Keys to victory
Confort-able again: Can free agent outfielder Michael Conforto (two years, $36 million) and Mitch Haniger (three years, $43.5 million) bounce back from their respective injuries, stabilize their respective corner outfield spots and provide the Giants with the consistent power they have been lacking in recent years? Haniger was dealing with an oblique injury and may miss opening day. Barry Bonds in 2004 was the last Giants hitter with 30 or more home runs in a single season, the longest such drought in the majors, according to MLB.com. Conforto hit 33 home runs for the Mets in 2019 but is coming off right shoulder surgery. Haniger hit a career high 39 home runs in 2021 but hit only 11 homers in 57 games with the Mariners last season because of an ankle sprain.
Rodón repeat:
Carlos Rodón had a career year before leaving as a free agent. Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling signed twoyear, $25 million deals that included opt-outs after 2023. If San Francisco can coax career years out of Manaea and Stripling, they would stabilize a rotation led by Logan Webb. Manaea is coming off his worst season in his lone year in San Diego but won 12 games twice and 11 once in Oakland. Stripling had his best year in 2022 with Toronto.
Bullpen boost: The Giants signed reliever Taylor Rogers to a three-year, $33 million contract. Beyond reuniting him with identical twin brother Tyler, the move bolsters the back end of a relief corps anchored by Camilo Doval. Taylor Rogers should be the primary setup guy.