Back atcha. Before we get started, congrats to Dusty Baker(his team, not so much) for finally getting the postseason monkey off his back. Dusty is a good manager. Every team he has taken over has gotten better under his leadership and the postseason is a crapshoot. By the time the craps game got to the last round this year, he was managing the clearcut best team. As we well know, best teams do not always win in the postseason and Dusty had plenty of opportunity to panic and blow it once again. He kept his cool through the craziness of pitch-tipping third game and the fury of the Phillies fans over some of the player's history of cheating(although Dusty was not part of that and was, in fact, brought in to help clean up the mess). Congratulations Dusty. Giants fans should celebrate with you.
Having completed the Giants 2022-2023 Hot Stove League Depth Charts, let's take a look what the Giants need to do to make this year's Hot Stove League a success.
1. Middle of the Order Hitter. Notice that every playoff team had at least one big middle of the order bat and most of them had at least two. The most obvious positions to upgrade are the two corner OF's. The most obvious target is Aaron Judge. Signing him alone is probably not enough but it makes everything else easier.
2. Second Middle of the Order Hitter. As we said, Judge alone is probably not enough and if the Giants fail to sign him then they definitely need two lesser bats. If the Giants can acquire 2 middle of the order bats for the corner OF positions, they can put YtY and Austin Slater together for a straight L-R CF platoon and there's your OF.
3. Cornerstone for the Future. Rebuilding teams do not have to wait until they have a homegrown core to start signing big name free agents. A free agent like Bryce Harper or one of the top tier shortstops is generally going to sign for a minimum of 5 years so the goal is to build around them and try to get a championship caliber roster within the contract window. Of course, you have to convince the player you are serious about building a team around him but it can be and has been done.
4. Ace Level Starting Pitcher. Sean Hjelle looks ready to step up to the next level and future ace, Kyle Harrison is not far behind, but with Carlos Rodon a free agent and Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood coming off injuries it would be wise for the Giants to either bring Rodon back or sign another ace level pitcher. This is less of a priority than a bat or two because FZ can likely get the rotation he wants by adding a mid-level SP or two plus a couple of bounceback candidates on minor league deals but a co-ace to go with Logan Webb would be awfully nice to have, especially since the plan is to make the postseason where ace pitchers importance is magnified.
5. Bullpen Setup Man who can Close. Unlike last season, Camilo Doval is now a seasoned Closer who seems on the verge of becoming an elite closer. He needs at least one and likely two setup men who can Close when Doval needs a breather and can step into the role in case of injury.
6. Balance the Lineup. This may come as a surprise to some but the Giants ended the 2022 season with a stronger right side of the lineup than left. Of course that should not dissuade them from signing Aaron Judge, but if they do, the other bat they add, preferably corner OF, should be a lefty hitter. That could be Joc Pederson(more on him in the next post) but if they are successful in signing Judge, they can roll the dice a bit with the other corner bat and/or DH. You heard it here first: FZ loves him some three-true-outcomes guys. Joey Gallo is going to be a Giant next season!
Ready Set Go!
ReplyDelete2023 Opening Day for the Giants will feature Aaron Judge on the field – that probability is very high, because big spenders LAD and NYM aren't his home teams: Judge will stay with the Yankees or come "home" to his team growing up.
Yes, the Giants open at Yankee Stadium March 30th for a cold, week-end series.
Webb v Cole.
You can depend on Aaron Judge being there!
As a Giant or as a Yankee.
Taking Rodón's salary out, the Giants are committed to just $92.5M next year and $20.5M in 2024, the Yankees $123.5M & $100.8M, so, the money is there for either, a lot more for SF and both have back filling to do.
NY's FA's in addition to Judge are Rizzo, Carpenter, Benintendi, Taillon – 11 in all, not all consequential, they left Chapman off the post season roster.
If the Giants get a known draw like Judge, they can pack 'em in like the good-ole-days, at least until the home grown stars died off with the super-nova 2021.
A Correa-Nimmo pair may be more effective, and longer lasting, than a Judge single, but to get butts in the seats from the get-go next year, Judge is the ticket.
Why not all 3 – That will take care of Doc's 1, 2, and 3 above and may leave enough for Rodón, too, Doc's 4.
How 'bout a very HOT Stove!
Totally agree with everything Doc is saying. Going off of Doc's list, this is my off-season plan A. I have plans B and C but they're obviously not as exciting.
Delete1. Yes, why not go right to the man. Aaron Judge.
2. I agree with Doc that we need a LH bat but no good options are available. Joc should purely be a DH but J.D. Davis seems destined to take most of those ABs next year. So then how about killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Brandon Nimmo. He'll be expensive so you'll have to overpay but he can instantly improve the OF defense, which was the worst in the league by a huge mile this year. And he can be a good LH leadoff hitter. So he can be that 2nd bat while also improving the defense. An OF of Judge, Nimmo, and Yaz would actually be one of the top OF defenses.
3. You have Judge and Nimmo for many years and you supplement with hopefully cornerstone players coming up like Harrison, Schmitt, Luciano, Matos, Bailey.
4. Don't think there's enough money for Judge and Nimmo AND an ace pitcher. But this is where Zaidi and Co. is at their best, finding value in starting pitching. Kodai Senga seems intriguing. Jameson Taillon has the potential to be a poor man's Rodon. Grab one of the Zaidi specials and then by mid-season, see if Harrison is ready or trade for an elite arm. My white whale is Jesus Luzardo.
5. Rafael Montero qualifies as a setup man who can close. I'd sign him for 2/20 or 3/24 and slot him into the closer role for stability. Then use Doval as the fireman. Sign Adam Ottavino for 1/6 or 2/10.
Revamped bullpen:
9th: Rafael Montero
8th: Camilo Doval
7th: Adam Ottavino
6th: John Brebbia
5th: Tyler Rogers
LH: Scott Alexander
LH: Alex Young
Long/6th man: churn
Revamped lineup:
CF - Brandon Nimmo (L)
LF - Aaron Judge
1B - Brandon Belt (L)
DH - J.D. Davis
2B - Wilmer Flores
RF - Mike Yastrzembski (L)
3B - David Villar
SS - Brandon Crawford (L)
C - Joey Bart
Thairo can rotate SS and 2B and get around 400 ABs. Slater in a semi-platoon with Yaz. Flores and J.D. Davis rotating in 3B/1B so that the Villar/Davis/Flores combo all get 400+ ABs. This will allow Craw and Belt to get the needed rest.This offense should be easily top 10 and barring injuries, put up way more than 200 hrs. Maybe even up to 250 if you squint hard. The defense should be better than middle of the pack.
This team will be right under the CBT threshold and be a 90-95 win team. Add in a dominant SP at the trading deadline and they can be this year's Phillies next year.
Maybe already mentioned?...who to protect on the 40 man
ReplyDeleteCan the Giants convince any well above average player to actually sign with them? That is a question for the last 20 years.
ReplyDelete