Keys to victory
Finally, free agents: The Giants have swung and missed on big-name free agents but, at press time, appeared to have landed 2023 NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on a two-year, $62 million deal. Snell and Logan Webb could be a nasty one-two punch. While CF Jung Hoo Lee, DH Jorge Soler and 3B Matt Chapman don’t compare in star power, they will anchor San Francisco’s lineup. Lee, known in the Korean Baseball Organization as “Grandson of the Wind,” signed a six-year, $113 million deal and will bat leadoff. Soler will bat cleanup. Four-time Gold Glover Chapman signed for three years, $54 million.
Hicks handles move:
RHP Jordan Hicks (fouryear, $44 million deal) moves from the bullpen to the rotation to join Snell, Webb and top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison (No. 23 overall in MLB). Hicks last started with the Cardinals in 2022 (5.84 ERA in first seven starts) before forearm issues sent him to the injured list. He also had Tommy John surgery in 2019, opting out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season and making 10 appearances in 2021. Hicks was healthy in ’23 for St. Louis and Toronto.
Latest in left: Michael Conforto exercised the $18 million option on his contract to forgo free agency. He’s poised to be the 18th opening-day left fielder in 18 seasons for the Giants. He missed all of 2022 while rehabbing from shoulder surgery and played 125 games in 2023. The Giants hope he can recapture the form that saw him hit 27, 28 and 33 home runs in consecutive seasons with the Mets from 2017 to 2019.