MLB Teams: Buyers in 2020
San Francisco Giants
The Giants suffered through an awful 2019, they have failed to play a post-season game for three straight seasons, and they finished 29 games behind the division leaders, the Dodgers. Beyond that, their biggest name, Madison Bumgarner, is a free agent coming off an ordinary 2019 that may reduce his re-signing value.
Fortunately, Farhan Zaidi has one thing going for him, payroll flexibility. Zaidi is staring at $111 million in payroll commitments entering winter, but that’s modest by Giants standards: their average opening-day payroll since 2015 is nearly $180 million.
If Bumgarner walks, it increases Zaidi’s ability to operate on the open market…although it also means he needs another starter. Odorizzi and Zack Wheeler are possibilities that wouldn’t break the bank; of course, Zaidi could also go after a bank-breaker like Cole or Strasburg.
But the Giants have a lot of needs. They could address mid-order shortages with an outfielder – Marcel Ozuna. Adam Eaton, Nick Castellanos or – if Zaidi wants to renew old acquaintances – Yasiel Puig. He might also opt to bring back free agent Scooter Gennett on the cheap.
And if Buster Posey is ready to make the shift to first base on a permanent basis, the Giants could be players for Grandal.