Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi hasn’t been all that aggressive since he grabbed the team’s reins in November 2018. Zaidi has instead taken a more reserved approach with his rebuilding club, seldom making a notable splash via free agency or on the trade market. That said, second base has been an area of consistent change since the Zaidi era began, and the Giants have a quite a few choices for the position as the new season draws closer.
The Giants tried several different options at the keystone last year, but they had a hard time finding a solution at the spot. Joe Panik garnered more starts at second than any other Giant, though he had such a poor season that the club released him during the first week of August. Trade deadline acquisition Scooter Gennett lasted less than a month in San Francisco after bombing in its uniform. Similarly, fellow veteran Yangervis Solarte – who began the season on the Giants’ roster – wasn’t long for their roster.
On the other hand, the Giants did receive decent numbers from Mauricio Dubon, whom they picked up from the Brewers in another deadline deal, as well as Donovan Solano. It was rather surprising that Solano logged a .330/.360/.456 line with 1.3 fWAR in 228 plate appearances, as he hadn’t been especially productive with the Marlins and Yankees from 2012-16, didn’t appear in the majors from 2017-18 and joined the Giants on a minor league deal. The 32-year-old’s a candidate to see time at second yet again this season, but at least some skepticism is warranted in regards to his 2019 output. It was buoyed by an impossible-to-sustain .409 batting average on balls in play, after all, and Solano’s BB/K ratio (0.20) was only about halfway to the league average (0.37).
Dubon had similar struggles in the BB/K department (0.25), but it was just his first season in the bigs. The 25-year-old hit .274/.306/.434 in 111 PA between Milwaukee and San Francisco. He has also been a nicely regarded prospect for a while, so it stands to reason the Giants are hopeful he’ll emerge as a useful piece somewhere on their roster. That could mean making him their everyday second baseman or a utility player who moves all over the diamond.
Aside from the holdovers, the Giants have a few new faces vying for reps at second. That includes Wilmer Flores, whom they signed to a two-year, $6MM guarantee a couple weeks back. The former Met and Diamondback is another jack-of-all-trades type, having lined up at various infield positions since his career began in 2013. Offensively, the righty-swinging Flores is known for holding his own against lefties, but he hasn’t been a slouch versus same-handed hurlers. In fact, Flores has shown himself to be a viable option against all pitchers; between that and the value of his contract, he’ll get a lot of playing time for the Giants, though that doesn’t mean he’ll be their main pick at second.
Flores wasn’t San Francisco’s only second base-capable pickup in the offseason. The team claimed Kean Wong, brother of the Cardinals’ Kolten Wong, in November, and signed ex-White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez to a minor league contract a month ago.
Wong’s still just 24 and coming off a couple of respectable Triple-A seasons, but he has almost no major league track record to speak of, and with three options remaining, the Giants could send him down without consequence. They don’t have the same luxury with Sanchez, a rare reigning Gold Glove winner who had to settle for a non-roster invitation in the ensuing offseason. Problem is that the switch-hitting 27-year-old hasn’t enjoyed much success at the plate, where he owns a .244/.299/.357 in 2,438 career attempts. As a result, he’s facing an uphill climb to open 2020 in the majors.
Sanchez’s goal is to win a second straight Gold Glove, as John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote Tuesday, but he’ll have to make the team first. As someone who’s not on the Giants’ 40-man roster, he’ll have his work cut out for him over the next few weeks.
I love Wilmer Flores, but I really hope Dubon gets a lot of playing time so that he develops fully. I do hope Flores can find a place to play though, maybe 3b if Longo gets traded.
Flores will probably get the nod vs lhp over Belt at first base.
Dubon and Yas are the really only safe bets to get “everyday” atbats. Dubon will log them at 2B, SS, and in the OF, though, as needed.
None of the old veterans are getting traded. Fans just have to realize this team is not going to have “everday players.” Crawford, Posey, Belt and Longoria will not start more than 100-120 games a year for a myriof of reasons. The hope is they play better being more strategically used (and with rest) and the fill-ins like Pablo, Flores, Dubon (only a fill in at short), play well enough to mix it all up and have a somewhat capable offense.
Flores can’t be the 3B because he’s the 1B against lefties and possibly the 2B against righties. It’s going to take a month or two to fully crystalize, and then Bart might come up and it might have to managed again. And Farhan will make a trade/waiver claim and on and on. Players will play, just no one is going to be guaranteed 150 games (and the only good bet for that is Yas and Dubon).
