At 45-47, the Giants sit ten games behind the Dodgers for the NL West lead. They’re two and a half games back in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot, with three teams (including division-rival San Diego and Arizona) in order to claim that spot. The Pirates sit just a half-game behind San Francisco in the standings. The Cubs are only one game behind. It’s a tightly contested bunch of fringe contenders, but president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi isn’t publicly broadcasting an urgency to make a splash to separate his club from the pack.
“When I look at our team, we have pretty solid players at every spot in the field,” Zaidi said last night (link via Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle). “We have a rotation that’s getting healthier and a bullpen that’s done a nice job. So nothing jumps out as a spot where we need an emergency plug in.”
The rotation health to which Zaidi is referring includes not only reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who returned from the IL and made his best start of the season last night, but also veteran hurlers Robbie Ray and Alex Cobb. Ray, acquired in an offseason swap with the Mariners, is on the mend from 2023 Tommy John surgery. Cobb, whose $10MM option was exercised following the 2023 season, has had a longer-than-expected recovery from hip surgery. Both veterans are currently on minor league rehab assignments that could see them activated later this month.
In some respects, this was always the plan. After signing free agents Snell and Jordan Hicks to pair with ace Logan Webb, the Giants patched together the rest of their first-half rotation with a series of in-house promotions and bullpen games. Injuries to Tristan Beck, Keaton Winn and Kyle Harrison have tested their depth at times.
The season-long results aren’t great overall. Giants starters rank dead last in the majors with 428 innings pitched and sit 22nd in each of ERA (4.48), strikeout rate (20.8%) and walk rate (8.3%). The impending returns of Ray and Cobb could well help turn the tides, but it’s also worth noting that Hicks has significantly tailed off after a hot start — perhaps no surprise given that he’s now into uncharted waters (in terms of workload) as a reliever making the conversion to starting pitching.
While the Giants can hope to soon have a rotation of Webb, Ray, Cobb, Harrison and Hicks — a strong quintet indeed if all are healthy — the question of depth persists. Winn has been out since June 21 due to elbow inflammation and has not begun a rehab assignment. Beck has been out all season after requiring surgery to address an aneurysm in his shoulder. Rookie Mason Black has been hit hard in three starts. Fellow debut hurler Hayden Birdsong has fared a bit better but hardly been dominant through three trips to the hill. Top prospect Carson Whisenhunt has started 18 games in Triple-A but has a 5.79 ERA and 11.7% walk rate.
Similarly, the bullpen has its own slate of questions. San Francisco relievers have thrown more innings (383 1/3) than any team in MLB, as one would naturally expect for a team with the game’s fewest rotation innings. Part of that is attributable to their frequent use of bullpen games — a strategy that can take its toll on a relief corps over time. The Giants have received strong work from Ryan Walker, Sean Hjelle, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Rogers this season. Closer Camilo Doval has been less effective than in the past, with a pedestrian 4.04 ERA and worrisome 14.2% walk rate (the worst mark of his career). Rookie right-hander Randy Rodriguez has been decent in middle relief, but fellow rookie Landen Roupp and veteran Luke Jackson have struggled. As is the case with the rotation, the bullpen has a talented core group but could certainly stand to be deepened.
On the position player side of things, the Giants have received strong production from each of catcher, first base and third base. Patrick Bailey has emerged as a cornerstone piece behind the dish. Veteran OBP machine LaMonte Wade Jr. is a sound option at first base. Matt Chapman is hitting well and playing plus defense at the hot corner.
In the outfield, the Giants have seen former top prospect Heliot Ramos break out as an All-Star. Michael Conforto’s recent hot streak (.289/.391/.658 over his past 15 games) has pulled him back to above-average offensive production on the whole. Mike Yastrzemski has underwhelmed thus far and will presumably platoon with Luis Matos for the time being. Jorge Soler has produced average offense out of the DH spot but isn’t going anywhere in the first season of a three-year, $42MM deal.
