OK then, the Giants definitely move on from Carlos Correa. Minutes after reports of them signing Michael Conforto OF, they reportedly agree to a 3 yr/$33 M deal with Taylor Rogers LHP who happens to be the twin brother of Tyler Rogers RHP who we all know as a submarining Giants reliever.
Taylor Rogers LHP. DOB: 12/17/1990. 6'3", 190 lbs.
2022(2 teams): 4-8, 4.76, 64.1 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 11.8 K/9, 31 Saves.
Rogers is a lefty-killer but with enough juice agains RH batters to be a Closer for much of his career. He struggled after a blockbuster deadline trade that sent him from the Padres to the Brewers for Josh Hader LHP when he suddenly gave up a whole lot of HR's. The Giants are obviously betting that is an aberration. If he returns to career averages, he really solidifies the Giants bullpen. I am guessing he will co-close with Camilo Doval RHP depending on which side of the plate scheduled batters are hitting from.
With this signing, the Giants are now likely close to finishing the offseason FZ wanted all along. It's a solid offseason that fans should be excited about, albeit without the shiny superstar free agent that sells tickets and shirseys.
These signings take the Giants 2023 Luxury Tax projection to $208M, 11th highest in MLB, $1M less than 10th. Tax begins @ $233M, leaving a margin of $25M.
ReplyDeleteConforto and Rogers combined are a couple million $$ more short-term than Correa alone, while providing a needed outfielder and co-closer. They probably, collectively, will provide less fWAR than Correa but may well add more value to the team by filling immediate needs, and they are not long term liabilities.
In any event, in either scenario, unless the system produces considerable added support, the Giants will remain behind the Dodgers and Padres as well as being threatened from behind by the D'backs. They need new blood.
TW, their Estimated Luxury Tax Payroll for 2024 is $100M less than 2023 – room for Ohtani AND Machado?
This is mixing projection systems but the Giants Zips projection before signing ANY free agents was 83 wins. Haniger, Conforto, Stripling, Manaea and Rogers add a Combined Steamer fWAR of 7.5 which would put them at 90.5 wins. You don't have to squint hard to see that with a bounceback season or two, there is a reasonable opportunity to tack another 5 wins onto that which gets you to 95-96 wins. I am calling it a good offseason. Thinking in terms of letter grades and blocking out the disappointment of losing out on the big names, I'd give FZ a B grade.
DeleteAw, at least a B+
DeleteGiants signed 6 of MLBTR's Top 50 Free Agents, and may not be done.
DeleteAlthough they aren't "In" on #'s 1-16 who would have higher individual impacts, their haul is almost 20% of the what's left, each pick filling a need:
17. Sean Manaea
20. Mitch Haniger
24. Taylor Rogers
34. Joc Pederson
38. Ross Stripling
44. Michael Conforto
Although the haul is nice, the Sting of signing & losing #2 is significant. They went from having the best backup SS to having no backup. Again. Estrada is bad enough at 2B, at SS, well, he's not Crawford. Elvis Andrus would be good but would the career SS be willing to play 2B – the Giants can't dump on Crawford again!
Should be an interesting year – Phillies went from 6th with 87 wins to the WS. It could happen.
I would be interested in LHP Will Smith if he is available. He was so good for us a few years ago and could really help the bullpen.
ReplyDeleteDoc, I agree with your assessment. I went from mixed feelings about Correa; to now mildly optomistic!!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas from very cold Canada!!!
Richard in Winnipeg
....and now Ken Rosenthal, no less, is reporting the Mets have concerns about Correa's medical report.
DeleteOn the Athletic, re "Mets have concerns with Carlos Correa’s physical"
DeleteDr. B. · 1h 46m ago
MLB needs to also give Correa immunity from medical exams.
LOL, you tell 'em, Doc
I slowly came to the conclusion as information became available that the Giants must have had good reason for backing out of a 13 year contract for a star player . They wanted to sign the player badly, it's just a crazy situation and who knows how it will end up.
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