The Giants are widely expected to be one of the league’s most active teams this offseason, with the front office reloading after an underwhelming 2022 season. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi met with reporters (including John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle) this evening and confirmed the team could play near the top of the market.
Asked about the club’s free agent priorities, Zaidi told the media “from a financial standpoint, there would be nobody that would be out of our capability.” He went on to note they’ve already had discussions with representatives for free agent shortstops who’ve expressed a willingness to move to second base in deference to Brandon Crawford (via Jon Morosi of MLB.com). Teams technically aren’t allowed to negotiate contract terms with free agents from other teams until tomorrow evening, but they can discuss more general concepts like roster fit during the exclusive negotiation period.
Zaidi didn’t specify the players involved, although it’s not hard to infer he’s speaking about the top shortstops on the market. Carlos Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson are going to be priority targets for a number of the game’s biggest-spending teams. It’s notable that Zaidi spoke of potentially moving an external pickup to the other side of the bag while keeping Crawford at shortstop, although it’s not clear if that’s an absolute requirement for any player under consideration. Scott Boras, who represents both Correa and Bogaerts, told reporters he hasn’t heard from teams looking to push either player off the position (link via Bob Nightengale of USA Today).
While adding a top shortstop is plausible for a San Francisco club looking to get younger and more athletic this winter, Zaidi and his group are sure to cast a wide net. The mention of the financial wherewithal to pursue any player available will lead to further speculation about the market’s top free agent. The Giants are sure to be linked to Aaron Judge throughout the winter, as they’re indeed among the clubs most well-positioned for that kind of expenditure. San Francisco has roughly $72.5MM in guaranteed commitments on the books, pending a call on Evan Longoria’s option. Even with a fairly heavy arbitration class, the Giants have plenty of room before approaching this year’s $155MM Opening Day mark, and they’re nowhere near the franchise-record heights that pushed $200MM.
Of course, San Francisco is facing a few potential key departures. Ace Carlos Rodón opted out of the second year of his deal and is back on the open market. Zaidi confirmed the club’s obvious decision to tag him with a $19.65MM qualifying offer (via Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area), which Rodón is a lock to reject in pursuit of a deal north of nine figures. That’d entitle the Giants to a compensatory draft choice between Competitive Balance Round B and the third round (roughly 75th overall) in next year’s draft if the star southpaw departs.
San Francisco also sees corner outfielder Joc Pederson hit the open market, and while he certainly won’t receive a QO, Zaidi reiterated the team would like to keep him around (Shea link). The lefty-hitting outfielder posted a .274/.353/.521 line after signing a $6MM guarantee last offseason, and the club has discussed a potential extension as far back as September. Pederson is sure to beat $6MM this time around and looks to have a good shot at a multi-year contract after his quality platform year.
As a huge Giants fan, I’m all for keeping Pederson around… but ONLY as a DH. His defense is lazy and awful.
Concur.
Hopefully they can land Correa, move Craw to third and then work on getting someone to replace Rodon and Belt.
@davemlaw When both players are excellent at SS and only one of them has ever played 3B (and was pretty good at it) why would you move the player that has never played that position before?
Oh that’s easy. Crawford is a forever Giant and team player who has one year left on his current contract. He’ll move to third if asked/told. And because he’s still a great athlete it won’t be a difficult move. In fact, it should be easier on him. Platooning with anyone of Villar, Davis or Flores will keep him fresh and healthy and avoid the IL which he frequented last year.
Bottom line, Craw needs to do what’s best for the team and I have no doubt he will. Luring a top short stop will be easier if said SS gets to play SS for the next several years.
Also, let’s not forget Schmitt is waiting in the wings to play 3B
Why is everyone writing off the Giants re-signing Rodon? Are they not interested? That would be two consecutive years in a row to let a top of the rotation arm leave (Gausman).
Rodon has had serious health issues in his past. I’m not sure the Giants want to guarantee 5 years to a guy like that, no matter how excellent he may be when healthy.
