Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi met with reporters Thursday afternoon. Among the topics discussed was the team’s catching situation, which doesn’t seem to be a top priority for the front office.
San Francisco designated backup Austin Wynns for assignment last week, leaving them with just Joey Bart and Rule 5 draftee Blake Sabol as catchers on the 40-man roster. Despite that rather thin depth chart, Zaidi indicated the club is not likely to add a catcher on a major league free agent deal (relayed by Evan Webeck of the San Jose Mercury News). The Giants’ baseball operations leader implied that Wynns has already gone unclaimed on waivers, though he’ll have the right to elect minor league free agency as a player who has previously been outrighted in his career.
Zaidi indicated the team was hopeful of bringing Wynns back to the organization on a minor league pact, though the 32-year-old will have the chance to explore other opportunities. Even if Wynns returns, San Francisco could bring in another non-roster invitee to major league camp.
It seems they’re content heading into exhibition play with just Bart and Sabol on the 40-man roster. That’d suggest the 26-year-old Bart has a firm hold on the #1 job after hitting .215/.296/.364 through 291 plate appearances last season. The former second overall pick connected on 11 home runs but punched out in nearly 39% of his trips to the dish.
That’s also a strong vote of confidence for Sabol, who has no big league experience. The 25-year-old had spent four years in the Pirates’ system after being selected in the 7th round of the 2019 draft. The left-handed hitter split last year between Pittsburgh’s top two affiliates, putting up an impressive .284/.363/.497 line across 513 combined plate appearances. That wasn’t enough for the Bucs to add him to their 40-man roster despite a very thin catching situation of their own. It obviously impressed San Francisco brass, though, as the Giants orchestrated a trade with the Reds to acquire Sabol’s Rule 5 rights.
Cincinnati, who had the fourth pick in the Rule 5 draft, selected Sabol. They immediately dealt him to the Giants, who sent back minor league pitcher Jake Wong. San Francisco has to keep the USC product on their major league roster or injured list all season or place him on waivers and offer him back to Pittsburgh if he goes unclaimed. Wynns’ designation and a lack of urgency to add another big league catcher suggests the front office is confident in Sabol’s ability to hold his own at the big league level.
There are a few remaining free agent catchers who could sign minor league deals. Kevin Plawecki, Robinson Chirinos, Jorge Alfaro, Tres Barrera and Luis Torrens are candidates for a non-roster pact. Reports this week tied San Francisco to Gary Sánchez, but that seems unlikely unless the Giants pivot to make a big league commitment. As the top remaining free agent backstop, Sánchez figures to secure a guaranteed deal somewhere.
This is pretty confounding. I don’t get the logic on this one. It’s arguably the most important position on the diamond, you have a boatload of money to spend, you need to start rebuilding your team, and several catchers were available in both FA & via trades. Yes, you struck out on three players, but that doesn’t mean you stop.
Moreover, the market looks pretty dicey for the next several seasons, generally speaking. I’d like to read where Giants fans stand on this one.
I wasn’t happy they DFA’ed Austin Wynns. He was a fine backup catcher and really more of a half and half with Bart. I find it very hard to believe Wynns cleared waivers.
I get the Giants not wanting to give up on Bart. He had a rough time coming up through the minors, two hand injuries and an abbreviated 2020. He has power and a great arm; the jury is out on his overall catching abilities and his plate discipline is atrocious.
Giants also have Patrick Bailey coming up but he really needs one more season in the minors.
The situation is not great. But we’ve been spoiled for more than a decade with Posey. Good defensive catchers who can hit are unicorns. Other than Will Smith none of the other NL west catchers stand out so I’d call this a minor area of concern for 2023.
When considering SF is counting on a bounce back season from Conforto and a healthy season from Haniger and pixie dust for the rest of the team like 2021, catching seems like a luxury item.
Hm, okay that makes sense, Dave. Perhaps I assumed they were/intended to be a bit ahead of where they actually are then.
As to your other points, I totally agree with you. And, I sure wouldn’t give up on Bart yet either. He’s still unseasoned in terms of MLB experience. Guys click at all different ages, so if he can build on his existing tools it’s a win.
I hadn’t considered Bailey, but as I now recall he was a top draft pick, right? He’s was the switch-hitting catcher from N. Carolina or Carolina State as I recall?
I’m not a giants fan, but this seems like it’s begging to have to address the position mid season after it tanks the pitching staff to another season of sub par results yielding no playoffs for the fans? With the best option avaliable being Gary Sanchez he’s not gonna lead your pitching staff either.
You asked someone else but I’ll answer: Giants should have made a run at Sean Murphy.
Considering what the A’s got I think the Giants could have topped that easily.
