Brandon Crawford, the Giants starting shortstop since 2011 is a free agent and likely has played his last game as a Giant and possibly in his career. Interestingly, one of the Giants top 3 prospects for the past several years appears to be ready to start a new era.
MLB:
Marco Luciano: AA: .228/.339/.450, 11 HR, 6 SB, 14.9 BB%, 29.8 K%, 242 PA. AAA: .209/.321/.418, 4 HR, 12.8 BB%, 35.9 K%, 78 PA. MLB: .231/.333/.308, 13.3 BB%, 37.9 K%, 45 PA. Age- 22 yo. 2 Options. Tremendous raw power he is still learning to reach. In his very odd postseason press conference, FZ all but named Luciano as the starting SS for 2024. I imagine the new Manager might have something to say about that. Luciano has been considered a top prospect since he was signed to a 7-figure bonus. The position is open for the taking. I think you have to give him that opportunity.
Casey Schmitt: See 3B chart for stat lines. Ability to play SS probably propelled him to the majors as much as his bat. The Giants probably want him to be a back up at 3B, SS and 2B but he could hold down the SS position defensively if they need him to. Did not hurt his stock with 2 HR's in the season finale against the Dodgers.
Tyler Fitzgerald: AA: .324/.410/.588, 2 HR, 3 SB, 11.5 BB%, 28.2 K%, 78 PA. AAA: .287/.358/.499, 20 HR, 29 SB, 9.7 BB%, 23.8 K%, 466 PA. MLB: .219/.265/.469, 2 HR, 2 SB, 34 PA. Age- 26. 3 Options. Drafted and developed as a SS. Played a few games in CF in the minors, played some more after his late-season MLB callup and all of a sudden, he's FZ's CF of the future! Yet another rather bizarre pronouncement from FZ amidst the chaos of the end of the season. Intriguing power/speed combination. Took him awhile to find traction on his pro career.
Brett Wisely- See 2B Chart for stat lines. Tough to see him staying on 40- man roster after Rule 5 cutdowns.
Thairo Estrada can also play the position but the Giants would prefer he be the regular 2B.
AAA:
Donovan Walton: .208/.278/.354, 4 HR, 109 PA. Age-29. Rule 5 Eligible. On the IL most of the season. Strictly a deep depth option at this point. Came in on The Churn, may leave on The Churn.
AA:
Will Wilson: .234/.304/.408, 13 HR, 9.1 BB%, 25.0 K%, 340 PA. Age 25. Rule 5 Eligible. Spent first half of season on IL. Has some pop but struggles to reach it. I could see a team selecting him in the Rule 5 draft, but I don't think the Giants should add him to the 40-man roster.
A+:
Aeverson Arteaga: .235/.299/.410, 17 HR, 8 SB, 7.3 BB%, 24.2 K%, 546 PA. Age 20. Fangraphs lists as Rule 5 Eligible. I say not. Much like Luis Matos last season, Arteaga struggled out of the gate in A+ ball but put up solid numbers over the final 2 months of the season. He's gotten over 1100 PA's over his last two seasons so may be poised to make a big move at higher levels. Scouting reports remain high on his D. I think the bat will play.
A:
Cole Foster: ACL: .333/.355/.700, 3 HR, 3.2 BB%, 32.3 K%, 31 PA. A: .230/.306/.390, 4 HR, 2 SB, 7.2 BB%, 31.5 K%, 111 PA. Age 22. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2026. 2023 third round draft pick out of Auburn. Bat started to come around after slow start in San Jose. Will probably start out back there in 2024.
Diego Velasquez: .298/.387/.434, 8 HR, 6 SB, 517 PA. Age- 20. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2025. My MVP of the SJ Giants. MI who can play both SS and 2B. Seems to have a bat. High hopes for this kid.
MLB glossary: Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club's 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
ReplyDeleteArteaga was born 3/16/2003, so is obviously below 18 and in the 5 seasons category.
Milb: July 2, 2019 San Francisco Giants signed free agent SS Aeverson Arteaga to a minor league contract @ 16 yo.
Has he completed 5 seasons?
Does 2019 count?
