Plenty of work to do in offseason for team’s new GM Zaidi
New GM, manager will be needed in 2020; Bumgarner decision also looms
SAN FRANCISCO >> San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has an extensive offseason agenda.
He must hire a general manager, replace Bruce Bochy and continue to bring change to the organization’s front office. All of those processes will consume Zaidi’s time, but his greatest challenge is improving the Giants’ on-field product.
The Giants wrapped up the 2019 season Sunday with their third consecutive losing record. Their top prospects aren’t quite ready to make a difference, they’re still burdened by bad contracts and it’s abundantly clear that fans are tired of watching a lousy offense struggle against mediocre pitching.
Which key players are set to return next season and what areas of weakness must Zaidi address this winter? We go position-byposition.
STARTING ROTATION >> Ace Madison Bumgarner is a free agent and is eager to see what kind of offers he’ll receive this offseason. With Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija under contract for 2020, the Giants have two veterans at the top of the rotation, but they are lacking an ace and should have interest in either re-signing Bumgarner or approaching other highly-regarded free agents.
The Giants are excited about the progress Tyler Beede and Logan Webb made this season and while neither proved completely dependable, both figure to be in the running for rotation spots next spring. Two members of the 2018 rotation, Dereck Rodríguez and Andrew Suárez, lost grips on starting jobs this season and are more likely to find themselves involved in a bullpen competition.
San Francisco does have a few younger arms including Shaun Anderson and Conner Menez, who are expected to open spring training as starters, but Zaidi must improve the overall depth of the rotation before Opening Day. BULLPEN >> The Giants traded away many of their top bullpen arms at the July 31 deadline and then lost Reyes Moronta, Trevor Gott and Tony Watson to injury, but several under-theradar prospects emerged in the month of September.
Lefty Will Smith is set to become a free agent, but the Giants could complicate his winter by tagging him with a qualifying offer. If Smith signs the offer and agrees to return on a oneyear deal in the neighborhood of $18 million, it answers the closer question. If Smith turns the offer down, it’s unlikely he’ll return.
Moronta will miss most of the 2020 season following his recent shoulder surgery while Gott is expected to make a full recovery from groin surgery before spring training. Watson dealt with a minor wrist fracture, but he may not return if he opts out of the final year of his contract. The Giants will know Watson’s decision five days after the World Series.
It’s unlike Zaidi will spend significant money on relievers in free agency, so expect the Giants to enter next spring counting on pitchers such as Tyler Rogers, Jandel Gustave and Sam Coonrod to play key roles. Veteran left-hander Fernando Abad will become a free agent, but after strong showings in the final weekend of the season, southpaws Sam Selman and Wandy Peralta improved their chances of having lockers at Scottsdale Stadium in February. CATCHER >> Buster Posey is under contract for the next two seasons and it no longer makes sense for him to move to first base. The greatest value he provides the Giants is behind the plate and he’ll soon play the role Bengie Molina did at the beginning of Posey’s career as the club will expect him to mentor top prospect Joey Bart.
With Bart expected to arrive in the middle of 2020, free agent Stephen Vogt could pursue opportunities elsewhere. Vogt’s presence would be a huge loss to a Giants team that considered him one of its best leaders.
Aramis Garcia is under contract and can provide depth if Vogt doesn’t return, but Zaidi likes the versatility Vogt provides as the lefthanded hitting catcher can also play first base and shift over to left field if necessary. INFIELD >> Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are all under contract through at least 2021, but it’s difficult to envision Zaidi “running it back” with the same veteran core next season. Longoria and Belt are more tradable than Crawford, who posted the fourth-lowest OPS of any qualified hitter in baseball this year.
With Mauricio Dubón poised to seize a starting spot and capable of playing shortstop, Crawford’s playing time could be slashed next season, particularly if the Giants tender Donovan Solano a contract this winter.
The Giants have various options at first base including Garcia, Chris Shaw and Austin Slater if they want to replace Belt, but there are no homegrown prospects forcing the issue at either corner infield position.
The infield contingent presents Zaidi with the greatest opportunity for a shakeup, but the contract situations of the three veterans makes any potential moves unpredictable. OUTFIELD >> The Giants believe Mike Yastrzemski, 29, is a keeper and that his athleticism will enable him to succeed into his 30s. After one of the most impressive rookie seasons ever for a Giants outfielder, Yastrzemski will enter next spring with some job security as the club anticipates he’ll be able to start in both right and left field.
Center fielder Kevin Pillar led the team in home runs, runs, RBIs and stolen bases, but he also finished the year with the fourth-lowest on-base percentage (.287) of any qualified hitter. The Giants have to tender Pillar a contract that will end up paying him in the neighborhood of $9 million to ensure his return and while there’s been some speculation they might go in a different direction, it would be a surprise to see the 2019 Willie Mac Award winner in a different uniform on Opening Day.
With Steven Duggar expected to be healthy following shoulder surgery and top outfield prospect Heliot Ramos potentially ready by the end of next season, Pillar will have some competition to hold onto his job.
Settling the third corner outfield position will be difficult and may require the Giants to pursue an upgrade via a trade or free agency. Prospect Jaylin Davis had a breakout season in the minors but a rough September in the majors. Alex Dickerson proved he can be a force as a cleanup hitter when he’s healthy, but it’s been nearly impossible for him to stay healthy for any meaningful length of time. Joey Rickard and Mike Gerber offer the Giants some platoon potential, but both will be high on the list of DFA candidates this offseason. Slater and Shaw, both mentioned as first base candidates, will see innings in the outfield during spring training.