The middle infield is far less set in stone. The recent DFA of Nick Ahmed has Tyler Fitzgerald and Brett Wisely ticketed for frequent reps there. Both are hitting well but doing so with some particularly good fortune on balls in play. Second baseman Thairo Estrada just returned from the injured list but has batted only .227/.260/.371 in 315 plate appearances when healthy — a far cry from the .266/.320/.416 he slashed from 2021-23.
Perhaps Zaidi is correct in suggesting that there’s no glaring need where the Giants are performing with disastrous results and no reinforcements on the horizon. The sixth-year president of baseball operations spoke of the importance of allowing players like Fitzgerald and Matos to come to the big leagues and feel they have an opportunity to earn playing time, just as Ramos has.
At the same time, banking on production from so many unproven assets is a risky proposition for a team that, despite a sub-.500 record, has a legitimate playoff chance. It’s always a fine line to walk, giving players like Fitzgerald and Matos chances at playing time while also striving to remain competitive. The Giants are also sitting on a club-record $208MM payroll and are presently about $16MM north of the luxury tax threshold, per RosterResource. It’s not clear just how much ownership is willing to tack onto that record spending — if they’re willing to at all.
I don’t think any team in baseball has done less with more than the Giants.
From the outside looking in, if you spending north of 200 million and you are still below .500, like Lucy, you have a lot of splainin’ to do, and not just about not doing anything at the deadline.
The Cubs and Jed Hoyer have entered the chat.
More like Mets
They have been throwing money at anyone who will take it.
The Mets’ payroll is over $94M more than The Giants. They have the same number of wins, and 2 fewer losses.
Keep in mind the catastrophic injury to Jung Hoo Lee and the myriad of injuries to the rotation and Soler’s dismal offense.
This is a team that will be so much better in 2025 when the young players (like Heliot Ramos, Luis Matos, Kyle Harrison, Birdsong—even a stronger Jordan Hicks—)have more games under their belts.
But Farhan needs to make deals now to add at least one more everyday bat who can be in SF all next season. Is that Bo Bichette or Luis Robert Jr. or ? But whoever it is, this is the time for Zaidi to strike.
Soler was dismal early but he’s had a decent run as of late, he just needs to maintain that.
I’m not a fan of Bichette he’s not worth whatever he costs but I’m sure there’s a move or two out there that could benefit the Giants.
Pete’sView, I’d love it if Zaidi were to acquire Robert. But the problem is the Sox will ask for Whisenhunt, Eldridge, a next level prospect like Crawford, and a lottery ticket. If it happened the cost would be very painful.
It is kind of befuddling. Zaidi has spent a lot of cumulative money on solid players, but just hasn’t brought in those impact, centerpiece anchor players. A lot needs to go right for an average floor, low ceiling roster to make a serious run imo
Farhan said that he thought his roster has no holes when in reality every spot in the roster is a hole!
How ironic never trust what gms say just look at what they do
I read that first as every spot is an a hole.
Good thing I re-read.
Hey you could say that the giants have a lot of those guys too hahaha
Farhan talks like a machine, but the Giants are NOT “holes” at every position, that’s just haters hating.
You can’t blame fringe contenders for trying to avoid trades for rentals. I don’t want the Cardinals to do it. I want any trades they make to fill long term needs or do nothing at all until the offseason. This team isn’t ready for a deep run in the playoffs.
You’re not fooling anyone, Farhan.
Who is he trying to fool ?
This is getting spooky!
It’s posturing. If he acts desperate then other GMs/PoBOs can try to get him to up the ante in order to strike a deal, so he’s trying to act like he doesn’t need to add talent during a time in which I imagine ownership’s patience is beginning to wear thin. He’s not getting fired this year, but he probably needs to start making moves that raise the floor sooner rather than later (I know he added a few bigger name FAs but it shouldn’t stop there, especially since they’ve not really moved the needle yet) or his seat will start to warm up. He can’t keep striking out.
I know Giants’ ownership provides pretty long leashes, but everybody has a limit.
I’m thinking rival execs might be across that tactic. I’m guessing he is just stating where he is at.
