Call to the pen
Fansided

San Francisco Giants 2017 Team Preview

By Anthony Sosa

Sep 28, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; during a pitching change San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) and second baseman Joe Panik (12) and first baseman Brandon Belt (9) and third baseman Conor Gillaspie (21) talk at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; during a pitching change San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) and second baseman Joe Panik (12) and first baseman Brandon Belt (9) and third baseman Conor Gillaspie (21) talk at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 18, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo (54) smiles during the 2014 World Championship Ring Ceremony before the start of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo (54) smiles during the 2014 World Championship Ring Ceremony before the start of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Players Lost

Two Veteran Outfielders:

Both Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco were vital parts of the Giants’ 2012 and 2014 championship teams. The team declined to sign either during the offseason. This resulted in Blanco signing a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks while Pagan remains a free agent as he suits up in the World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico.

The departure of these two leaves the Giants without a current answer in left field. Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker are looking to take over the duties their this coming season.

In 129 games last season, Pagan hit .277/.331/.418. He also hit the most home runs in his career with 12 and drove in 55 runs. Health was always an issue for Pagan, though.

Blanco struggled in 2016. He hit .224/.309/.311 with just one home run and 18 RBI. Nonetheless, the Giants lost two veteran players in their outfield.

Three Bullpen Pieces:

One main emphasis for all three of the Giants’ championships was a great bullpen. Without their strong bullpen, the Giants might not have won a ring at all. The Giants lost reliever Jeremy Affeldt to retirement after the 2015 season.

Three more Giants’ relievers are no longer with the team heading into 2017. Those three guys are Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo. Lopez retired, Casilla signed with the Oakland A’s and Romo signed with the Dodgers.

The Giants bullpen struggled in 2016 and it was time to make a change. The Giants will rely on new closer Mark Melancon and younger relievers Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin and Derek Law.

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