SF is going to be the TB Rays of the West Coast offensive wise, but instead of rotating intriguing young players in and out of the lineup based on platoon advantages and whatnot, they will be trying to cover up warts of their old core they can’t trade.
It’s the same basic principle, though: a team that can’t afford the highest priced talent trying to create a good enough offense in the aggregate rotating players that for whatever reason can’t be trusted to log 600 PAs in a season. And MLB is helping them out this year with the 26th man and three-batter minimum rule that gives the advantage to the offense, especially in the NL.
The Giants consistently have a high payroll, they just haven’t spent wisely. There is no correlation to a relatively small market team like Tampa Bay, which doesn’t spend a lot but actually does spend wisely. The Giants are just trying to tread water, and their offense will continue to be weak this upcoming season.
Yeah. But they will be platoon city like Tampa.
you missed his point.
Don’t believe I did. tampa has better hitters than SF, yes. And need to do this year in and year out becuase of budget reasons. But 2020 will be similar in Tampa and SF. Like 2 players will start more than 100-120 games.
it is absolutely not the same thing – The giants can spend what they want but they have baggage on the roster and are either looking to trade or waiting out the contracts that will all end in the next couple of years, in the meantime they are rotating young and reinventing players that they are looking to flip so that they can continue to strenthen the farm that has been depleted for so many years
The Giants. Lol
Rightyspecialist. Lol. You have to what he does with his lefthand.
Dubon should be the everyday shortstop. Unless Crawford dropped 30 pounds and learned to hit over the off-season, he is no longer a MLB quality player.
He can only be everyday SS if the Giants find a reliable CF (most likely Davis) and 2B (who knows, maybe Flores?). As constructed, the Giants don’t have “everyday players” and really can’t.
I feel like we didn’t give Scooter G. enough time time to show us what he’s got. 20 plus HR the previous 2 season. Injury marred season but should be in full health this year. When’s the last time we had a 2nd baseman hit 20 HR’s? Hell, I’d take 10 HR from our 2nd baseman.
The fact that he’s still a FA should tell you where he stands right now.
His AB’s for the Giants last year were non-competitive
He wasn’t going to be tendered a contract and the team was falling out of contention (and iirc his roster spot went to Dubon). Farhan did it perfect, per usual.
Like not trading Bumgarner or Smith…perfect, per usual. It’s hilarious how delusional so many Giants fans are regarding Zaidi. Enjoy Kapler as manager. Perfect Farhan decision, per usual.
I agree. Now we have to hit it on really second round picks. Possible yes… but unwise. Leaning on your scouts to have evaluating other teams minor leagues and getting those players far better and the odds much higher. Our GM bent under pressure.
Not tradeing Bum and Smith was the perfect move. Offers were off point and the draft is deep. They now have 4 picks in the first like 50 picks. Don’t hate, bruh.
Draft picks are more valuable for trading for rentals in a few years when they might need a piece at the deadline to compete. They got plenty of lottery tickets and organizational depth by trading Melancon, Dyson, and Pomeranz. Saying they screwed up in not selling low on Bum or Smith is just lazy.
since we’re on the topic of delusional. what are you expectations?
Me? Between 65-85 wins,
Most likely: the pitching struggles/takes time to come together, the offense improves thanks to platoons, Sharkbait and Gausman and maybe Smyly are moved at the deadline. 75 wins.
Best case: Pitching comes together, Team starts maybe like 13-17 or maybe even 15-15. Bart follows up a hot spring with a great start at AAA and is called up in late April/early May. The team is .500 ish in July, Farhan acquires a whole bunch of cheap rentals. Webb, Hjelle and maybe even Corry are good replacements for a traded Shark and Gausman and we have a surprise run. Maybe even Ramos comes up for a month?
Worst case: the pithing falls apart, the batters get injured, and they lose 100+.
My general theory is that anyone that thinks they know with certainly what will happen to the 2020 Giants doesn’t know what they are talking about. They are a 77-win team that has changed 75% of the roster since this time a year ago. The additions are not inspiring in a vacuum, but this is a team sport with one of the great baseball masters at the helm (Farhan) and a new manager that will be willing to do anything innovative to get an extra win.
They don’t feel comfortable improving the top of their roster in this market, so they are focusing on the bottom and hoping to find some extras wins in the aggregate. And a couple of their best prospects are reaching AA and AAA. It could go either way.
