SCOTTSDALE — As the final seconds of Super Bowl 60 faded away, thousands upon thousands across the country had some version of the same thought:
It’s baseball season.
The Giants begin spring training this week when pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, and while every spring has its own storylines, this one is especially oozing with intrigue.
For rookie manager Tony Vitello, the next 40-or-so days in the desert will be his last opportunity to prepare to make the jump from collegiate head coach to major-league manager. For Bryce Eldridge, this will be an opportunity to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. There’s also the World Baseball Classic, which coincides with Cactus League play.
In the coming days, we’ll roll out previews of the specific position groups. For now, here’s a general overview ahead of pitchers and catchers reporting.
Vitello’s first tango
With respect to the Giants’ major-league acquisitions (and highly touted prospect Luis Hernandez), the most important addition the franchise made this offseason was Vitello. It has always been Vitello.
There have been college head coaches who have managed in the majors, the most recent example being the Milwaukee Brewers’ Pat Murphy. Unlike Murphy and others, Vitello is jumping straight from college to the majors with no professional experience — as a player, as a coach, or as a manager.
Vitello will have plenty of support as he prepares for his first season as the Giants’ manager. His coaching staff features Ron Washington (infield coach) and Jayce Tingler (bench coach), a pair of former major-league managers. There are also special advisors Bruce Bochy, Dusty Baker and Ron Wotus, who all have a wealth of knowledge to provide.
Still, the next month-and-a-half in the desert will be a brand-new experience for Vitello. College programs have fall ball, but the scope is much more limited compared to spring training. Given Vitello’s emphasis on player development, it will be interesting to see his level of involvement on a day-to-day basis.
The Bryce is right
When Buster Posey was 20, he was still at Florida State. When Bryce Eldridge was 20, he made his major-league debut.
Eldridge, now 21, joined the Giants last September as the team tried (and failed) to snatch a wild card spot. He didn’t produce in the small sample, hitting .107 over 37 plate appearances, but he exhibited good plate discipline and showcased his ability to smash the baseball.
Over the next six weeks, the Giants will have to determine whether Eldridge is ready for the majors or if he needs more time with Triple-A Sacramento. San Francisco’s recent signing of second baseman Luis Arraez and center fielder Harrison Bader could increase Eldridge’s chances of making the roster because they lengthen the lineup and take less pressure off Eldridge to produce immediately.
The Giants will also have to figure out the imperfect pairing of Eldridge and Rafael Devers at first base and designated hitter. Eldridge is seven years younger and his six-foot-seven frame makes for a big target, but Devers looked competent in his first taste of first base last year and has expressed his preference to play the field.
Posey made his debut in September 2009 but didn’t become a regular until May 2010. Could the Giants use a similar plan for Eldridge?
Matos’ last dance?
There was a time when Marco Luciano and Luis Matos were considered the Giants’ future. By the end of spring, they might both be relegated to the past.
Luciano was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates before the Winter Meetings and is currently in the New York Yankees’ minor-league system after being designated for assignment by the Pirates and Baltimore Orioles. Now, it’s possible that Matos, who is out of minor-league options, could be nearing the end of his San Francisco tenure.
Matos doesn’t have a clear fit on the Opening Day roster. Drew Gilbert didn’t hit all that well in his short time in the majors last season, but featured an above-average glove. Jerar Encarnacion, who’s also out of options, barely played last season due to numerous injuries, but still has elite power and can play first base in a pinch.
The 24-year-old Matos has excellent bat-to-ball skills and a bit of pop, but he’s never really seized a job when given the chance. He’s played more than an entire regular season’s worth of games (178) over the last three seasons, and he’s been worth -1.4 WAR (by FanGraphs’ calculation). He’ll be in the mix to win a spot on the bench, but it’s hard to say that he has a significant edge.
Bullpen blues
If there is one true weakness on this team, it’s the bullpen. A year ago, this unit boasted Randy Rodríguez, Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Ryan Walker and Erik Miller. Now, that unit looks drastically different.
Rogers and Doval were traded at last year’s deadline, while Rodríguez will spend 2026 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. According to FanGraphs’ Depth Charts, San Francisco currently projects to have the third-worst bullpen in baseball next season.
The Giants didn’t invest heavily into their bullpen, their free-agent additions being left-hander Sam Hentges and right-hander Jason Foley, the latter of whom won’t be healthy until midseason. Instead of spending big money on big names, San Francisco will give non-roster invitees such as one-time All-Star Michael Fulmer and former Giant Gregory Santos a chance to win a job.
The Giants could also borrow from last year’s playbook and put one of their starters in the bullpen as they did with Hayden Birdsong last season. San Francisco likely doesn’t prefer to go that route, but the following weeks might make it more of a consideration.
You down with WBC?
The Giants are sending eight players on their 40-man roster to the World Baseball Classic, and none is more important than Logan Webb.
The preseason tournament will disrupt the slow, methodical ramp-up that Webb typically enjoys leading up to Opening Day. His innings total between the Cactus League and the tournament won’t look different compared to previous springs, but the intensity of those innings will be much higher for this time of the year.
The Giants aren’t exactly thrilled about Webb’s participation, and Webb is the player they can least afford to lose. Aside from Webb, there are legitimate question marks with the rest of the rotation. If San Francisco is going to make the postseason, it will need Webb to provide his typical 200 innings and low-to-mid threes ERA.