Post by rog on Aug 29, 2018 14:17:26 GMT -5
Where to begin for next year. Certainly a few holes to fill, and if present players are traded to fill those holes, they will leave holes to fill
I beieve it was Boly who said he would like the Giants to re-sign Derek Holland. Maybe it was Mark. Maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I'm the one who wrote it and was sleep walking at the time. Whatever, the Giants will likely do so to provide a little stability to a rotation that has been ravaged by injuries.
Madison Bumgarner isn't what he once was, but the current version is still pretty good. Probably not a good idea to count on Jeff Samardzija, whose arm woes may have to be solved with a knife. Dereck Rodriguez, Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton have provided enough hope that it might not be unreasonable to expect at least two of them to be in the rotation.
So we're left with a rotation of Bumgarner, Holland and let's say two-and-a-half youngsters. What is missing from that mix is a #2 starter. Probably not at the top of the list, but close.
Bullpen -- Probably enough there to get by. A ready-made closer wouldn't be the end of the world, but where would that come from? Meanwhile Smith, Watson, Strickland, Melancon, Moronta and perhaps Dyson will be enough. The Giants have had good luck picking up guys like Moronta, so to me, this need goes near the bottom of the list.
Catcher -- Check. Posey should be back at or near the beginning of next season, and it would seem logical for Hundley to return.
1B -- Belt tightens up the position on both sides of the ball, but he also might be the one traded to fill another need. Given that Chris Shaw doesn't appear to be ready, the time to trade Brandon would be a winter from now, when the Giants could soon count on Joey Bart. I can envision some combination of Slater, Shaw and Pablo backing up first base when Buster moves behind the plate on Joey's days off.
2B -- I'm not sure how much Joe Panik would bring. Probably not enough for me to want to trade a guy whose value may be down because he's been unlucky at the plate. Plus, whom do the Giants have to take his place? Alen Hanson isn't a great fielder, and he can't hit southpaws.
SS -- Brandon Crawford remains steady at the plate and spectacular in the field.
3B -- For better or worse, the Giants seems stuck with Evan Longoria.
OF -- Steve Duggar backed up by Gorkys will be counted on to handle center field. The Giants need to corner the market on the other two outfield slots.
In an ideal world, Mac Williamson would bounce back for his concussion and make the Giants wonder why they ever had a hold in left field, and Austin Slater would become that scrappy, efficient two-way type of player that makes you forget he has no power. Probably not something the Giants want to count on though, leaving them with the need for one corner outfielder at the least -- and more likely , two.
Andrew McCutchen as the short-term solution to right or left field? Based on a qualifying offer, perhaps for one season. But I think the QO will be up around $18 million this winter, so that's not an insignificant commitment. The one-year money itself though likely wouldn't get in the way of long-term retooling plans. Maybe the Giants roll the dice and trade Brandon Belt for a young outfielder and a young first-baseman outfielder.
As has been the case for I can't remember how long, the outfield should be the top priority. The Giants might have some guys who can contribute by 2020 or 2021, but unless it's Wiliamson and Slater, I'm not so sure about 2019.
I'm thinking two outfielders and a good pitcher. Because of AT&T Park, the Giants might be able to attract a #2 pitcher on the free agent market -- assuming one is there. The problem is that a team needs to be built from inside, not from older free agents.
Once again this winter the Giants' front office will have a difficult job -- unless they do what seems prudent and rebuild. Unlike last winter, the Giants have a lot of money available this time. A fair amount of that could disappear into a contract extension for Madison Bumgarner, but a workable amount would still be left.
Last winter the Giants had to be really creative just to keep their playoff hopes alive. This winter they will have the money to take better advantage of their creativity.
I beieve it was Boly who said he would like the Giants to re-sign Derek Holland. Maybe it was Mark. Maybe it was my imagination. Maybe I'm the one who wrote it and was sleep walking at the time. Whatever, the Giants will likely do so to provide a little stability to a rotation that has been ravaged by injuries.
Madison Bumgarner isn't what he once was, but the current version is still pretty good. Probably not a good idea to count on Jeff Samardzija, whose arm woes may have to be solved with a knife. Dereck Rodriguez, Andrew Suarez and Chris Stratton have provided enough hope that it might not be unreasonable to expect at least two of them to be in the rotation.
So we're left with a rotation of Bumgarner, Holland and let's say two-and-a-half youngsters. What is missing from that mix is a #2 starter. Probably not at the top of the list, but close.
Bullpen -- Probably enough there to get by. A ready-made closer wouldn't be the end of the world, but where would that come from? Meanwhile Smith, Watson, Strickland, Melancon, Moronta and perhaps Dyson will be enough. The Giants have had good luck picking up guys like Moronta, so to me, this need goes near the bottom of the list.
Catcher -- Check. Posey should be back at or near the beginning of next season, and it would seem logical for Hundley to return.
1B -- Belt tightens up the position on both sides of the ball, but he also might be the one traded to fill another need. Given that Chris Shaw doesn't appear to be ready, the time to trade Brandon would be a winter from now, when the Giants could soon count on Joey Bart. I can envision some combination of Slater, Shaw and Pablo backing up first base when Buster moves behind the plate on Joey's days off.
2B -- I'm not sure how much Joe Panik would bring. Probably not enough for me to want to trade a guy whose value may be down because he's been unlucky at the plate. Plus, whom do the Giants have to take his place? Alen Hanson isn't a great fielder, and he can't hit southpaws.
SS -- Brandon Crawford remains steady at the plate and spectacular in the field.
3B -- For better or worse, the Giants seems stuck with Evan Longoria.
OF -- Steve Duggar backed up by Gorkys will be counted on to handle center field. The Giants need to corner the market on the other two outfield slots.
In an ideal world, Mac Williamson would bounce back for his concussion and make the Giants wonder why they ever had a hold in left field, and Austin Slater would become that scrappy, efficient two-way type of player that makes you forget he has no power. Probably not something the Giants want to count on though, leaving them with the need for one corner outfielder at the least -- and more likely , two.
Andrew McCutchen as the short-term solution to right or left field? Based on a qualifying offer, perhaps for one season. But I think the QO will be up around $18 million this winter, so that's not an insignificant commitment. The one-year money itself though likely wouldn't get in the way of long-term retooling plans. Maybe the Giants roll the dice and trade Brandon Belt for a young outfielder and a young first-baseman outfielder.
As has been the case for I can't remember how long, the outfield should be the top priority. The Giants might have some guys who can contribute by 2020 or 2021, but unless it's Wiliamson and Slater, I'm not so sure about 2019.
I'm thinking two outfielders and a good pitcher. Because of AT&T Park, the Giants might be able to attract a #2 pitcher on the free agent market -- assuming one is there. The problem is that a team needs to be built from inside, not from older free agents.
Once again this winter the Giants' front office will have a difficult job -- unless they do what seems prudent and rebuild. Unlike last winter, the Giants have a lot of money available this time. A fair amount of that could disappear into a contract extension for Madison Bumgarner, but a workable amount would still be left.
Last winter the Giants had to be really creative just to keep their playoff hopes alive. This winter they will have the money to take better advantage of their creativity.