If so, isn't 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 5 seasons?
Based on past observations, I don't think 2019 counts but I could be wrong.
DeleteHope you're right! :)
DeleteYou did not mention Walker Martin.. He could be inGiants lineup by 2025-2026.. A fast riser
ReplyDeleteI am only including players currently listed on full season rosters, but yes, Walker Martin and a couple of Dominican Dandies are also in the Giants pipeline.
DeleteHi Doc, I have started to really reframe my thinking of this last 10 years of frustration with the Giants. I am starting to think the ownership's mandate to win every year without taking down years while not exceeding the luxury tax is putting POBO/GM's in an impossible position.
ReplyDeleteI once spoke to a friend who works in baseball, and he said that certain team's like the Rays and Guardians are able to stay good over a long period because they can "win every trade". They can always trade talent off the MLB roster to get a higher ROI on talent in the future. The Giants really haven't been in a position to do this since the 2019 season, when Zaidi traded away players from a winning team at the deadline. This happened the year Zaidi was hired when he had his longest leash and he probably made his best trades that year -- Yaz, Melancon, and a few others. That is the slack of not having to "win" every year.
More obviously, exceeding the luxury tax, is something that gives a POBO a lot of slack. If they have to be good every year, they won't be able to "win every trade" -- they can supplement losses in future talent with additions on the market.
However, the Giants ownership seems to be requiring ownership to be giving its POBO/GMs no slack on either front, and I believe that has led to some really poor decisions being made for the organization. When Bobby Evan's was given the mandate in 2018 to win (he may have been on the hot seat?) without exceeding the lux tax after winning 65 games in 2017 -- he made some of the organizations worst trades. Taking on the Longoria contract and making the Bryan Reynolds trade.
In 2024 we seem to be coming into a hot seat year, and the Giants ownership seems to be making the same decision's that they did in 2018 -- I'm afraid it might lead to another round of poor decision making because Zaidi can neither "win every trade" nor can he have enough slack in FA.
On the other hand Zaidi has more $$$ to work with to stay under the Lux tax, has a better roster, and it's easier to make the playoffs now -- so some optimism is warranted. But I am worried.
Sorry for the long post!
- Fan
I actually agree with all of this.
DeleteEnjoyed reading your post. Some optimism is warranted this coming off season also due to a better farm system led by Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano who might be ready to make an impact. I was very concerned for the org back in 2018 due to a bloated payroll and weak minor league system.i thought dark times were ahead and it wasn't all Evans fault
Delete"last 10 years of frustration with the Giants"?
DeleteA thoughtful and informative post.
DeleteThanks everyone!
DeleteAlso yes I probably should have said last 8 years. Post 2016.
- Fan
Giants must "add" 2 stud bats to get runners home (without giving up too much, whatever "too much" is) or 2024 is a redux: they need 10-12 more wins NET to be competitive.
ReplyDeleteObviously, Othani would be one of they could get him (odds are 7-1 against). Bellinger might be one, but which is real, 2023 or 2021-2022? Take a chance?
The second bat would be in a trade -- would SF give up Harrison (+)? And ?
Two problems: 1. There are about 27 teams out there who have the same priorities. 2. Giants also need to add at least one ace level SP and if they trade Harrison, they need at least two. They might need to dust off the old "You Gotta Love These Kids" marketing campaign and let the Harrisons and Lucianos get their shot, take their lumps and settle in.
DeleteI hope the Giants don't trade Harrison because (1) talent to be a top of the rotation starter to team with Logan Webb for the next 5 years. and (2) makeup - he reportedly has a good work ethic and hates to lose. The Giants need more players like that.
DeleteThat would likely get Farhan fired unless one of his prospects became a ligit superstar overnight.
DeleteI don't agree it would would necessarily cost Farhan is job but the organization as a whole will have to show progress.
DeleteRead an interesting article about the prospect promotion incentive in the new cba. A team can be awarded a comp pick between the 1st and 2nd round if they promote a top prospect who wins rookie of the year. Should the Giants be thinking about this in terms of Harrison and Luciano? I would think so.
ReplyDelete