I understand that but I don’t see any team offering him 5 years for the same reason.
I’d be happy with 3 years $130M… let him set the Average Value record. (Not sure Boras would go for that though.) I just don’t want a 5 – 6 year albatross contract.
Belt will be easy to replace. Look in any hospital ward, and if the guy can stand on two legs, there’s Belt’s replacement.
Judge, Rodon, Drury and Quintana.
Mark my words: if the Giants sign Rodón to a 5 – 6 year contract… which I think is what its going to take… the Giants are gonna regret it. The guy is a multiple-IL stint waiting to happen. Sore back, hammy, oblique, blown out shoulder or elbow, probably more than one of those! The Giants got his career year and it’s amazing he spent no time on the IL. I know he is beyond awesome when healthy, but 2022 was an outlier year for the guy. I hope the Giants move on.
He was even better last season, but yes, he missed 8 starts and faded down the stretch.
Judge and Drury. Great marketing opportunity.
Good one Joe.
Would be even better if Joakim Soria was still playing.
Judge, Drury, and the Mexicutioner.
Bogaerts for third and Correa for SS. They don’t need Judge!
Bogaerts for third and Correa for SS. then what do you do with Crawford?
RF. I just don’t want the Giants bidding on Judge.
2b?
avenger65 — Craw just needs to be real. He’ll retire in 2024 and his bat already has. Love the guy, but he has to do what’s best for the team.
Correa is capable of playing 3B and Turner is capable of playing 2B and CF, but where would Bogaerts or Swanson play if not SS? I’m unaware if they’ve ever played a different position at a high level
Turner to of. Swanson Bogaerts middle infield. Swanson seems like he could handle the outfield though.
Above all the Giants need pitching.
In 2021 a group of haggard veteran relief pitchers had career years, four of whom cratered in 2022. That’s problem one.
Problem two is starting pitching. Webb is an ace. They need two more ace type starters along with DeSclafani, Wood, Cobb and Hjelle duking it out for the last two spots and Harrison coming up in July. I don’t think signing one ace will be enough (think DeGrom, Verlander, Bassitt etc.. or perhaps a trade).
Problem three. Backup catcher. I’ve finally bought into Joey Bart. Even if he hits .210 with 20HR’s he’s still a monster defensively and has learned to establish a unique rapport with each pitcher, but he does go into deep slumps and is a wee bit injury prone so the Giants need a backup catcher that can play every day if called upon. How about a lefty?
Problem four, they need a first baseman (Rizzo, Bell, Abreau and Belt are the top four available).. Villar and JD Davis are in house possibilities.
Problem five, they need a third baseman to act as placeholder until the mighty Casey Schmitt arrives. No joke, this kid is for real. (Longoria on a team friendly deal and/or Villar, Flores and JD Davis will probably be just fine)
Problem six. Who’s going to replace Brandon Crawford in 2024. Crawford is hands down the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith and can hit a little bit when he’s healthy).
Problem seven. The Giants need two outfielders who can play every day along with Yaz. Yaz has had two straight down years but he’s great defensively and still hits enough. 2023 is a make or break year for Yaz. Slater is a great fourth outfielder who can play all three outfield spots.
Problem eight is DH. I’m a fan of slotting a lot of DH at bats to give regulars a semi day off. That said, you want mashers at DH. Joc would do from the left side of the plate. The dude has gained 30-40 pounds since his early career so playing the outfield is pretty much a joke. He can catch balls hit right to him all day long but his range is atrocious. The Giants would then need a DH from the right side of the plate and they already have four or five in house options.
Problem nine is overall bench depth. LaMont Wade, Thairo Estrada and then who?
That’s all I’ve got for now.
That’s it??
That’s it?
So basically they need a whole new team …
They need half of a whole new team.
Kevin Johnson, You missed the biggest problem from 2022. Relief pitching. Last season the starting pitching wasn’t bad at all. The bullpen ruined a lot of good starts. The SPs had a 3.68 ERA which ranked 7th best in MLB. The ‘pen had an ERA of 4.08 which ranked 11th worst.