So much GM and coach-speak still happens that sometimes I think these guys say things even though they know nobody believes them because they can’t come out and state the obvious. Does anyone actually believe the Giants are set in the field? It feels like they’ve been directionless for awhile. They have a decent team with decent players everywhere but that’s it. It’s time to pick a lane and make some moves.
I think they have picked their existing youth lane.
They are a .500 team as is. Robert Jr. would sure look nice in this lineup, and he could be the star the Giants have been trying to acquire over the last three years. That’s if he could stay healthy, which is true for anyone I would guess. Not sure if the Giants have the appetite for the prospect haul it would take though.
Either its asinine, or its a poor effort at a smokescreen.
Short of Bailey, Ramos, Wade and Chapman, you could throw a dart and hit a position player that would be an upgrade for this club. And has Farhan noticed that he’s only had 2 reliable starters for the bulk of the season?
Good grief.
Throw a lot of darts, hundreds of them, at Soler. He’s a joke.
Over the last 10 years teams have used an average of 10.6 different starting pitchers in a season. This year it’s been 12.
EVERY team needs depth and plans for what happens when someone goes down.
Farhan needs to have the depth to allow for this.
The injury thing is not an acceptable excuse.
Can someone with more knowledge of the Giants’ situation explain to me how this clown still has a job? He has a high payroll but doesn’t spend wisely and also doesn’t do a very good job drafting. What exactly does Farhan do well?
Ignore fans like you.
What’s that supposed to mean?
It means that Farhan knows plenty, and you know fark all.
I don’t think Farhan does know more. He has been cashing checks on one fluky year where everything went right for them. Bo Mel was a good hire but the roster is not good.
There isn’t a bigger Farhan supporter on this planet than foppert which makes me believe he might be related to the loser. Honestly it’s really frustrating being a fan of this team and watching them be horribly average with no hope of getting over this hump and it doesn’t help that idiots like foppert continue to support him. Fans deserve way way better than a spreadsheet humping nerd like Farhan. The guy belongs in a basement somewhere where he has no authority or decision making power just provides recommendations for the next dumpster dive which is his only skill.
I’m not sure I’m the biggest. Definitely top 5.
It’s frustrating. Big deal. That’s what you get when you opt into an emotional investment in a sporting team. The key is dealing with it like an adult. You know, things like ignoring the temptation to have a childish username like frugalfarhan.
You deserve nothing from the Giants. Deal with it.
Farhan definitely knows how to waste money on mediocre free agents and never actually field a competitive team, I’ll give him that
And Ronk definitely knows how to form opinions on something he knows absolutely nothing about.
To say nothing of calling people names just because they don’t agree with you. Postings have become more and more childish. Enjoy the game, add intelligent comments, respond to foppert2 and others with whom you disagree with baseball knowledge rather than insults.
Do you have any evidence to refute my statements or are you only capable of being childish and just telling me I’m wrong?
You kicked off by declaring he was a “clown”. That automatically disqualifies you from an intelligent debate. You reap what you sow, clown.
A simple no would have sufficed. Any chance at an intelligent debate went out the window when you showed up. As pointed out by someone else, you must be related to Farhan. There’s no other explanation for your weird devotion to him
Sure thing. Not acting like a child on the internet is weird to many.
Blind allegiance is weird to most. If you are commenting on this site you obviously have no credibility so since we are all on the same playing field I think it’s time that you grow up foppert and accept that all of us have a voice no matter how dumb we are and Farhan isn’t good. His record is all any of us less than amateurs need to point at to justify our discontent with him. Suggesting solutions and alternatives to the purgatory we are in right now is therapy for all the fans that are suffering watching this dumpster fire and dealing with fans who still think Farhan is smarter than everyone else.
Ha ha ha. Nice attempt at justifying your emotional immaturity. Here’s the thing. Your weak as piss attempts at feeling better are coming at the cost of a very decent human being. But whatever helps you sleep at night.