Fahran netted Dubon and Davis out of spare parts; and got rid of the Melancon deal for nothing. At the time, the team was something like 3.5 games out of a wildcard spot. I know that playoff probability was way against the Giants, but I respect the situation to try and be competitive.
both of them returned a draft pick, if the offers weren’t any good the picks may be more valuable in the long run
I would expand it to 60-90 wins – the giants this year are a real crap shoot
Scooter Gennett. Lol
Rightyspecialist is “special”. Giants have won more WS this millennium than your team. And that’s the funniest part of your poor sport hate.
Yolmer will make the team. Book it. He’s been working with new Giants hitting coach Justin Viele since November–before Viele was even hired and he recommended Yolmer to his new bosses immediately. 2.1 War last year and he can’t hit any worse. Even modest increases and he’s worth 3 wins.
Not so fast, my friend. The best thing Farhan covets is inventory management. Anyone that doesn’t need to be on the 40-man coming out of spring is not a lock to be on the 40-man coming out of spring. Yolmer can work on his swing in AAA and still be a major contributor to the MLB season before it’s all said and done, similar to how the organization handled Yas and Vogt last season.
And the Giants are going to need to get a backup catcher on the 40-man already coming out of spring (I think they have an extra spot as it stands today) and a lot of non-roster invite arms are in camp as well (Cahill, Ross, etc.) along with Pablo, who has a shot to break camp as a pinch hitter potentially. Yolmer may have to start in AAA just to help out the depth at another position..
And add Hamilton as a pinch runner/defensive replacement option who is also on a minor league deal, and he is more of an option if Davis doesn’t make the team (I don’t count Duggar as an option for CF cuz he stinks right now).
So, basically, Yolmer is not only competing with the infielders for a spot on the 26-man roster, but he’s competing with the outfielders and pitchers for a spot on the 40-man roster. It does help him that he can backup 3B, though, and Pablo won’t be able to play there to start the season it seem. But Flores is also an emergency option at the hot corner, so ….
Big difference between Yolmer and Yaz/Vogt. Yolmer had big league offers, and he has no options remaining. He came here with the understanding he would have a real shot at the 2B job. Giants know they will lose him to another team if he’s not on the 26 man, and he’s too valuable to lose. Farhan has told all the guys with options they should be prepared to be sent down at one point or another. This isn’t my opinion, its what has been stated publicly by Farhan. Pablo won’t be ready for a few months, so that has no bearing.
All the others mentioned like Cahill/Ross, Giants are trying to build up as many trade assets as possible so the guys without remaining options will receive every chance to make the club. Many of those pitchers will be trade assets in July. Then they’ll let all the kids play after that.
Yolmer too valuable to lose? He’s a part time fill in type who should NOT have gotten all those mlb at bats with Sox . Great glove no stick
Yep, on his minimum contract he is valuable. His swing is probably still a work in progress but thats ok. His defense is amazing. 2 war + for that price. I would be shocked if he didn’t make the team.
He’s on a MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT (i.e. not on the 40-man roster). Options and whatevere don’t matter. The only consideration is if there’s an opt out clause.
If Yolmer had big league offers and took a minor league contract with SF, then that’s on him. He’s off the 40-man right now. How does he get on over arms, Billy Hamilton, and Pablo Sandoval? That’s his biggest hurdle.
Easier to get him on the 40-man roster after someone is placed on the 60-day IL or DFA’d in season.
Sanchez will stick and play 2nd 75% of the time. He wouldn’t have signed otherwise. My worthless opinion however.
Just because he signs a contract he gets major league playing time? Man, I should get me a minor league contract!
Yes, we all know he’s on a minor league contract. Options absolutely matter– because there are others on the 40 man that can be optioned. And he can reject being sent to Sac, become a free agent, which he would. One other thing thats small–Yolmer is a helluva guy and Farhan thus far has shown that matters to him as well. He will get time to prove his bat.
He’s not on the 40 man roster right now. He has to be added to the 40 man first before any of that is a concern.
If the Giants don’t do anything, he heads to AAA without being on the 40 man roster. There’s a reason they didn’t offer him a MLB contract.
Maybe he has an opt out, but most of those aren’t triggered on Opening Day. And if he’s not hitting the ball, why does it matter? The Giants have plenty of players that can’t hit the ball.
