Giants have decisions to make this week
The Giants must determine whether to tender contracts for the 2021 season to nearly one quarter of the players on their 40man roster by Wednesday.
Nine players, including key contributors such as Alex Dickerson and Donovan Solano, are among the Giants who are arbitration-eligible this winter, giving many opportunities to increase their salaries from the previous season. Arbitration- eligible players have more than three years of major league service time but fewer than six, which is the point players reach free agency.
As teams look for ways to cut payroll amid the coronavirus pandemic, there’s expected to be a larger number of arbitration- eligible players let go by clubs this winter. The Giants are among the teams who could wind up tendering most or all of their arbitration- eligible players, in part be
cause none are expected to command big salaries next season.
With Wednesday’s deadline approaching, we examined each decision the Giants have to make this week with help from MLB Trade Rumors, which has created a historically accurate model of projecting player salaries.
TYLER ANDERSON, LHP, ( PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $2.4- 4.3 MILLION) >> If Anderson is tendered a contract, the Giants would essentially be penciling him into a starting role because it’s unlikely they would be willing to pay upward of $2.4 million for a long relief type. If Anderson is nontendered, it’s a sign the Giants believe he’s due to regress after posting a 4.37 ERA and a career-low 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Given the dearth of starting pitching options at the highest levels of their farm system and the team’s desire to create depth in the rotation, it seems like tendering Anderson a contract would be a good idea.
ALEX DICKERSON, OF, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $2-$3.3 MILLION) >> Tendering Dickerson a contract is a no-brainer as the powerhitting outfielder has been one of the best pickups of Farhan Zaidi’s tenure with the organization.
JARLÍN GARCÍA, LHP, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $ 900,000-$ 1.3 MILLION) >> The former Miami Marlins southpaw tested positive for COVID-19 and missed preparation time during the summer, but upon returning to the field, he was the most consistent reliever to don a Giants uniform this year. The Marlins did make the bizarre decision to designate García for assignment last offseason, so he’s been surprised to be let go before, but there’s no reason to believe the Giants would consider parting ways with him now. TREVOR GOTT, RHP, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $700,000-$1 MILLION) >> The Giants could conceivably make the case that Gott would be a relatively cheap option in a high-leverage role next season, but he’s prone to giving up home runs and might be better off in a middle relief role.
It’s a toss- up as to whether the Giants tender Gott a contract, in part because there are expected to be so many relief pitchers expected to be available after the non-tender deadline.
REYES MORONTA, RHP, (PROJECTED SALARY OF $800,000) >> Given the fact the Giants thought Moronta had the potential to eventually serve as the team’s closer, it seems unlikely they would non-tender the right-hander this winter.
WANDY PERALTA, LHP, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $1-1.2 MILLION) >> Since joining the Giants late in the 2019 season, Peralta has been a valuable addition to the bullpen as he’s demonstrated an ability to throw multiple innings at a time, get both right and lefthanders out and pitch on back-to-back days.
With veteran Tony Watson hitting free agency, Peralta could move into a role that features more high-leverage opportunities next season. At his projected salary, Peralta feels like a bargain.
DANIEL ROBERTSON, UTILITY PLAYER, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $1.1-1.3 MILLION) >> Despite an ability to move all around the diamond on defense, Robertson appears to be the Giants’ most likely non-tender candidate.
Robertson has plenty of value to an organization because of his defensive versatility and his ability to draw walks, but it doesn’t necessarily make sense to keep him on the roster this offseason.
DARIN RUF, 1B/ LF, ( PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $1.4-1.9 MILLION) >> Ruf is 34 so he’s in the latter part of his career, but bringing him back to pair up with Dickerson in left field feels like a fairly easy call. If the National League keeps the DH in 2021, the Giants will benefit from keeping Ruf.
AUSTIN SLATER, OF, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $1.1-$1.7 MILLION) >> Slater was already a valuable asset to the Giants before he successfully tweaked his swing to unlock more power. Now that he’s driving the ball in the air, Slater deserves more playing time and should find chances to prove he can hit against right-handers, too, if he stays healthy in 2021.
DONOVAN SOLANO, IF, (PROJECTED SALARY BETWEEN $ 2.2- 3.8 MILLION) >> It ’ s easy to see why the Giants would want Solano back, but without a DH role, he’ll need to make improvements with the glove to push Wilmer Flores for playing time at second base and to be a true depth option behind Brandon Crawford at shortstop.