The San Francisco Giants are a few steps behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the loaded National League West. The San Diego Padres are one of the top teams in the league, too, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are still attempting to contend.
But the Giants likely won’t be able to get to the World Series unless they improve their pitching staff. Their staff was decimated during the Rafael Devers trade, but the Giants could dive into free agency to add a pitcher or two.
Eric Treuden of Just Baseball recently predicted the Giants would bolster their pitching staff by signing veteran pitcher Merrill Kelly away from the Texas Rangers. Kelly is projected to sign a $30 million deal, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic.
“The Giants are plenty familiar with Kelly by now, as he spent the first seven years of his MLB career in the NL West on the Diamondbacks,” Treuden wrote Saturday. “The 37-year-old is not likely going to command a significant financial commitment this offseason and has a lengthy track record of consistency and durability. The Giants could easily have him be this offseason’s version of Justin Verlander.”
The Giants need to make a few big moves, but they’ll need to complement these big moves with some affordable ones. Adding Kelly would be one of the affordable moves.
He could fill the same role that Justin Verlander was in this year. Kelly is reliable and consistent, though he’s unlikely to dominate too many games like some of the top names on the market could. If the Giants can add Kelly and another big name pitcher, they’ll be in a very good spot next year.
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