Guys like Littell, and Alvarez, who had very good seasons in ’21, stunk it up in ’22. Even Leone, who was about league average in ’22 (101 ERA+), had been much better the year before (275 ERA+). I’m much more concerned about the relief corps I am the rotation.
First step to stabilizing the Giants bullpen is signing Andrew Chafin.
Noon pitchers, this is what i might do:
Pederson / Longoria can platoon the PH DH duties and occasionally man the field.
Nimmo is a legit CF. Judge in left. Platoon of Yaz & Slater in right.
Turner at 2B, Craw at SS for a year or two, then Craw can pass the mantle to Marco Luciano.
Villar and J.D Davis can cover 3B until Casey Schmitt (one of the best defenders Giants have ever developed, if you believe the hooplah) is ready to come up from the minors.
Not so sure about 1B. Maybe a trade? Or else a platoon of Wade & Flores, which wouldn’t thrill me, or Belt on a 1 – 2 year contract? The rest of the 1B free agent class doesn’t thrill me.
Bart obviously catches, with someone like Wynns as his backup.
non-pitchers, that is…
Judge would play right field.
No he wouldn’t. Right is Yaz’s territory. He handles the crazy RF bounces at Oracle better than anyone I’ve ever seen.
willthethrill22 — Your observations aren’t tethered to reality. (1) Crawford is retired after 2023. (2) Belt is not an option. (3) Luciano is already being projected as a 3B or LF, no longer likely at SS. (4) Judge will likely play RF in SF, IF they land him, with Yaz/Slater platoon in CF, if they don’t land Nimmo (but Mets just hung a QO on Nimmo, hurting his market). (5) Talk is already rampant that Trea Turner is uninterested in coming to SF.
Giants shouldn’t spend $$$ on Judge. He bats right but Giants ballpark favors lefty HR hitters. Never a great outfielder, at 30 his best years are behind him. I hope he stays with NYY.
Odd thing to say about a dude who just had one of the best seasons in baseball history, and his best defensive season too.
While LHHs did hit 10 more HRs at Oracle, that number is somewhat misleading. Their top HR hitter Joc, and 2 of the top 3, are LHHs. Longoria, a RHH, ranked 5th in HRs on the team, and he played in only 89 games.
As to Judge, Statcast has 61, of his 64 HRs, expected playing at Oracle. And Statcast also has Oracle as a better hitter’s park for RHHs, where it’s tied for 10th in park factors. It’s tied for 17th for LHHs.
Oracle “favors” lefty HR hitters.” ??????? What team are you watching?
Oracle would in no way damage Judge’s offense (see his power spray chart). And he’s a pretty good outfielder—good enough even to play CF.
I’m not sure he’s what the Giants need, but the reasons you give just aren’t true.
Sign Correa (SS), Bell (1B), Pederson (DH/LF), Rodon and Givens.
Move Crawford to 3B. Harrison will be MLB ready soon and can step into the rotation when injuries hit. Junis can too.
Judge has had 3 healthy years out of 7 and is 31 next April. Spend money elsewhere. How about Conforto with opt outs (ala Rodon), Gallo and a flyer on someone else (Brantley?). Nimmo would be great but Cohen is going to throw huge money at him.
Wait – you don’t want Judge because of his previous health issues but you want them to sign Conforto?
The idea is Conforto would be affordable and compared to Judge a minimal financial risk. Judge will be a minimum 7/325. Conforto maybe 3/65.
If I ever see Joey Gallo in a Giants uni, I’ll puke.
I don’t think like FZ, but here’s a couple pennies worth:
Belt’s age/cost line says let him go. LH 1b bats are a dime a dozen. I hate to lose the glove, but I’d prefer the money.
What’s wrong with Estrada at 2b? I don’t see moving a ss to 2nd just so I’d create a hole next year. Let Crawford go or look elseware.. We’re going to have a ss ready next year anyway.