Problem is the A’s and Giants hardly ever trade with each other; it’s a long history of bad blood across the bay. I thought because of Farhan’s history with Oakland they would have buried the hatchet: WRONG! Part of the issue is territorial rights in San Jose, which the A’s gave the Giants and another thing is the A’s GM has an inferiority complex when it comes to SF.
Anyway, Giants had the prospect capital to overpay for Murphy but it didn’t happen.
The fact Wynn didn’t get claimed by another team tells you his true value.
Don’t love but, like the pitching moves. This team still won 81 games almost everything went wrong except for Joc. If Conforto and Haniger can bat close to their career averages plus play 125-140 games each. Giant could be a 85-87 win team.
Willie Mays: what would your catching preference have been for this offseason? What move for C should Zaidi made, if any? Just curious…
At this point we have to see what we have in Bart. He has all the ability in the world but if he can’t cut down on strikeouts it’s going to be hard to play him 100+ games in season
I just think a lot of the options are not there at this time so late in the off-season. Gary is better than all of their catchers. Pair him with a solid defensive catcher and it’s better than what you have. Bart will not hit at this level. Book it.
#williemays – Joc didn’t go particularly right either. Worst defensive OF and what’s up with him bunting with 2 strikes and a runner on? Or not having the gusto to respond when an opponent literally b***h slapped him in the face? I didn’t like how he didn’t play with much intensity for half the season either. It showed in his stats, 2+ months without a HR.
One has to try pretty hard to say that he’s the only part of the team that went right, imo.
Imo Webb, Doval, Villar, Rodon deserve SOME credit. Just sayin’
#ff
What does Joc’s response to getting slapped have anything to do with his season going right or wrong? And for what it’s worth, waiting several months to slap a guy because he shared a picture that hurt his feelings is way more pathetic than anything Joc did. Anyway, other than a very bad July, Joc did exactly what he was supposed to do (be a bat first “outfielder”), and he did it well.
But you are right that those other players deserve some credit as well.
#disadvantage – I’m not defending the other player AT ALL. But Joc showing that passivity affects not only how he views himself, but also the whole team. It also sends a strong message to the rest of the league, reflecting on the team.
That passivity showed in his play too. At times rubbing off on teammates.
Hence why he went months without a HR, bunted with 2 strikes and runners in scoring position, (against the dodgers!!), Talked smack on the team, before the season ended, or the team had even been eliminated from the postseason.
Not to mention his absolutely atrocius defense.
I would say it has something to do with his season going wrong.
#dave – That’s something that cannot be booked at this time. Bart is a #2 overall pick and should be allowed his opportunity. Honestly he looks to have the potential to be a star. Look at Trout’s rookie numbers… Not what you see in following years.
Sabol is fine to start the year, if he sucks, he’ll be gone before April is over
#ff
He went a single month without a home run, sandwiched between two very good months. Not “months” without a homerun. Why exaggerate? And he was carrying the offense for much of the season so yeah, if he’s not hitting then nobody was. And you’re going to cherrypick one at bat where he tried to bunt with two strikes? Again, why?
And if you’re suggesting a player that hit another player when they’ve been wronged demonstrates a fiery passion, then why is Tommy Pham such a terrible baseball player? If the roles were switched, he would’ve most certainly hit back. But that doesn’t mean he’d hit at the plate.
Sad Farhan will get nobody, and when Bart get’s hurt, a no experienced AAA catcher will prevail. That is elementary school thinking Farhan. Farhan is a disgrace to me…..
He went 2 months straight without a single HR. Why make up something different?
Every bit of offensive value he created, he wiped out with his atrocious defense.
Why did he bunt with 2 strikes and runners in scoring position with 2 outs, AGAINST THE DODGERS? I think maybe because he didn’t feel confident in himself to get a hit off the pitcher.. so he didn’t even try.
And AGAIN I already have said that I’m not defending Pham, AT ALL. I didn’t say that makes him a fiery baseball player. Don’t put words in my mouth. Him doing that was pure stupidity. But the lack of response, other than to cower to him at the time… That’s what I’m referring to.
Seems to me like you have more confidence in him, than he does.
What’s all this about a slap in the face?
A more seasoned backup would be nice. Giants had good results from Casali, who had been available earlier in the offseason. If not him, someone in that mold.
Tommy Pham slapped him pn the field pre game over a fantasy football disagreement.
Joc handled it remarkably well. Respected his workplace and took it on the chin without reacting. It was an impressive thing to see.
Speaking of the dude with the pearl necklace?