Wow. I clearly meant he had a pretty good idea he’d make the team or he wouldn’t have signed.
Meh. He signed before Flores, tho.
No he has the right to elect free agency if he doesn’t make the 26 man and its a high probability he would. The timing of that deal and that he would take a minor league deal was great for Farhan. Because it solved one more piece of the puzzle and he could then move on to other deals. And since it was a minor league deal he didn’t have put anybody on waivers to do it.
And your comment about Flores ties in here too….we waited to make the Flores signing official until the first day they were allowed to place Moronta on the 60 day list. Therefore we signed both players without losing anyone off of the 40 man roster. Perfect roster manipulation by Farhan.
Yup. All about roster manipulation. Maybe Farhan thinks he can sneak a guy through waivers and to AAA at the end of the spring when every team has a roster crunch, but the 40 man (after DFA’ing Burch Smith) doesn’t have many candidates. Is getting Yolmer on the 40 for Opening Day worth potenitally losing a Kean Wong or a Joe McCarthy? We’ll see.
And he may have an opt out or he may not, but a lot of those aren’t triggered on Opening Day. I think a lot of times the deadline is late April.
Do not mention pitchers as holding back a position player. I believe the new rules are 13 pitcher maximum so you will see every team 13-13. Yolmer will get a job as he carries more than one glove given his bat he will not get a gg again. He will not see enough time at one position. Maybe the league switch brings him up enough at the plate to hit 250 and he gets 309 ab. Best case for him. He will make team and play 2 3rd and a little outfield He’s quick to steal a bag and also get thrown out trying. He needs a lot of coaching. Valuable clubhouse guy too
The 40 man is a bigger problem for Yolmer. Every guy that goes on the 40 man means someone else has to come off. I think they are at 39 after DFA’ing Smith, 60-daying Morantas and adding Flores, but they will need to add a backup catcher, so that will be filled (or has Garcia been 60’d yet).
My point is if the Giants have to get arms (like Ross or like Cahill) on the 40 man, then they may be less of a hurry to get Yolmer on it, since there aren’t too many obvious candidates to be DFA’d.
pitchers can block hitters on the 40-man because there is no maximum for pitchers on that (and Farhan will want a lot on there to option aggressively in season).
I mean, this isn’t that hard. If the Giants wanted him on the ML team when he signed, they would have signed him to a major league contract. They didn’t, so he has to earn his way on to the 40 man and 26 man rosters. Just assuming he’s gonna do that is foolhardy. He can’t hit.
Seems like the perfect guy to send to AAA for 2-3 weeks to see if he can find a way to hit with a new swing/approach/etc.
The Giants will be a heavy platoon team. Guys like Belt & Crawford aren’t going to play vs lefties like they’ve in the past.
Wilmer will take some PA’s vs lefties @ 1b & Dubon @ SS vs lefties. They can battle it out at 2b for PA’s vs righties.
Despite putrid O numbers, Yolmer has put up 8.2 rWAR the past 3 years…..if he has a good camp I could see the Giants keeping him for a bit to add to the 2b mix & also as a utility IF
Solano I believe has an option remaining, I think he may break camp as a AAA guy, as will Wong.
There was a lot of offseason chatter about Dubon playing some CF but he hasn’t taken any reps there yet, I’m not feeling it TBH
Dubon will get some reps, but he’s not the preferred option. He’s most likely a fallback option to Davis and Yas in that order, I would think (Slater’s development in RF also impacts this if Yas is to play CF). A lot of moving parts, but Dubon is shagging balls. He just hasn’t appeared in a game. Dubon can also start in CF with a middle infield of Crawford and Solano/Flores against righties, too, and then when one of those two get on base in the middle innings, Hamilton can come in to pinch run and stay in for defense, moving Dubon to the infield midgame.
I think the roster crunch might lead Yolmer (and maybe Solano even) to start in AAA. The Giants bullpen is a complete crapshoot and a lot of arms are on minor league deals there (Cahill, Ross, etc.). Farhan loves inventory management and if those guys have to get on the 40- and 26-man, then others will have to come off the 26-man.
13 position players, right? Let’s say 4 OF, Dubon as a swing between IF/OF, 2 catchers, and 5 infielders? With Pablo as a pinch hitter option and Hamilton as a pinch runner/defensive option. Crawford, Belt, Flores, and Longoria are 4 infielders., leaving Solano, Sanchez and Ruf fighting with Hamilton and Sandoval for one roster spot. It’ll be tough squeeze for Yolmer, basically.
