Maria, I see that Joe Espada is going to have a second interview, but I feel like Mark Kotsay is a pretty strong contender, too. What do you think?
-- @ATLien328 via Twitter

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kotsay among the finalists for the Giants’ managerial opening, though Espada and Gabe Kapler are the only candidates who are reported to have received a second-round interview thus far. Kotsay knows president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi well from their shared time in Oakland. He also fits the profile of the type of managers teams are increasingly leaning toward in that he’s a respected former player who is known as a good communicator and has experience collaborating with the front office. Kotsay interviewed for the Padres job that went to Andy Green four years ago and has been linked to the Pirates this offseason, so I think it’s clear he’s viewed as a strong managerial candidate within the industry.

Which prospects do you see making an impact for the Giants next season?
-- Allen C., Danville, Calif.

Joey Bart and Heliot Ramos, who are ranked the Giants’ top two prospects by MLB Pipeline, both finished the year at Double-A Richmond, so I think they’re well positioned to reach the Majors in 2020. I think Bart could develop into an impact player more quickly, though, as he made a pretty seamless transition to Double-A and emerged as one of the top players in the Arizona Fall League before suffering a season-ending right thumb fracture on a hit-by-pitch.

I also think No. 6 prospect Sean Hjelle will likely have the opportunity to contribute to the Giants’ rotation at some point next year after making the jump from Class A Augusta to Double-A Richmond in 2019. The Giants don’t have a ton of pitching depth at the upper levels of their farm system, so I think Hjelle could find himself on the fast track to the big leagues if he continues to pitch well next year.

Are any Giants going to be playing winter ball this year?
-- Vincent Y., Petaluma, Calif.

I think the most prominent Giant who is expected to play winter ball this year is Dereck Rodríguez. After a disappointing sophomore season, Rodríguez is hoping to get some more innings under his belt and prepare to compete for a spot in the club’s rotation next spring.

“I think [he] did a nice job coming back late in the season and making some adjustments,” Zaidi said at the Giants’ end-of-season press conference earlier this month. “I know his plan is to pitch in winter ball to kind of further some of what I think he's progressed and developed on late in the season.”