Although the Joc getting slapped fiasco seems pretty juvenile, in my opinion, I think it would mess with a professional athletes psychic. They’re all alpha’s where they came from & then they’re put in a fishbowl with 30 other alpha’s. I’m a Utah Jazz fan & back during the Stockton & Malone era, Greg Ostertag was coming off a very good 2nd half of the prior season. He was gaining more confidence & Utah was expecting big things from the Tag that year. He started out doing awesome. Then they played against the Lakers in LA one night & prior to the game Shaq slapped Tag pretty good in the face over some comments Ostertag made in off season. All that confidence & momentum Ostertag had gained was all in the sudden gone. Just like that, & he was really never the same. I think with professional athletes, where toughness & strength are required (added to the fact that testosterone levels are through the roof) a slap to the face with no retaliation is perceived by their peers as weak. Therefore, it could very much diminish ones confidence. And at that level, if you question yourself or have 1 second of “maybe I’m not the baddest mf on the planet,” you’re done! Confidence & swagger are a necessity for pro athletes. And the timing of Jocs slap & his numbers deteriorating right after that, may not be a coincidence. Joc was asked about after & in that interview he is very uncomfortable & almost timid about it. Watch it, his body language is similar to a wolf putting his tail between his legs & submitting. I know to us, they’re acting like kids, however, they are playing a kids game. I’m not a psychologist, just my two cents.
FireFarhan, I have to agree with @disadvantage on the no-HR streak. Per the game logs on BB Ref, he hit a HR on 6/25, his 63rd game of the year, then hit his next on 8/10, his 99th game. That’s a span on 35 games without a HR Yes it’s over a month, but only by 4-5 games. Nowhere near 2 months without a HR.
#ff
What I did was not put words in your mouth, but applied the opposite logic and you disagree with it. That, if no retaliation from being slapped makes you not fiery, then retaliating from being slapped would then make you fiery. Which Pham would’ve done in that hypothetical situation. But Pham retaliating would not make him a good ballplayer.
Literal copy/paste from Baseball Reference:
Most Games w/o HR 35 games
Until you can own up to the fact that he absolutely didn’t go 2 months without a homerun, your words are meaningless.
#BondsAway – exactly my point. I’m glad you can see it. Pederson’s numbers crumbling following the incident speaks for itself imo
#ff
Can you please stop using factually incorrect numbers to back up your incorrect opinions. You were already wrong that he went 2 months without a homerun. Anyways, he was slapped on May 27.
From May 27 – .May 31: 400/.500/.667 1HR 5RBI
(not bad numbers for somebody who is crumbling following the incident)
The Month of June – .274/.346/.534 5HR 10RBI
For reference, his month of July: .133/.221/.200 0HR 4RBI
So unless you want to make the argument it had a delayed response to his psyche, where do you get your information from? Seriously, because it’s not just a bad opinion, it’s just factually incorrect.
#disatvantage – I was just agreeing with someone else. You don’t have to go off on a rant at me about it
‘Start’ rebuilding? Been rebuilding for 5 years. Bart is a #2 overall pick and should be allowed his opportunity to blossom into a star, no matter your feelings about it.
Sabol is fine to start the year, if he sucks, he’ll be gone before April is over.
I will tell you Farhan is a nut case! He could care less about the team and is a moneyballer! He has too much faith in miracles out of nowhere on these leftover goodwill players from others AAA teams, He’s hoping to look like a genius pulling a rabbit out of a hat trick. Making a silk purse out of a sows ear. He should have went after Contreras, anybody. Bart is not near good enough. Sabol, really Farhan?This just shows how dysfunctional this organization truly is,. Farhan and Kapler both need to be fired. Farhan has got to go!
Contreras? Woof.
@giantssadfan
Moneyballer? He was one of the top spenders this off-season. Stop it with that narrative, it’s over.
As for Contreras, what incentive would he have had to sign anywhere other than the Cardinals? There wasn’t much the Giants could’ve done to be more appealing than taking over the reigns of Yadi (in the same way it’s a tough sell to Judge to not be “the guy” for the Yankees unless either guy had some burning desire or were massively overpaid to play in SF). Not to mention, Contreras would not solve all of our problems.
Not to mention, as others have pointed out, there’s still plenty of time for a trade. If that doesn’t happen, and our catching corps are Bart + Sabol, stay mad. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.
disadvantage—thank you for beating back #ff and all these false narratives. It’s exhausting, ff is up at 3am replying with his negative outlook.
Thanks again for keeping it real! Extend Zaidi 10 more years! Wohooooo! Lol!
Sad Farhan will not make a move to acquire a starting catcher that is better than Bart. Really sad, that Moneyball nutcase Farhan will regret this 2023 season, by not signing a good catcher. What happens if Bart gets hurt!!!! AAA city….
Bart is going to be a star. Dude’s a stud, who absolutely crushes the ball. The shift was hurting him bad too
What Farhan says he’s gonna do and what actually happens are usually two different things.
We’ll see if he makes a catcher move after all his denial.
