I've decided pose a series of "burning questions" as the Giants-less postseason grinds on, and there are so many! The Giants incredible success this season comes with some surprising dilemmas for Farhan Zaidi. It's one thing to upgrade a roster with The Churn when there are no expectations of a winning team. Upgrading or even maintaining a roster that just won 107 regular season games and possibly came within a blown check swing call of taking down the consensus best team in baseball is another. There is uncertainty and room for improvement in almost every corner of the roster. Veteran players who seemed ticketed to move on somewhere else are coming off career years. Can surprise performers turned up by The Churn be trusted to maintain or improve their success? We'll start with perhaps the biggest of the burning questions although possibly the easiest one to answer.
Should the Giants pick up Buster Posey's option?
A year ago, this one was not looking like the slam dunk it is now. Buster was coming off a weak 2019 season with a chronic hip condition apparently still bothering him. He sat out the 2020 season raising questions about how badly he wanted to keep doing this. Then 2021 happened. Buster came back rested and rejuvenated. Gabe Kapler found a way to pace his workload to keep him from wearing down as we have seen happen throughout his fabulous career. Buster put up a batting line of .304/.390/.499 with 18 HR's in 454 PA. Add in amazing defense behind the plate and he got to an fWAR of 4.9 which was #1 for all MLB catchers. He as one of the few Giants who hit well in the NLDS against the Dodgers. He currently sits at #8 in all time catching fWAR at 57.6. Depending on how much longer he plays, he's within striking distance of all but Johnny Bench who finished his career with 74.8.
Here's the deal: Buster has one year left on his contract which calls for a salary of $22 M with a team buyout of $3 M. That's a no brainer folks! Whether the Giants simply pick up the option or work out a 2-3 year extension like they did with Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey is going to be a Giant in 2022 and that's a very good thing.
Agreed, it's a dead certainty that the Giants will pick up the option on Posey's contract for a net cost of $19M, if for no other reason than the fear of fan reaction, and, if nothing else, he will help a hoped for successful promotion of Joey Bart.
ReplyDeleteFor sure a minority opinion on this blog and across Giant fandom, if it comes down to a monetary choice between Posey and the signing of a high-power FA, I'd go for the latter.
Review this past season: the Giants were better in the games Posey didn't start than in the games he did including head-to-head with LA.
I am more and more thinking Joey Bart is destined to be traded. I think the Marlins are looking to stabilize that position. The Cardinals need to be thinking what's going to happen after Molina finally retires. FZ just needs to make sure he gets a haul for Bart.
DeleteNo brainer. Keep him. However, with Casali practically bringing a load of Italian bread up to bat, once, every third game, I say that they should instead cut Casali and bring up Bart to back up Posey. This gives them a lethal bat when Posey isn't in the lineup. Also gives them a chance to see how good Bart really is. And finally, gives Bart a chance to understudy with Posey.
ReplyDeleteHa! You're forgetting Casali's Magic Fingers. Giants had a sweet record when he was pitching. His hitting got a lot better after his hamate area had a chance to fully heal too.
DeleteWhat do you think they do with Joey Bart? Maybe let Belt walk, give Bart some 1B work and let him catch on Posey's off days?
ReplyDeleteSee my rely to Theseus above.
DeleteBuster is my favorite Giants player so this is the biggest burning question to me. A recent knbr article said Buster has a player option for 2022, while others reported it as a team option, so I'll go with team option.
ReplyDeleteAnother option could be to carry 3 catchers: Buster, magic fingers, and Joey Bart if the universal DH is adopt ed in the NL. I like the Bart trade idea better since Bart needs to go to a team where he'll be the #1 catcher real soon. It was reported during the trade deadline that the Marlins were looking to upgrade center field and catcher by offering their top pitching prospect Max Meyer in trade talks. It's been said that Busters presence played a big part in the Giants success, so hopefully he'll be back with the Giants in 2022.
I think the first part of your write u is the key. Giants area a winning team now, which will put more pressure on prospects and increase the value of veterans who have done this before.
ReplyDeleteGiants cannot start the year relying on prospects in key positions; they will have to earn their way up by beating capable players.
To me, the question with Posey is whether yo just pick up the option or extend him for a few more years like Crawford.
Caes for Bryant and Belt will be more interesting. I am looking forward to see your take on those.
One more thing, Giants have to lure in pitcher, both starters and relievers. It is much easier to do that when Posey and Caaali will be behind the plate *sse Gausman).
ReplyDelete