Holy crap now I know you are related to Farhan!! How TF do you know how decent a human being he is and why does that have any relevance on how good a GM/VP he is? You just lost all credibility. Time to change your username like that yankee fan that talks out if his A
No, the weird part is going to bat so hard for a front office executive of a baseball team. One who is also not very good at his job
Because I listen to him and watch the way he behaves and interacts with people. It’s obvious he is a good dude. Simply put, he doesn’t deserve the man child exaggerated to the negative rubbish you and your man child mates throw at him. It’s ridiculous. You all speak like you are Gods gift to baseball management when you are nothing more than a fan that might have had the occasional good year in their fantasy baseball comp. It’s hilarious how into yourselves you are. “I know better than that clown, Farhan”. Ha ha ha. Sure you do.
He isn’t doing his job get over your bromance with him. He could be mother Theresa ai don’t care if he can’t do his job he shouldn’t be in charge period. What world do you actually live in where you think his failures are acceptable????????
Australian.
Ha ha ha. So stereotypical American. So sorry for hurting your ego.
RE ff:
“Also it is crystal clear that you aren’t actually American and worse you are probably British which makes every single comment you have ever made irrelevant. Please stick to commenting on Football (Soccer) blogs where your contribution will be relevant and appreciated”
Pathetic
Adios
Steven SC I nominate Farhan as the most galaxy brain gm in mlb lol
Deleted your Xenophobia !
Worried some other posters might see the real you ?
Ha ha ha. You are such a poor excuse for a man.
Giants owner(s) is not ready to spend as much as the Dogers. We, Angels fans, would rejoice if we can have him to replace Perry.
Honestly what do you expect him to do? He has a mandate from ownership to remain somewhat competitive, he has no real tradeable assets, the top free agents have chosen to go elsewhere, and too many of the prospects have failed to develop. The only option remaining is to overpay for mediocrity, thus, the 2024 Giants.
The lack of attractive trade chips and failure to develop prospects falls squarely on Farhan’s shoulders at this point. Top free agents not wanting to sign there is probably a result of a lack of structure and winning culture. Seems pretty clear that Farhan is a huge part of the problem
They should trade Doval. A good closer is more valuable to a top 5-10 team. The Giants’ need players/prospects who can hit and run and field.
Doval isn’t that good this year. They could have gotten a big haul for him last year.
The Dodgers are a development pipeline and very few teams can make any claim to something similar. Sometimes the guys you draft don’t become what they project to be. Sometimes you win the lottery, like the Orioles, and they all develop. And the Orioles can’t claim to be great at either drafting or developing after their record over the last couple decades.
If Bart became the guy they expected then Farhan could’ve dealt either him or Bailey for a haul. They tried to extend their window at the wrong time and are still paying for it. Posey, Belt, Crawford, and Bumgarner all should’ve been traded instead of sunsetting them in Giants uniforms and allowing them to retire/become FAs/get disastrously extended.
A lot of that falls on ownership.
“The Dodgers are a development pipeline….”.
That is a fallacy.
Short of their top 3-4 hitters (that came in a salary dump and free agency for astronomical sums) they are are best ML average in position players, As for pitching, they burn out their pitchers same as Friedman did (and they still do) in Tampa Bay.
They spend a lot of money (not just on salaries but on scouting, coaching, etc.) Yes, they get a lot of wins during the regular season. But in a league where almost all teams not rebuilding are WC candidates into August are they an elite team? They sure don’t do well in the playoffs.
–
“And the Orioles can’t claim to be great at either drafting or developing after their record over the last couple decades.”
Yes and no.
Since Elias and Mejdal took over the Orioles franchise after the 2019 season they have had THE BEST record of drafting and developing players in MLB – and no one that follows the sport can argue that.
DroppedThirdStrike;
Sorry to bring it up, but recently it occurred to me…..
Exactly how many quality free agents that have multiple destinations with quality salaries being offered want to play in the area? Especially if they’re married and raising children.
Crime is not prosecuted (steal $900-some dollars and it’s OK). Odd lifestyles are not only celebrated, but it’s demanded that they’re supported else not only are adults attacked, but the school system encourages the bullying of those children not going along with the narrative. Then we get to the filth that has taken over the downtown area, running businesses out.
