Coming in at number 25 are the San Francisco Giants. So close to a playoff spot last season but, all good things can’t last forever.
Notable Additions: Tommy La Stella, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood
Notable Losses: Drew Smyly, Tyler Anderson
Current Top 5 Prospects: Joey Bart, Marco Luciano, Heliot Ramos, Hunter Bishop, Seth Corry
The Giants were a tiebreaker away from making the postseason and having the pleasure of being swept by the Dodgers.
This year won’t be the same result. The Giants don’t have the longevity to compete for a playoff spot, especially in the ultra-competitive NL.
Their hitting was the bright spot of last season. They had the 4th best batting average and 5th best OPS in the NL. Multiple players stepped up to the occasion. Four players had a batting average of .297 or better and three players had an OPS of .947 or better. This team has good bats but, the problem is that it was during a shortened season. A regular 162 game season will test to see who were pretenders.
Pitching on this team is where the real question lies. Kevin Gausman had a solid year this past season posting an 11.9 K/9 as well as the lowest ERA on the team for qualified starters. Drew Smyly had a 14.4 K/9 and a 3.42 ERA when he was healthy, but unfortunately for the Giants, Smyly isn’t coming back. The Giants were able to keep Gausman for the top of their rotation followed by Johnny Cueto and three other pitchers on prove-it deals.
Sock’s 2 X-Factors
1. Mike Yastrzemski
A late bloomer to the show is blossoming at the age of 30. Yastrzemski finished 8th in MVP voting and was a huge part of the Giants success during the 2020 season. Ten home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .968 OPS. He was also named to the All MLB Second team in 2020. His defense was also impressive finishing having a perfect fielding percentage and finished 4th in putouts in the NL. The best part for the Giants is that he isn’t free agent eligible until 2026. Now in the prime of his career, he is the highlight piece in a Giants rebuild. Projected 2021 Stats .291 32HR 92RBIs
2. Donovan Solano
The 33-year-old got another opportunity with the Giants in 2019 and hasn’t wasted it. He played in 54 games this season, had the 5th best batting average in the NL with a .326, and earned himself his first career silver slugger. The knock on Solano is his defense. He led the league in errors last season with 11 errors. His defense is below average at best but, he clearly makes it up with his bat. He isn’t a power hitter but I expect him to make solid contact all year long for the Giants. Projected 2021 Stats .303 7HR 63RBIs
Prospects to look forward to
1. Patrick Bailey
With Buster Posey getting up there in age and Joey Bart getting ready to become a full-time major leaguer, Patrick Bailey is one of the next catching prospects to grace the Giants organization. This pick was a surprise since Joey Bart is only 24 years old. However, picking up a switch hitter catcher who hit .302 with a .979 OPS and has shown he can develop into an elite defender in college, that’s hard to pass. Since he is fresh out of the 2020 draft, I expect him to make his MLB debut in 2023 or 2024.
2. Marco Luciano
The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic has incredible power for a young prospect. In the rookie-level league in Arizona, he posted an OPS of 1.055. He also has a great arm for a 19-year-old and has a very good baseball IQ. There is some talk about whether he will remain at shortstop or not. He isn’t as quick as desired to play shortstop currently but, with training that can improve or they can move him to another infield position. I’d expect him to make his MLB debut around 2023.
My prediction for the Giants this upcoming season is that they will finish 4th in the division with a 66-96 record. This team may be in a rebuild but they have four big contracts they no longer need to worry about after the 2021 season. This will allow them to spend big money in free agency. Signing the right pitching and developing their young stars will go a long way for the future of the Giants. We could see the Giants as playoff contenders as early as 2023.
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