San Francisco Giants: What’s on their post-lockout to-do list
The San Francisco Giants were one of, it not the biggest surprise in Major League Baseball last year. Their lineup and starting rotation seemed to lack the “oomph” that the Los Angeles Dodgers had. Heading into the 2021 regular season, the Giants seemed destined for, at most, an NL Wild Card spot.
Riding on the backs of the resurgent Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, and Brandon Crawford, the Giants hit the most home runs in the National League while finishing second in base hits and RBI, while also leading the NL in SLG%, OPS, and OPS+. That’s without mentioning their pitching. Led by a breakout performance from Kevin Gausman and rookie Logan Webb, the Giants finished the season with the second-lowest ERA, FIP, WHIP, and ERA+ in the league.
The standout performances from key names lifted the Giants into first place and they were the eventual winners of the National League West division by just a single game over the Dodgers. Unfortunately for the Giants, they could not carry their regular-season successes to another World Series championship, falling in the NLDS in five games against — you guessed it — the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Heading into 2022, the San Francisco Giants have struck hard and fast when it comes to addressing potential needs in the upcoming campaign. Let’s take a look at some of the items that should be on their to-do list once the MLB lockout is lifted.
The San Francisco Giants should be patient with Joey Bart
After Buster Posey stunned the baseball world and announced his retirement from the game, the top option to replace him lies on the current 40-man roster in prized prospect Joey Bart.
Bart received a 33-game showing in 2020 to mostly negative results and just six plate appearances this past season over two separate stints. The 25-year-old backstop is currently atop the depth chart projections with veteran Curt Casali available as a backup should Bart seriously struggle in the upcoming season.
Ever since he was drafted with the second overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, Joey Bart has been tabbed as the Giants’ catcher of the future, although anyone who thought he’d get his shot as soon as 2022 would be lying. In all respects, Bart has lit up minor league pitching each year he’s been developing in the Giants’ system, appearing in 197 games, hitting 39 home runs, and posting a .287 batting average to pair with a .348 OBP and .512 SLG%.
Joey Bart has found out the hard way that MLB and MiLB pitching is not the same during his brief cameos in the majors, but the Giants should do what they can to be patient. Casali is a capable backup catcher and will be a good mentor for Bart while the Giants hope they form one of the better catching duos in the big leagues. With the serious lack of depth in the minor leagues at the catching position mixed with the lack of available options on the free agent and trade markets, they will need to cross their fingers and toes that Bart and Casali can perform well in 2022.
The San Francisco Giants should try to sign Michael Conforto
After rejecting the New York Mets’ qualifying-offer, outfielder Michael Conforto finds himself on the free agent market for the first time in his career, coming off of a very successful seven-year stint with the Mets. The sweet-swinging lefty’s power numbers were way down in 2021 as he posted career-low marks in just about every offensive category. One positive about Conforto’s showing last season is that he was able to lower his strikeouts, something that’s been a serious issue for him in recent years.
Conforto, 28, is a right fielder by trade but is capable of playing passable defense in both center field and left field. His role on the Giants would most likely be in left field with Mike Yastrzemski staying in right and Steven Duggar remaining in center.
Conforto is projected by Steamer’s yearly projection system to have a nice comeback season in 2022 and would be a nice fit in the San Francisco Giants’ outfield. MLB Trade Rumors’ free agent predictions have him landing a one-year, $20 million deal in the upcoming campaign, a number that seems just right for a Giants team looking to advance further into the postseason in 2022.
The San Francisco Giants should sign Danny Duffy
FanGraphs’ Roster Resource projections have the San Francisco Giants’ rotation consisting of breakout stud Logan Webb, free agent signings Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Cobb, and Alex Wood … and Tyler Beede.
Beede, an out of options 28-year-old, has not been able to capitalize on his MLB opportunities and frankly should not be someone the Giants are comfortable with holding down a rotation spot in 2022. The lack of minor league options make it difficult to maneuver, but the Giants could look to move Beede or simply put him in the bullpen.
Beede being removed from the equation opens up a spot for a left-handed starter that the Giants were known to have their eye on as recently as the 2021 trade deadline — Danny Duffy.
Duffy, 33, has spent the last 11 years as a member of the Kansas City Royals starting rotation. He is in his first career trip through free agency and is coming off of an injury-plagued season. Duffy should be available for cheap (MLBTR has him at one-year, $10 million) and if he is able to stay on the field, he should be a nice addition to the Giants’ rotation.
Next. 10 questions with former Giants pitcher Shane Loux. dark
Danny Duffy struggled through injuries in 2021 but when he is able to get on the field, he is a very reliable left-handed option who can go deep in games, strike guys out, and keep his walk and home run rates down.