Yolmer has to earn a spot on the 40-man and the 26-man and the 40-man may be a harder hurdle for him at this point. Once the season starts and guys start going on the 60-day IL or start playing badly enough to get DFA’d, it could be easier to get Yolmer on the 40.
Yolmer most likely has an opt out if he isn’t going to make the team out of spring training (he had other interest), so if the Giants like him at all he’ll break camp with them
I don’t see Ruf as being a factor at all, & unless Duggar blows it, Hamilton neither. He probably has an opt out but I don’t know where he’d have a better shot at PT. He could resign after opting out & agreeing to play AAA for a bit with maybe a Memorial Day opt out if he hasn’t been called up yet.
Could be that Panda doesn’t break camp with the Giants if he isn’t ready defensively. They could stash him on the DL for a couple weeks or more in order to keep a Hamilton or Sanchez in the mix
Lots of more or less mediocre to replacement level options here
@Ninth 3 Year Plan: I don’t see Ruf either, might be in case of injury guy. He came back from Korea because he and his wife live in Phoenix and she’s pregnant. So I think his being there is purely a matter of convenience. Duggar I have no idea.
Hamilton–I thought the same initially but Kapler has been talking about what he can do with him on the roster in the past tense. Which really makes it sound like they will offer him a spot unless he completely tanks in spring training. Panda is indeed not going to be ready for a while. He’s cleared to bat, but not play the field yet. Lot of moving parts!
Unless Duggar blows it? Duggar done did blow it. He can’t hit and they have 4 other CF options besides him. Duggar’s going to SAC is about the only thing known about CF at this point.
I think there’s a real chance its 14 position players. Remember the 3 batter rule which eliminates specialist pitchers, which is why we have so many pitchers on the 40 man with recent starting pitching experience. You don’t need as many pitchers as a result and I think it will be an opportunity to get an extra platoon guy on the 26 man and help the lineup. Some players won’t make the 26 man initially, not because they aren’t good enough, but because they have options. Slater is being groomed as a super utility and probably starts in Sac. I don’t know what to think of Duggar, he has alot to prove.
Good point, Panda. I am just assuming 13 pitchers.
Duggar can’t hit and is all defense, but they have a better all-defense no bat option in Hamilton because he is also an elite baserunner. Not much else to think but that. Duggar will go to AAA. CF is Davis or Yas with Dubon and Hamilton as coverage.
Thank you Panda. Hardly any writers are talking about this. There’ll be way more subbing/pinch hitting with pitchers going full innings and also less pitching replacements. So, in NL, rosters usually had 8 position starters, 5 bench players and 12 pitchers.
With a 26 man roster, you add one, heck maybe 2 bench players and still have 12 or maybe even 11 pitchers. It’s been 12 pitchers typically on 25 man rosters
Off the subject but there’s also been little mention of the difference with Kaplers coaching staff this year versus his staff last year. His giants staff was chosen under his and Zaidis direction. In philly, he was pretty much hired with that staff mostly in place.
The current players are high on him. There are no Harpers on this team. When you put your eggs in one players basket (Harper) and he’s just average, it’s difficult to find enough success.
That’s something everyone is forgetting as well. Philly for a bunch of different reasons was just an awful spot for Kapler to succeed as his first gig (no pitching in a hitter’s park, irrational media/fans, unrealistic expectations, fortnite, harper, etc.). SF is basically the exact opposite.
And if players don’t jive 100 with Kapler, there are 13 other coaches for them to bond with. I think there’s plenty of reasons it could work.
Oh, so Gabe had the deck stacked against him in Philadelphia. He was the manager, yet nothing was his responsibility or his fault when his teams collapsed every September.
He didn’t change the lineup every night, he didn’t run his bullpen into the ground, he didn’t call for a relief pitcher who hadn’t warmed up, and he didn’t bench guys who weren’t aware they were being disciplined.
Sadly, you appear to be as clueless as Gabe. Good luck with that.
Gabe brought in his own coaching to the Phillies.
Just here to make sure everyone knows the Giants aren’t doing “everyday players” in 2020, unless a youngster earns it. It’ll be 100% Farhan ball.
Dubon, Solano/Sanchez, and Flores to start the year but by June any number of dudes from AAA (or a dozen MLB organizations for that matter) could be the starter.