Sure, at MLB salaries parents an put their children into private schools. But the family is still exposed to the community. And admit it or not – quality. professional people have been pulling their families out of that area for over 10 years, and recent studies still show a significant percentage of residents want to move.
It’s one thing to go after marginal ML FA’s, but it’s another making public every year that they’re going after a few big names. Seems like those players agents are using negotiations to drive up the value of the contracts they ultimately sign elsewhere.
Am sorry to knock the Bay Area. But I did some contract work there 25 years ago and thought I was in an alternate reality. Happily could fly home 2-3 times a month. And it appears to be 10 times worse now.
SF is a dump for sure. I lived there over a decade and it’s gone downhill. But it still have beauty and safe neighborhoods.
Besides that, players don’t live in SF, they live in the Bay Area which is not the same BS that happens in the city.
I think there are two reasons:
1. The ballpark is amazing but it sucks for people who hit home runs. Top tier hitters likely do not want to hit there.
2. The style of baseball they have been playing, especially under Kapler, is a style most players hate. They want to play every day, not when the computer says they should play.
Added to that, SF has totally lost momentum. When a team like the dodgers continue to sign top talent, people follow.
IMO they should have fired Farhan AND Kapler. Signaling to FAs that things were going to change. Keeping Farhan doesn’t instill that confidence.
Longtime Giants diehard here. We were spoiled by the shrewd moves of Brian Sabean. It makes Zaidi look even worse. I think he’s been awful. But, this off season he did everything he needed to.do. If Snell, Soler were performing to their level and Lee was battling lead off every day, that record would be very different.
Farhan is an ivy leaguer from Canada that didn’t really care about baseball, worked with Beane, showed up in LA and people think he’s a genius. He’s not a baseball man. Giants fans have not come to terms with that and continue to overrate their team.
Blue Jays should have swept the Giants this series. San Fran should be focused on 2025 rather than add to 2024. It would be a shock to see this mediocre at-best team, even with returning pitchers from injury, make a run. They are not good.
Zaidi continues to make excuses by downplaying the need to make a major trade deadline acquisition. Zaidi may think there’s no urgency to do so however fans disagree
In 6 years Zaidi has been known for minor transactions; especially DFA, waiver, recovering from injuries, platoon, openers/bulk innings, Tier 2-3 players
Until Zaidi can sign superstar FA players or make a blockbuster deal Zaidi will always known as can’t seal the deal & being used by agents & players
And if Zaidi doesn’t make significant changes at this trade deadline or Giants don’t make playoffs Zaidi must be fired
redwolves
” Zaidi may think there’s no urgency to do so however fans disagree”
Yet, he’s in the office and you’re on MLBTR commenting.
Who cares what the fans agree or disagree with ?
It’s a professional organisation. Fans opinions don’t get the time of day. The occasional bit of lip service to pander to their fragile egos but that’s about it. They are irrelevant to baseball decisions. Fans are so delusional when it comes to how important they are.
Have you seen attendance lately? Fans are letting their wallets do the talking and owners are taking notice. At what point are you going to hold FZ accountable for not winning? How many more years of .500 baseball will it take for you to realize this guy is garbage?
When people with expertise, experience and an intimate knowledge of their organisation decide they need to make a change. That another fans. If the new guy is a decent human, I’ll then give him the same amount of fairness and respect that I give Farhan. It’s not complicated. I’m not going to pretend I have the knowledge to make a call on a POBO. It’s just egotistically driven delusion.
The Giants are averaging 33.868 in attendance, which ranks 8th in MLB, this season. The fans are hardly staying away in droves.
Eh, maybe so. But then again, when was the last time the Giants needed to offer 20% off tickets to series in mid-July(which they’re doing this week)?
Ha ha ha. Shame on them for driving attendance and making games more affordable.
The criticism from the haters is hilarious.
And that’s because the young players are beginning to produce. Baseball is not only seasonal but also like a bell curve.
While the Dodgers and Yankees spend without limitation, most other franchises cannot. Most fans realize this.
