping list, and Posey’s stated desire is to fetch enough quality players through free agency and trades to bring the Giants back to prominence. Or at least the playoffs.
Meantime, fans are asking two questions:
Who will the new players be?
2 days ago
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Friday, Nov. 21
And how much will ownership ante up?
The Standard reported on Nov. 1 that the Giants would prefer long-term payroll flexibility and adding players to shorter-term contracts, with chairman Greg Johnson commenting on contracts for pitchers of $100 million or more, “I’d say we’re going to be very cautious about those kinds of signings.”
Regarding increasing the payroll, Johnson said, “We can go up, but I think the risk is having too many people on similar six-year-type deals that create less flexibility to the payroll.”
While the number crunching would make perfect sense in a board room, fans weren’t thrilled, naturally. Especially in the wake of the free-spending Dodgers winning their second straight World Series. Fans want the Giants to spend, spend, spend. Owners prefer a practical approach by showing they’re willing to spend, spend, spend only on certain elite targets such as Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Giants went 0-for-3 in those pursuits, though Adames did accept their $182 million offer. Plus, Posey traded for Rafael Devers and assumed the $250 million left on his contract.
Most of the top free-agent starters are in agent Scott Boras’ stable including Dylan Cease, who set the market by signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with Toronto. Boras also represents Tatsuya Imai, Ranger Suárez, and Zac Gallen. The best pitcher who’s a non-Boras client is Framber Valdez.
A story in the Athletic this week suggested the Giants are out on Imai and other top free-agent pitchers, which aligns with what Johnson told The Standard because Imai and others will command well beyond $100 million. On the flip side, for the right price, Gallen might prove to be the best bargain in the bunch and fit in the Giants’ payroll structure.
Giants chairman Greg Johnson told The Standard in November that the team will be “very cautious” about signing players to nine-figure contracts. | Source: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/The Standard
Contacted for an interview, Boras wasn’t overly concerned with the Giants’ stance on pitchers. In general, the market can change dramatically from November to December to the new year, and a team’s needs and pursuits can also change as the offseason progresses. Better than any other agent, Boras has been successful waiting it out.
“I don’t believe what is written about whether a team is interested or not interested (in a player) unless an executive is quoted as saying it,” Boras said. “Do you know how many times I signed a free agent to a team where there were reports of no interest? The fact that people are asking about the players shows the need, and if you want to have a good team, you fulfill needs.”
Fact is, several Boras clients could help the Giants. Beyond the starting pitchers, he represents outfielder Cody Bellinger, who’d be a perfect solution for right field, and Ha-Seong Kim, a nice fit at second base. Boras also represents 41-year-old Max Scherzer, Vitello’s buddy who could provide rotation depth.
According to an MLB Network report, the Giants “checked in” on Kyle Schwarber, who led the National League with 56 homers and 132 RBIs as Philadelphia’s designated hitter. If the report is a fair representation of the Giants’ thinking, it would add credence to the possibility Bryce Eldridge could be traded.
Eldridge, like Schwarber, is limited defensively. With Devers at first base, there’s not much room for all three left-handed sluggers. And trading Eldridge or any of the Giants’ top prospects would increase the chances of improving the rotation.
Top prospect Bryce Eldridge made his MLB debut with the Giants in September. | Source: Norm Hall/Getty Images
The Reds’ Hunter Greene, Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore, and Twins’ Joe Ryan could be dealt, and all teams could profit from a promising young first baseman such as Eldridge. Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and Boston’s Jarren Duran are among the outfielders who are said to be on the trade block.
As it is, the Giants need to shed some outfielders. With Dean and Wiemer aboard, they’ve simply got too many (25% of their 40-man roster), and until further notice, only two are considered good enough to play every day, Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos.
Marco Luciano and Luis Matos are out of options, and Jerar Encarnación, Drew Gilbert (a Vitello fave from Tennessee), Grant McCray, and Wade Meckler are awaiting opportunities.
A trade or two would trim the list of outfielders and perhaps serve as a path to improve the bullpen. Hentges and Sanmartín will provide help from the left side, but more late-inning arms are needed around Ryan Walker especially with All-Star Randy Rodríguez expected to miss all next season following Tommy John surgery.
Devin Williams was the first elite free-agent reliever to sign, three years and $51 million to the Mets, and Edwin Díaz, Robert Suárez, and old friend Tyler Rogers remain available.