San Francisco Giants: Five off-season Priorities
What are five things the San Francisco Giants need to do this off-season?
The San Francisco Giants even year run this decade ended as they lost to the NL Pennant winning Chicago Cubs in four games in the NLDS. The Giants in the first half were one of the best teams in baseball. That ended in the second half thanks to a struggling offense and leaky bullpen that couldn’t handle a lead.
The Giants have a gaping hole they have to fill and some other tweaks they need to do. Nonetheless, an excellent core is in place and there is no reason that the Giants can’t be among not only the National League’s best teams next season, but also in all of baseball.
The Giants strength should still be a strength next year with an excellent top four starting staff. Buster Posey will be back. Brandon Belt got a nice new contract extension so he will be around for a while. They have an excellent front office and ownership that is willing to spend the money to keep the team contending.
Pending free agents are per Spotrac and arbitration eligible players are per MLB Trade Rumors.
Free agents: Jake Peavy, Gregor Blanco, Angel Pagan, Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, Gordon Beckham.
Arbitration Eligible: Will Smith, Eduardo Nunez, Ehire Adrianza, Cory Gearrin, Conor Gillaspie, George Kontos.
So what are five things the San Francisco Giants should focus on this off-season in order to get back to the playoffs next season and get back to the World Series?
Get A Closer
This is priority one, two, three, four and five. The Giants need to get a closer. The free agent market will have Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon. One of the three needs to be wearing a Giants uniform opening day of 2017. If they can’t land any of them, then it would be prudent to make a big trade for Wade Davis.
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Many of the Giants problems last season were because of the inability to close a game. Just take a look at what happened in Game four of the NLDS against the Cubs. Not having that shut down arm in the bullpen prevented them from forcing a Game five. Not having that guy prevented them from winning the division this year.
Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo and Jeremy Affeldt were huge reasons why the Giants were able to win three World Series. They had a shut down bullpen before it was cool.
Lopez and Romo are older, Affeldt is retired and the Giants haven’t figured out a way yet to replicate their success.
One way to fix this would be to have that guy they can count on at the end of the game. If they had that, it’s entirely possible that the Giants would be playing tonight instead of watching it like you and me.
Extend Mad Bum’s Deal
The Giants have taken care of Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford for the foreseeable future. It’s time they give Madison Bumgarner the contract he so richly deserves. Bumgarner is set to make $11.7 million next year and then there are two club options for ’18 and ’19. It’s time to rip that up and give him that long-term security and keep him a Giant for life.
Bumgarner is 27 years old and has been durable his entire career. He helped bring the Giants a title in 2014. He’s one of the best postseason pitchers ever. With the possibility of Johnny Cueto leaving after 2017 if he opts out and not a lot of top pitching prospects coming, there is no reason why the Giants shouldn’t lock up Bumgarner long term.
Yes, Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum helped bring titles as well. Yes, both were given long term deals. Yes, both battled injuries and haven’t been the same since, but that doesn’t mean Bumgarner will go down that same path. He’s a guy who knows how to take care of himself, doesn’t rely on 95+ to get people out and has good mechanics.
Add to the Pen
The Giants shouldn’t stop at adding to the bullpen with just a closer. They should add more guys to it as well. It’s time to let Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla all go in free agency. It’s time for some new fresh blood to mix it up.
One name would be Fernando Salas if he were to leave New York in free agency. Salas posted a 2.08 ERA in 17 games after coming over to the Mets in late August to help provide depth for their bullpen for a stretch run.
Drew Storen might be a nice reclamation project for Dave Righetti and Bruce Bochy. Storen went to Stanford, so maybe he wouldn’t mind going back to California and righting his career on a short term deal.
Storen’s teammate in Toronto, Brett Cecil, could also be an interesting option from the left side if the Jays decide to let him go in free agency.
Bullpen’s are fickle and unless you have that elite guy, a lot of the bullpen can get turned over from year to year. Adding a couple of those pieces along with guys who are already there like Hunter Strickland and Derek Law and the Giants really have something.
A power bat for left field
No Giant had above 20 homers last season. The Giants offense was good enough to get on base and get hits, but you need that guy who hit the ball out of the yard. The only real opening the Giants have on their team is in left field with Angel Pagan gone.
Jarrett Parker hit 21 homers between AAA and the majors last year. Mac Williamson hit 17 between AAA and the majors. If the Giants don’t want to promote from within, they could hit the trade market.
Two bats could be J.D. Martinez if he indeed is on the trade market and Jay Bruce should the Mets pick up his $13 million option and decide to deal him for prospects.
Bruce could be an interesting option for one year. Chris Shaw is one of the best first base prospects in the game and reached AA last season. If Shaw continues to move quickly, Brandon Belt could move to left field and have Shaw at first base.
There is something that stands in the way of that possible plan, and that could make Shaw trade bait. If he is, then the Giants could do this.
Add Wilson Ramos
This is probably far fetched, but let’s have some fun and hear me out on this.
Buster Posey long term will not be catching for the Giants. His future is at first. That means Brandon Belt’s future is in left, which he has some experience playing, or eventually he’ll be traded. Why not accelerate the plan by doing this: sign Wilson Ramos on the cheap.
Ramos is probably going to be out half the season, but that’s okay. They can unleash him in the second half at catcher for a little bit, maybe even teach him some first base.
As we’ve seen with the Cubs and the Dodgers, having guys who can play multiple positions puts you at a huge advantage. The Cubs can put Kyle Schwarber at two spots. Kris Bryant and Ben Zobrist can play all over.
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Having Ramos and Posey at catcher and first, then having Belt who can play multiple spots gives the Giants that ability as well, especially against left-handed pitchers like Clayton Kershaw in their own division.