Agreed. Last night appeared to be rocking on my TV. Mid week against the blue jays, coming off some tough losses, and the place seemed loud. It was good to watch.
The most ridiculous part is how winning games and series shuts them up, as it doesn’t fit the narrative. It’s like they want failure to complain about. Second half is looking good to me whether adding or staying with what they have. Next year probably even better !
gmen
So, they were 8th in attendance BEFORE this discount, correct?
If only Brian Sabean was still in that office.
The guy who had a hand in putting the Giants in a deep hole that Farhan has been trying to fix ever since?
Yeah, three titles, thank you, but he’s also a big reason why SF still couldn’t rise up by depleting the farm and saddling the team with unbearable contracts that Zaidi literally couldn’t do anything for the first three years until he cleared it.
You want that guy in charge?
Redwolves3;
I thought when he was hired he said he’d use the farm system to build the next series of Giants championship teams. No?
The farm system has been – and is – mediocre.
Now the narrative is that some superstar is going to come in because it’s such an attractive area to live in, the franchise is so storied and first class that players are praying at night that Zaidi and his staff would be interested in them.
As I wrote recently, this is a franchise that has finished .500 or over twice in 6 years – and one of those was the epitome of outliers when they won 107 games.
It’s clear Zaidi and his staff do what they do, and it’s all good as far as the owner is concerned. So Bay Area sports fans have the 49’ers to look forward to and a bit more of the Warriors before that franchise predictably pulls back (as even championship franchises in pro sports age).
Farhan is a joke.
So you wanna give FZ 3 more tears basically? Thats at least how long it would take for everything you said to come to fruition and there are no guarantees. Truth is FZ has drafted poorly and been even worse at developing. He also has made some really bad FA signings and hasn’t shown the ability for to change either of thosw
“Where I said Farhan should be given 3 more years”…Some real solid points and I mostly agree, but I do wonder If Farhan Zaidi is the right guy to implement what you suggest. Overall your baseball strategy is sound.
Drafted poorly. Do go on.
You said keep playing the kids and see who sticks. Seems like about 3 years you would need to do that to figure it out especially based on the mediocrity of the picks Farhan has made
This roster is actually a Soto and Kim away from being very good but no F’ing way Farhan could ever land either if those guys. Put Jeter in his role and watch him sign both of them
Farhan downplays means Giants buyers this year. He said he was done with free agency before the season and then signs Snell and Chapman. DFA Ahmed to make room for Bichette?
I know you’re not the only one, but where is all this yearning for Bichette coming from? His OPS+ this season is 70. Why DFA Ahmed, whose OPS+ is also 70, but who’s a far superior defender. Bichette is a defensive liability at a key defensive position. I rather have Wisely and Fitzgerald. I support Zaidi, but if he trades for Bichette, he’d lose that support, but I don’t think he’s that foolish.
Jean Matrac — I’ll have to disagree about Bichette. This season is his ONLY poor season since coming up. His defense is not so bad that his averaged line of 39 doubles, 29 Hrs, 92 RBI, 15 steals and an OBP of .332 would make him a liability.
I don’t think Toronto is going to shop him, but if they do, I hope Farhan makes the best offer.
Pete’sView, Maybe this season is an outlier, and maybe it’s not. I don’t know, and it’s possible he’ll regain his hitting stroke. Or maybe pitcher’s have finally figured him out, and he’s yet to adjust. Nobody knows, at least none of us commenting here.
But I have to vigorously disagree about his glove work. His career numbers for both OAA and DRS aren’t good. Statcast ranks him 77th since 2021. SS is too important a position, especially since the Giants have so many GB pitchers. They made an effort to improve the defense from the subpar performance of last season, that I don’t see Zaidi having any interest in him.
The Cubs are in a similar situation in that they aren’t one piece away from getting better. Both teams are better off staying pat this trade deadline and making moves in the offseason. In the case of the Cubs, Hoyer needs to revamp that bullpen…
He’s delusional. This team has been rudderless since he took over. I think he still works for the Dodgers privately and is trying to make the Giants bad on purpose!