Buckle up, kids. It’s going to be a wild ride with Gabe at the helm. The number of possible lineups is limitless…
I can’t wait. I love baseball strategy. I’d prefer the Giants to have loads of good talent, but this will work for now.
No lineup will be intact come the 6th inning. It’ll be LIT.
I agree. The righty and lefty lineups, all that will be interesting.
Smyly and Gausman have promise, too. The bullpen arms are intriguing. Things aren’t as dismal as a lot of internet commentators seem to believe.
I truly appreciate the silver sliver of a lining you’ve all found in this massive dark cloud of a roster. The Giants are in the midst of the same version of baseball nuclear winter the Phillies went through and and the Tigers are currently going through. Your optimal is awe inspiring.
Nah. Phillies and Tigers were/are intentionally tanking. Giants aren’t. They were actually able to sign some guys other teams wanted (Gausman, Pence, yolmer). It’ll be a quick turnaround in SF and we have already seen the bottom (2017).
Call it whatever you please, but Gausman, Pence, Yolmer were picked off of the refuse pile. The Giants still haven’t hit bottom.
Negative. Houston wanted Pence,. Dodgers wanted Gausman, Yolmer had major league offers. 2017 was the bottom.. Gorkys and Kelby are long gone.
Okay, Pollyanna. Your optimism is commendable, absurd but commendable.
Might be good time to send the Shark or Johnny to Nyy? For a outfielder. This is a tops 80 win team. I really like some of the kids and I get the loyalty thing. But this team needs replace pieces. I’m not calling for a trade of Posey or Crawford. But this might be the time to trade A get a piece. I believe the Yankees and the Dodgers are in a have to win now mode. Both, do not enough pitching to win. And I believe they are the two teams facing each other at the end of it all. Johnny in NY with no dreads? The Shark in pinstripes? I mean look at the Dodgers line up and bench! No weakness but that bullpen and back end of the rotation is kinda not good. And the Yanks lost a starter. Johnny could be a 16 game winner for us but we ended up below 500.
No way this group wins 80 games. Lol. All this chatter in the comment section about this guy vs that guy is all meaningless. None of these guys are impact guys. Conversely, they almost all become interchangeable.
You can’t polish a turd
Polishing turds? So that is what you do with your left hand. You really are special!
I said the top win total would be 80 games and that’s with many things going right and no major injuries. You polish turds? I bet the homeless supply more than enough work for you.
@Buster28 I have us winning 80 currently. Could be more or less depending on what happens at the deadline. I think Shark will be here the whole year because we have too many young pitchers that need to control there innings count this year,and then depending on the year he has he might receive a QO. Johnny more likely gets traded along with Smyly, Guasman, Belt and a host of other relievers.
Since there is a ton of relief pitching depth, if we’re above .500 at the deadline its possible we may buy a good hitter or two. Bart will almost certainly be called up at that time, maybe Ramos. Who knows, depending on the trades and progression throughout the year the lineup might be looking real nice on August 1st.
I like them for anywhere between 65 to 85 wins. 75 is the most likely, but there is a path to .500 and a little above, it just requires everything to go right.
Almost all the arms have upside (except Sharkbait). People tend to forget that. Now, the odds that they all come together are long, but the bullpen came together last year. And there is depth at the very least. The lineup also should be improved. 7-8 above average hitters by OPS+ last year. Now, takes some imagination because it will be a lot of mixing and matching. No lineup will be the same day to day, or first inning to sixth inning.
Traditional baseball fans look at the roster and say “Brandon Belt’s your first baseman? He sucks.” Fans or people following the team know he’s not the first baseman. He may start 100-120 games when a righty is on the mound, but Flores is the 1B vs lefties, and then Bart may come up and get some time at 1B, too. Belt could log some time in left like he has previous. He could turn into mostly a defensive replacement. The possibilities are endless. Pablo also hit lefties well last year and can play first base.
Cueto should stay in SF to anchor. Sharkbait would be awful in Yank Stadium and should stay in SF until July to eat innnings until other options are more ready.
There’s no incentive for the Yankees to trade for those two. How many games do they win without Severino? 95? That still puts them in the heart of the division race vs. Tampa.