The same applies to Longoria.
I can live with the outfield I’ve got, though it really needs star power to make Yaz and Slater shine. That’s where the money I’ve saved going without Belt can go.. Judge I’d pass on myself – he could be another Barry, 180 walks and no depth. Give me a leadoff hitter and watch Yaz and Flores and the rest contribute.
Without Rodon the top of the rotation can’t match the Dodgers. That’s where I’d really spend. If I can find an 8th inning pitcher that would be great, but we’ve seen bullpens can be built on the cheap. Bochy’s 6 year bullpen was a lucky break.
Now watch FZ do something completely different
The reason the giants are considering adding a shortstop and moving him to second is the same reason the Red Sox want to keep Story at second and the Cubs are hoping to move Nico to second, the shift, or lack there of.
It’s not rocket science by any means but pay attention to what good front offices do, you’re going to see a lot of them prioritizing defense at second now. The Brewers picking up Wongs option as an example.
No team is reinventing the wheel here but teams were okay with playing less athletic players at second and utilizing the shift against lefties to cover up some short comings. With that no longer being an option, it will be a lot more shortstops playing second. However teams need to be cautious, as the Cubs saw with Simmons, just because a guy can play shortstop doesn’t mean he can shag balls at second. They have to change reads and body mechanics to make that switch.
Then Craw can play second for a year. His glove will work there.
Third place team regardless. They overachieved as much as anyteam ever in 21. And when the top of ss class was asked to move off ss for Crawford they laughed and said “who?”
The great Zaidi will go from wizard to white noise by this time next offseason.
And the great Zaidi replied to “who”
with…..”Brandon Crawford, one club player,
franchise icon and two time World Series winner. Thats how we respect our icons.”
The laughing stops and the SS’s go “Oh.
Ok. I get it”
I feel like the Giants have consistently been the favorites to land the top FAs every year for the last 6 years, but they haven’t really done it yet. They’re due.
That’s one way to look at it, Von. The other way is that since they haven’t executed in the past, they may not do so once again. Let history be your guide.
Spend 300 million plus on one player? Judge is not going to SF. Neither are the other top free agents. They need a third baseman, first baseman, couple of good outfielders, starting pitching , bullpen. Use 300-400 million wisely, not on one or two players.
I want Judge.if you are going to hand out huge money to a guy that’s going to age under your watch, you need to have confidence in his work ethic. Be confident that he is going to maintain the rage when it comes to his prep. I think you get that with Judge. Comes across the ultimate professional and not one to sit in a comfort zone. Not a mega contract kind of fan but I’d be happy if they handed one to Judge. The fact he is a detail orientated process guy is a great fit as well. Him and Kap will be besties in no time.
I don’t believe that work ethic is Judge’s biggest concern. His size makes it very challenging for him to stay healthy. Sure, he stayed healthy during his platform season, but most potential free agents do. But once he gets paid is he going to play with the nagging injuries that he most likely was willing to play through last year? Now, maybe you call that ‘work ethic” which makes my post here somewhat redundant. But I call it simply human nature – guaranteed money changes a lot of guys thinking. Eight years means a team is likely paying perhaps 3-4 years of decline anyway, regardless of health. I wouldn’t do it personally unless I’m the Yankees. He means more to NY than anyone.
I hear you. I get that he is big. But he is also ripped and lean, and judging from his defensive highlights, he has flexibility.
Injuries are injuries and the only thing you can really ask from a player is that he leaves nothing on the table in terms of physical preparation. He looks like he does that so if you are betting big and long on someone, that is the type you want.
Tied with the Rangers as the most desperate ownership / FO in 2022. For sure they get one of the 4 SS’s – they’ll pay anything. And that’s only the beginning.