Quite frankly there isn’t a lot of talent out there worth trading for. There are way more buyers and sellers and the teams that are sold off their best players years ago. This has to be the most underwhelming trade deadline I have seen in years. Prime scenario for over paying for mediocrity.
Last offseason, there seemed to be this rush to anoint the Giants as having done more to improve than any other team. I saw the free agents they signed, and most were complimentary pieces. The additions of Matt Chapman et al. weren’t going to move this team into competition with the Dodgers, Phillies, Atlanta, etc. This roster is littered with complementary pieces, and very few core players. It’s a lot of cash to be spending for such mediocrity.
As a Giants fan, I’ll admit I was underwhelmed by most of the signings (Soler and Chapman specifically) but Chappy has opened my eyes. His glove alone—as long as he keeps up his current offensive pace—makes him a terrific contributor. Should he bat 4th? No, he should bat 6th or 7th, but the guy can play. That’s why the Giants need to add an every day bat to compliment the youngsters and the ability to move Chapman down the lineup.
The Giants won 79 games last season. The off-season signings were seen as something that could at least push them into getting into 85 wins (they might still do), but not to compete with the likes of the Dodgers, Braves, Phillies. It’s to basically get into the post season.
The signings have been extremely underwhelming. Both Chapman and Soler had slow starts. Jung-Hoo Lee got injured. Jordan Hicks started well but is now dealing with the repercussions of his new role, and Blake Snell, who should have been one of the pitching anchors, had a terrible first half.
If any of those guys played to their norms, the Giants would easily be above ,500. Crazily, as baseball is, they all slumped, at once.
Maybe just trade for AJ Pollock and call it a day.
I’m not defending Farhan by any means. Nobody wants him to get canned more than I do, but the Giants have no business buying this year. What’s the point? The farm is weak. Why trade what little talent they have to get boat raced in a play in game? You buy when you are well over 500 and already in a strong position to contend, not when you are a few games under and have been basically treading water all season. They should honestly be thinking about selling, just don’t have much to offer outside of Webb. I’d listen on him if some high end MLB ready talent is on the table.
Then sell!!! Build for the future with actual prospects not dumpster dives! Trade Doval to the Orioles for ANY of their offensive prospects! I am OK with tanking and getting all the prospects we can even if it means trading Webb. We likely have to get worse before we can get better like just about every single team that has won a WS over the last 20 years
The argument is the pitching will be much better in the second half with Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray coming in.
SF has some pitching depth, and some of the young guys on the MLB level like Bailey and Ramos have pretty much established their spots, with some vets like LaMonte and Chapman locking up the other spots,
I think 2B, SS, and possibly the corner OF (although Michael Conforto has been solid lately) are open for upgrades, and if the Giants think the pitching will solidify in the second half, then why not upgrade those positions?
How about… They sign Bauer for the league minimum with league minimum club options every year for the next 100 years. No incentives or buyouts.
I’m not hoping for a mid season addition at the MLB level. The Giants are going to have a problem next season when Chapman leaves. They can try to resign him or another free agent 3B for 25 and 26 but long term they need a 3B that can come up from the minors and play 3B long term.
JAZZ CHISHOLM
Either buy or sell for the Giants. There’s no in between.
If the FO thinks that the returning pitchers will shore up the arms for the second half, then GET another bat. If they aren’t confident that these arms are gonna be the ones that pushes for a playoff spot, then trade guys like Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, Michael Conforto, or others and let the young guys play.
It will be a baseball crime to not do anything.
I’m convinced it’s time to sell at least the expiring contracts. I would be ok with keeping Chapman as an attempt to sign him in the offseason. Especially since they have nothing in the pipeline at 3b. Snell probably won’t get you much if you can even move him, not sure how it works if they are still on the hook for his option next year, might make since to keep him and hope he bounces back next season. But anyone else they can move that is becoming a free agent they should. They won’t make the playoffs and there are a lot of teams right now still thinking they will so now is a sellers market. In a month I’m not sure it will be.