That’s funny…the Yanks would love to have Johnny. Your saying that they wouldn’t want a healthy starter that has a track record ? Hummmmm
The Giants infield will be a strength this year, and it will be predicated on using LESS of Crawford, Belt and Longoria. Sanchez is not without some offensive upside (2017: .267/.319/12 HRs) but must cut down on the strikeouts. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Dubon at SS and Sanchez at 2b much of the season with Flores, Solano and Sandoval moving in and out. But since Dubon can also play CF, this offers the roster the most flexibility AWAY from the aging (and unproductive) vets.
Davis winning the CF job and playing well would do wonders for this team. Allows Yas to stay in RF and Dubon to focus on the infield. If it has to be Yas in CF and Slater in RF, then Dubon and Hamilton are more backup roles in CF, testing the flexibility more.
CF is the key cog for the offense right now, but either way, I’m not worrying too much about the offense. Gausman and Smyly have to pitch well and they need to build a bullpen fast.
And no, Duggar is not an option in CF for me. He has to start in AAA.
I think Hamilton is a waste of space. He has proven over his six-year Major League career that he can’t hit (with a lifetime .297 OBP), so even his speed shouldn’t be overvalued.
I still like Slater and Dickerson (if he can stay on the field). But you’re right, if Davis could anchor CF it would be a terrific boon for the team. Like you, I don’t think Duggar will ever be able to hit ML pitching.
Hamilton’s best value will be as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. They could get really creative with him. Maybe like bring him in for someone as soon as the 4th or 5th inning as a runner to try to steal a run, then maybe he stays in for defense. I don’t expect him to be hitting in the beginning of the game very often.
I still think he’s wasted roster space, space the 2020 Giants can ill afford. But I guess we’ll know more in a month.
It’s a free roster spot compared to last year. No harm no foul. That being said, if they think they need the roster spot for an arm or want Pablo to start the season with the team for pinch hitting, then BH can go to AAA at first and come up once someone hits the 60-day IL or is DFA’d.
His competition is with Pablo as a pinch hitter and Yolmer as a gold glove, but he is probably needed more on the roster if Davis doesn’t make the team.
Fellas, don’t sleep on Alex Dickerson, he was arguably the Giants best hitter when healthy, nice 2-run double yesterday. He can mash, just has to stay healthy.
The lineup will be fine. Not a world beater, but not awful. And the depth will have them in good position to do some damage in the late innings with new 3-batter rule (offense had positive run differential last year after 4th inning as well).
Lf: pence/Dick
Cf & RF: Davis/yas/slater
C: Posey/Heineman/Bart
1B: belt/Flores/Sandoval/bart
2B: who the hell knows
3B: longo/Sandoval/Flores?
Ss: Crawford/Dubon
The pitching is the huge key this year. Some surprises em there and they can be .500 ish
The rotation beyond Cueto is a disaster. Shark will regress (I wish they’d trade him now while he has value). Gausman, Smyly, Beede have had plenty of chances and have stunk up the place. Who knows about the bullpen. No way this team is .500. Lucky if we can win 74 games.
There’s a path to .500. The Opening Day roster this year will be a lot better than the OD roster 2019, and that team ended up winning 77. Now, the Diamondbacks improved, but this squad gets off to a surprising start, calls up Bart and then Farhan adds all the rentals he possibly can for cheap/free is how they are .500. It’s a longshot, but this team will not start the year with Holland, Pomeranz, Joe, Reed, or Parra on the roster and that is a good thing.
The bullpen is a crapshoot and will be the biggest key, but no one saw Melancon and Dyson becoming good last year, either.
Farhan essentially replaced everyone that was lost last year except Smith, Dyson, and Melancon. Smith is a real loss, but Melancon and Dyson were nothing special, so I don’t think they turn into a 100+ loss team all of the sudden because they don’t have a closer, especially when some of the prospects will arrive midseason. We’ll see.
Shark might regress, but there’s no real reason to think that. He really figured things out last year. Its not a coincidence his year turned for the better when he stopped throwing his 2 seamer, slider so much and threw more 4 seamers and cutters. I’m pretty high on him for this year. The rest of the staff have alot of promise. They will most likely be pitching with better information than they had before, Smyly with better health, in a better ballpark. Also–i just have so much faith in our front office–they have a vision. They’re going to put player’s in the best possible position to succeed.
I believe that Sanchez will have more games at second than anyone. Article was shortsighted imo
He’ll have to hit better than he has for like 2 years. Once Bart comes up, he will probs be the RH platoon partner for Belt, meaning Flores will need time at 2B as well.