This is what happens when a team is doing a rebuild for years and tells their fans to hang on. It comes clear that they don’t have many players coming up that can move the needle (let along at least a half-dozen). So they buy some guys. Ownership, FO, and the fans get a sugar high until the reality that a team can’t afford to buy contention by continuing to overpay 8-10 more free agents sets in (can’t sign contracts for FA’s guaranteeing them $1-3 billion and then generate the revenue to pay them).
Last year the Rangers spent a half-billion dollars on 2 SS’s. They finished 38 games out of 1st place in the AL West. This year they’ll spend at least another $250m, Maybe they can cut that down to finishing 20 games out of 1st place in the AL West….maybe even 15. LOL
This time of the year in MLB is so entertaining!
I really hate the “Spent half a billion” comments. When you buy a house do you say, we just spent $500K on a new house? We have no idea if these players will get traded down the line. or not.
They “possibly committed $500M in payroll over the next 10 years to 2 players” is more accurate
casorgreener;
Fair enough.
The Angels didn’t spend all the money on the contracts they gave Justin Upton, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, etc. all on day one when they signed them…..they were only on the hook for their salaries.
I hope they sign Correa right out of the gate so I don’t have to listen to thirsty fellow Orioles fans pining for him nonstop for another full offseason.
I know they probably won’t since I doubt he would be all that receptive to moving to 2B, but a boy can dream…
I’m curious as to why the Giants want to move a star shortstop off of their best position for another year of Crawford there. Shouldn’t it be the opposite – Craw serving as backup for stud SS? Crawford is still a valuable player, but not gold glove or arguably even everyday player anymore.
Why not instead build the rotation or OF and then spend big on SS in the future? Doesn’t SF already have a future SS whiz in Marco Luciano? Granted he might be a couple of years away, and no prospect is a given, but he’s (arguably) a top ten prospect in all of the minors.
From what I’ve read, Luciano isn’t long for shortstop which makes keeping Crawford at short and attempting to sign an elite shortstop to play second all the more confusing. To me, the nerve to even ask, in favor of keeping Crawford at short, would be insulting to someone like Correa or Turner.
Scottn59c;
The fans are fed up, and possibly ownership as well.
As a post above points out, they literally need everything. The results of this administration is that they’re very good at finding cast-off players, bringing them in, then finding a way of using them that’s productive. (Something Zaidi was known for with the Dodgers). But finding and developing core full-time players hasn’t happened very much. As with your example – people have backed off some on Luciano’s future.
Giants fans want to see quality on the field. Starting next year. Whether the ownership saw the same things or the fans pressured them – they want results now. Zaidi made a statement a few weeks ago about having a contending team when they leave Spring Training in 2023. Obviously he’s being pressured. Money is all they have to get quality players by then, so I expect they’ll sign at least 3 prime FA’s and very probably a few others as well.
They are a desperate organization. They’ll overpay. Agents are running to the Giants and Rangers with their players.
The Giants aren’t going to publicly defecate on Brandon Crawford.
Scottn59c— Agree, it’s time for Craw to move over for Correa or one of the other top ss. But don’t count on Luciano at ss. Evaluators are already saying he’ll change position—probably 3B or LF.
They should work Luchiano into a future 2b, sign Turner or Corea for SS. Platoon Craw with Villar at 3rd for 2023.
Fans always know more than GMs and PBOs, that is a fact! Never mind Luciano best defensive asset is his arm and scouts believe his future is at third base or outfield, put him at second. Heck, you don’t even have to spell his name right.
I would like to recant my recent statement about fans not knowing more than GMs and PBOs based on recent developments. Absolutely no one in their right mind offers 1.3 WAR a qualifying offer.
Correa, Verlander and Judge to the Jints. Rodon to LA.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Giants sign any of the available SS’s plus Brandon Nimmo for CF. Perhaps take a shot at DeGrom. I agree with most commenters on Rodon, a 5-y deal would be good for Rodon but bad for the Giants.
The Giants need to get younger and less error prone. As for First, aside from Belt, I don’t see any good options. Rizzo, imo isn’t a good option to Belt.
Belt isn’t a good option for Belt.