San Francisco Giants: 2017 Season Review and Offseason Preview
Top Offseason Needs
According to CBS Sports, the Giants had the third-highest payroll in baseball heading into this season. With a roster that cost $172 million, the Giants clearly expected to be contenders. Those big contracts are still on the books, so the Giants are likely to have a similar lineup and rotation next year. This is how their lineup and rotation look for 2018 based on their current roster, with salaries from Cot’s Baseball Contracts at Baseball Prospectus:
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C Buster Posey, $21.4 million
1B Brandon Belt, $16 million
2B Joe Panik, arbitration-eligible
SS Brandon Crawford, $15 million
3B Pablo Sandoval, $18 million (paid by Red Sox)
LF Jarret Parker, pre-arbitration
CF Denard Span, $9 million
RF Hunter Pence, $18.5 million
SP Madison Bumgarner, $12 million (team option)
SP Johnny Cueto, $21 million
SP Jeff Samardzija, $18 million
SP Matt Moore, $9 million (team option, $1 million buyout)
SP Ty Blach, pre-arbitration
SP Chris Stratton, pre-arbitration
RP Mark Melancon, $10 million
The Giants offense was awful this year and they need to upgrade spots not already occupied by high-priced players, which means third base and possibly left field and center field. The biggest need for the Giants is to fill the Pablo Sandoval-sized hole at third base.
Christian Arroyo had a sizzling start in Triple-A (.396/.461/.604), but that was a small sample size of just 25 games. When he got to the big leagues, he struggled mightily and was sent back down to Triple-A. A broken hand in July ended his season. If the Giants don’t sign a good-hitting third baseman (Mike Moustakas, perhaps?), Arroyo would be a fallback option, along with fellow rookie Ryder Jones.
Denard Span is owed $9 million for 2018. He was a league average hitter but rated poorly in center field. There is a ton of space to cover in “Triples Alley” between Span and right fielder Hunter Pence. Span will be 34 years old next year and Pence will be 35. The Giants need to upgrade their defense in center field, which means Span either moves to left or finds a new home.
One hard-hitting outfielder linked to the Giants is not a free agent, but could be available in a blockbuster trade. Giancarlo Stanton would provide the power the Giants lack, but the cost would be steep. The Giants don’t have a highly regarded farm system so any deal with the Marlins would likely mean the Giants taking on all of Stanton’s remaining salary. He’s owed $285 million over the next 10 years, with a $25 million club option or $10 million buyout for the eleventh year. He also has an opt-out after the 2020 season.
The back end of the starting rotation will need help also. Bumgarner, Cueto, and Samardzija should be a solid front three, but Moore is a question mark after his bad season and Ty Blach and Chris Stratton are unproven. In the minor leagues, top-100 prospect Tyler Beede had a 4.79 ERA in 109 innings in Triple-A.
Next: Blue Jays 2017 Season Review
The bullpen will be anchored by Mark Melancon if he comes back healthy. They also have good arms from the right side in Hunter Strickland, Cody Gearrin, Kyle Crick, and Sam Dyson. They could use a left-handed reliever or two.