A big shakeup is in process for the front office in San Francisco. The Farhan Zaidi era came to an end last month and now Giants legend Buster Posey will be calling the shots as president of baseball operations. Since Posey has so little experience in running baseball operations, it's hard to know exactly what to expect, but there are some signs that the club will move from a measured approach to a bolder focus on acquiring marquee players.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Matt Chapman, 3B: $151MM through 2030
- Jung Hoo Lee, CF: $101MM through 2029 (Lee can opt out after 2027)
- Logan Webb, RHP: $82MM through 2028
- Jordan Hicks, RHP: $36MM through 2027
- Taylor Rogers, LHP: $12MM through 2025
- Tom Murphy, C: $4.25MM through 2025 (including $250K buyout on 2026 club option)
Option Decisions
- LHP Robbie Ray can opt out of final two years and $50MM remaining on contract
- LHP Blake Snell can opt out of final one year and $30MM remaining on contract
- IF Wilmer Flores has $3.5MM player option, Giants have $8.5MM club option if he declines
Total 2025 commitments (assuming Snell opts out while Ray and Flores stay): $110.75MM
Total future commitments (assuming Snell opts out while Ray and Flores stay) : $439.75MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)
- Mike Yastrzemski (5.128): $9.5MM
- LaMonte Wade Jr. (5.035): $4.7MM
- Tyler Rogers (5.034): $5.5MM
- Camilo Doval (3.071): $4.6MM
Non-tender candidates: Yastrzemski, Doval
Free Agents
The Giants did some good things under Zaidi's watch but the club was mostly defined by mediocrity in his time. The club finished just below .500 in his first two seasons. They shot up to an amazing 107 wins in 2021 but were eliminated by the Dodgers in the playoffs and crashed back to earth after. They finished at .500 in 2022 and just below in the next two years, making the 2021 season look like a clear outlier.
On top of the on-field results, there were some unsatisfactory elements elsewhere. The club's offseasons often focused on the players they didn't acquire, as guys like Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa came close to becoming Giants but ultimately didn't. Also, the club struggled to graduate many of its top prospects, with guys like Joey Bart, Luis Matos and Marco Luciano struggling to establish themselves at the big league level.
There were some nice finds on the pitching market, but mostly on short-term deals that allowed the players to get their big money elsewhere. Both Carlos Rodón and Kevin Gausman were able to resurrect their careers as Giants, but both quickly returned to free agency and got their big deals from A.L. East clubs, Rodón with the Yankees and Gausman the Blue Jays. To a lesser extent, guys like Sean Manaea, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani had some good results with the club but are no longer in San Francisco. The club recently snapped up Blake Snell when he lingered unsigned into early 2024, but he now seems destined to depart like the others.
Last month, it became apparent that the franchise was growing weary of this generally tempered approach. Third baseman Matt Chapman, who had also signed a short-term deal like Snell, was signed to a six-year extension to stay by the Bay. But it was quickly reported that Posey had taken a lead role in getting that deal done, talking with Chapman directly in order to work around Zaidi and Chapman's agent Scott Boras.
Many smelled smoke in that report and the fire was later confirmed, as Posey was then given Zaidi's job. Posey said that he views baseball as a "memory-making business" at his introductory press conference. "Sure, winning is great," Posey said, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "Ultimately, that's our goal, to be a playoff team every year and compete for a championship. But I think just the overall big picture of being a part of something that's bigger than yourself was really appealing."
Does this mean that the Giants are now going to take a more free-wheeling approach, with less concern about squeezing the value of every dollar at the margins of every transaction? Will the plan be just to get things done, even if that means being a bit more reckless and perhaps overpaying from time to time?
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Lol. Mcovey chronys
I understand this site needs $$$ but it’s disappointing that articles that used to be free like these Offseason Outlooks now require a subscription.
I was thinking the same thing. This is the only time I thought I wish I was a subscriber. But, I won’t be giving $$ for one offseason outlook article. Life brings too many other priorities.
The cost to subscribe is so small that it’s hard to feel sorry for those who won’t shell out a few bucks for the best baseball site available.
Pete, It may seem like a pittance to you, but some of us are retirees with plenty of other expenses that take priority. I’d rather have Hulu Plus, so I can watch the Giants, than pay to read about them. My wife and I like to travel, so any excess we can put aside goes to that. I’d rather travel than read about baseball.
As it is, I wonder if the site will lose some ad revenue due to people like me coming to it much less often. It seems like the site is putting more and more stuff behind the paywall, and what’s published for free is only transaction stuff that can be found elsewhere.
It’s one thing to develop new things for subscribers, but taking away what used to be free is disappointing. Is their top 50 free agents with predictions the next thing to be put behind the paywall?
Everything adds up, call people cheap if you want but there are other things to pay for too, you gotta draw the line somewhere.
This site had a good run for a lot of years, it will never be the same now, nothing lasts forever
Pay the money. it is a great site.
I like making Posey the chief. It is essential that he surrounds himself initially with baseball savants. Sabean, Bochy, Tidrow, to bring this thing back quickly. Then he can grow beyond them in the ensuing seasons and begin to create depth for later.
Exciting players is a Must ! And healthy ones at that. A few stars are needed. Chapman qualifies for now. And outfielder for sure, time to move on from Yaz and Conforto if we can trade him.
