Hot Stove season has begun, which means it’s time for another edition of Giants Inbox:
Biggest splash the Giants make this offseason is ...?
-- @digdugsart via Twitter
I think they’ll sign one or two impact starters. The Giants have more glaring needs on the pitching side, so I think restocking the rotation will be the top priority for the club this offseason. They’ve already taken a step toward shoring up their pitching staff with Kevin Gausman accepting the qualifying offer worth for one year and $18.9 million. That doesn't preclude Gausman from potentially signing a multiyear contract after the 2021 season with the Giants, who have made their interest in the 29-year-old right-hander clear.
Even after re-signing Gausman, the Giants still need more rotation depth. Drew Smyly will be another candidate to return, but San Francisco could also explore other options, such as Trevor Bauer, who will be the top free-agent starter available this winter.
Do you see the Giants going in on major talent with name recognition in the next couple of years, or do you think it will be done more with smaller pieces relying on a collaborative effort? I would love to have a 40-homer guy on the team that teams are afraid of. What are your thoughts?
-- Kevin R.
I could see the Giants emerging as big players in free agency in the near future, though I think if they’re going to splurge, it might not be until next offseason, when Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford’s contracts might be coming off the books. (Belt and Crawford will be eligible for free agency, while Posey and Cueto have club options for 2022.)
Most of the Giants’ regular position players remain under contract for 2021, so I think it’s more likely that they’ll seek out complementary pieces, such as another lefty bat, on the position player side rather than pursue someone like George Springer this offseason. A few under-the-radar acquisitions have turned into key contributors recently (e.g. Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, Donovan Solano, Wilmer Flores), so I think the Giants have proved adept at identifying players who have been undervalued elsewhere and giving them an opportunity to flourish in San Francisco.
I think the Giants will become more aggressive once their wave of young prospects begins to arrive and starts to form the foundation of their next great teams. That crop of talent could also end up yielding the organization’s next marquee bat, as prospects like Marco Luciano, Hunter Bishop and Luis Matos were already flashing their impressive power during Instructional League this fall:
Of the players who were recently cut/non-tendered, who would the Giants be interested in? I noticed a few that could fill needs (utility players like Eric Sogard and struggling pitchers that used to be good like Chris Archer).
-- @WarnesBrian via Twitter
President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is known for leaving no stone unturned, so I’m sure he and the rest of the Giants' front office will do their due diligence on players who shake loose from other organizations and could help fill holes on the current roster. Perhaps they’ll take a look at Kolten Wong, a left-handed-hitting infielder who has a solid track record against righties. I think experienced starters with past success in the Majors, such as Archer, Corey Kluber and Charlie Morton, could be of interest to the Giants as well.
Which (non-pitcher) out of the Minors has the best chance of making the Opening Day roster?_
-- @TheeeMikeAllen via Twitter_
I guess I’d say outfielder Heliot Ramos, though I’m not sure he’s far enough along in his development to be a realistic candidate for the Giants’ Opening Day roster. I think he’s more likely to open the season at Triple-A Sacramento and earn a callup at some point next summer.