Going to be a very busy off-season getting stuff done and getting ready for contention next season.
Go Posey & Giants !!!
Tidrow was incredible, the unsung architect of those championship teams. RIP.
Conforto is gone. Now a FA and would certainly not fit the Giants needs going forward.
After Darragh McDonald’s article on the Cubs I was skeptical on his take of the Giants. But it’s a fine take, if only from someone who doesn’t follow them on a regular.
What he said in the last paragraph about the Giants spending wisely is spot on. Soler wasn’t a wise spend; not the money so much as the years. NO ONE was offering 3 years but the desperate Farhan signed him anyway.
About Posey, most fans are happy for the change and a real FOREVER GIANT. He’s not experienced but he’s smart enough to know that and bring in the right people for his council. FZ was never going to walk into a room with a free agent and impress him; Posey can do that and hopefully get the big free agents to sign. 3 Rings to Bind them. It’s impressive no matter who you are.
I never believed SFG could sign Soto after missing on Judge and Ohtani. But we have a good shot with Posey at the helm. A better shot is all I’m looking for. SFG’s money is just as green as every other team’s. And with the Bay Area belonging to the Giants solely, it’s time to open the wallet.
As much as I would like to think Soto would choose the Giants, I don’t believe he’s excited about the dimensions at Oracle Park, I do believe they will be involved, but the Mets and Yanks have the upper hand imo, and am also thinking the Nationals have a good core to build around with Soto also, and Soto loved it there. I think he’s an east coast guy. Maybe as a Giants fan I can finally assume a player won’t come, and maybe they do to prove me wrong! Lol
As with big money players in the past, the Giants will pretend to court Soto, then try to sell the fan base on the “just missed” story.
I don’t agree with that. With Ohtani, and Judge they matched the winning bid for their services. Even had Correa, until his physical became a problem. I think with Soto, he’s an east coast guy and knows he can better his chances to re-enter free agency with an opt out after 4 years or so by hitting bombs in New York. It’s not going to be about the money, it’s going to be about the destination.
Soto is not signing with the Giants – period-end
Thanks for clarifying what I just said.
I hope that they keep Yaz. His bat may not be star material but he hits above average and plays right field really well. That combination will be hard to beat in the free agent market.
He’s a solid 4th OF given his great defense and base running, but the Giants can’t afford to send him out there everyday.
He’s an expensive 4th at $10M a year. Take a pay cut to $5M and I say yes. Keep him,
Yaz has already signaled through the media that he would consider staying on a multi year deal. I would think a 2 year 12 million dollar contract would be enough to have him sign.
Bellinger is likely to stay with the Cubs. Soto is going to be pursued by half the league. Who do you see on the free agent market that would be an upgrade in right field, i.e. his bat is enough to make up for any deficiencies playing right field in SF?
this is the thing – people will always complain about the giants and say they need to go get a free agent for x position when the truth is you can’t rely on that. The real skill here that we are going to need to see if posey can do is to is to use developing guys and the trade market to fill some of these holes
The Posey Posse will turn things around in record time
These articles are really good, like the added feature. I will note though that Carlos Rodon didn’t ‘resurrect his career’ with the Giants, he really did that they previous year with the White Sox when he was 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA. The year with the Giants solidified it and got him the big deal with the Yankees, but it was clear in 2021 (when he also threw a no-hitter) that he had super high upside when healthy.
Giants have a very short window to either sell or go all in. Chapman, Lee, Webb – their nucleus right now – are not going to get younger. Same with Doval (say what you will), Hicks, Ramos, Fitzgerald, Bailey. They have a few players to build and win now but it requires some smart trades and/or signings. And it starts with no prospect being unavailable if the price is right. To go all in also requires a big bat – Alonso or Walker are the obvious candidates as they don’t block a prospect. Look, when Eldridge is ready he and.or Walker can DH. End of problem. This is now Buster Posey time. LFG!!!
Eldridge IS the big prospect who would be blocked by Alonso or Walker, so they make little sense. Instead, a guy like Paul Goldschmidt (2 year deal) would be a terrific add (RH while Eldridge is LH) and Goldy could DH if Eldridge was ready for all pitchers.
Walker will be 34 come Spring Training. He will command a 2-3 year contract so he blocks no one. He transitions nicely into a DH if and when Eldridge is ready. There is too much being put into a 19 year old – the same buzz that went into Harrison. Reality is that Harrison was not 100% ready. Alonso may command 5-6 years but he also slots nicely into DH given his glove or lack of.
You want to give a 37 year old coming off the worst season of his career a two year deal?
Buster has massive street cred with players with his HOF career and the fact that he is now part of the ownership group. They know they are talking to El Presidente Senor Buster. Farhan had none of this. He was a joke. The Giants lineup needs help last in SB”S with little power. They need a 5 tool OFEr like Soto/Tucker/Robert and offensive middle infielder to go with Fitz. Yaz should be traded. Wade at 1B is killing them with his lack of power at the premier hitting position. Goldy on a 1 yr deal would work for me. I would look hard at trading young pitching for young hitting with Baltimore/Reds who have an overload of hitting prospects. Free agency is weak this year. If n0 Soto or Snell maybe they go for Burnes instead?
Nobody is going to trade for Yaz because they wouldn’t want to pay him $10 Million in arbitration either
Who couldn’t turn Joey Bart into a contributing MLB regular? Fire them.