I agree and don’t think we’ve heard the last of the Giants catching situation this offseason. I believe all he said was that he wasn’t likely to sign a free agent catcher. If there’s any trade market FZ is tapped into, its the catching market. I would guess he’s made well over a dozen deals and signings for catchers in his tenure with the Giants – he’s more than likely got something up his sleeve. May not be exciting in the end, but he’s got a plan B.
With all that said, I have to say that I hate FZ’s style of churning through cast offs and after-thoughts – its difficult to watch and my patience is running low. His propensity for sifting through the bargain bin is getting old.
To me, it shows they’re committed to Bart. And I respect that. My hope is that him getting his feet wet and letting him work out his growing pains will help. But as a realist, there’s no proof that Bart will “be a star” or anything. But if you were Gary Sanchez, would you sign a deal with San Francisco knowing your playing time would be so little knowing Bart is their guy? Me personally, I’d probably wanna sign with a contender with playing time (unlikely), or Cincinnati or something…somewhere where I’m guaranteed a starting job so I can play. And if I so well, I can get flipped to a contender in July. I just don’t know who the ideal backup catcher is. But whoever he is, I don’t expect him to be a free agent. I expect him to be someone with some talent and upside, who is blocked by someone more skilled. And Zaidi trades for him in May or June (depending on how this rule 5 kid plays out).
Trade. Guaranteed.
I think so too Wilmer, Zaidi has something cooking but he will be patient until it falls into place.
I wouldn’t guarantee it. Bart is a #2 overall pick and should be allowed his opportunity to blossom into a star. I think he might blossom into an all star.
Sabol is fine to start the year, if he sucks, he’ll be gone before April is over. Wynns/Genoves/another pickup could easily replace an interchangable backup C
#agnes gooch I think what’s falling into place is Farhan being too patient, while his contract expires this year and the Giants haven’t been saying anything about an extension. I think Pete Putila is in position to potentially take over. I think if we backslide this year, that’s a strong possibility.
This somewhat makes sense to me. Bart is their guy and by virtue of being a rule V guy Sabol has to be the backup. Anyone they sign they would have to trust more than Bart, and no such guy exists (Sanchez I would imagine they don’t trust his defense).
They are thin behind that as only Ford Proctor has MLB experience at AAA. I would honestly argue Roberto Perez to be a perfect fit for them as a AAA catcher who can wait in the wings to step up to a backup role if injuries occur.
TBF Sabol can play elsewhere. He played a decent bit of LF last year too. They could feasibly carry three catchers without limiting themselves too much.
Genoves could potentially come up from AAA, if Sabol flops too.
Farhan Zaid the baseball Genius going into his 5th season as the Grand Poobah in San Francisco and has only posted a winning record above .500 One time.
For Context: Brian Cashman has been running the Yankees since 1998 and has NEVER constructed a roster that finished with a losing record below .500 Ever
I’ll take a division title every 4th year and compete for wild card on another.
Yanks have probably outspent the Giants by 1.5-2B since 1998. 99-2022 5 pennants for yanks,4 pennants for Giants.
27chumpy Farhan sucks, but you’re trying super hard to cherry pick. To be fair, the Giants haven’t had a losing season, in literally years. Although there was a backslide this past year.
2009 was a long time ago…
Not really. Unless you’re 15.
What a weird comparison.
Cashman inherited a juggernaut of team, on a team in probably the best market in all of sports, enough name cachet to draw top talent without even trying, and given unlimited resources. The Dodgers performed similarly in his first few years as the Dodgers GM when they were in a similar situation. Then he inherited a bad Giants team with dead weight contacts with owners that refused to full-on rebuild, and still managed a 107 win team, and now, after 5 years, he’s finally in a position he can make or break himself.
You don’t have to like FZ, and you can have your beloved Cashman, but your comparison is like saying Matt Williams is a better manager than Bochy because he has a better win/loss record.
#disatvantage – I think this season will probably make or break Farhan. It’s the last year of his contract, and I’ll be honest, I think Pete Putila is in position to potentially take over, as POBO. And I think I’m fine with that idea.
If we backslide again this season, then I think Farhan is probably toast. I hope so.
#ff
Could be, but if the OP wants to prove Farhan is a bad POBO, he could just say that, and list bad moves he’s made. Not compare him to the most pampered GM in all of baseball.
#disatvantage Fair enough
Giants must believe Sabol can stick the whole year on the roster.
Maybe he will. But I’m thinking it’d be easy to replace him quickly, if he doesn’t. Bring up Wynns, Proctor, Genoves, or pick up a new guy on the fly
I’m surprised Jorge Alfaro hasn’t found a back-up role yet. His 2nd half was rough but his first half was great. He also slashed .307/.360/.483 away from SD and .269/.310/.463 against lefties
I was hoping CLE would have chosen him over Zunino because Alfaro’s bat is more consistent at this point. Amazing we haven’t heard of any team in on Alfaro. Sanchez I get because his defensive skills have always been super shaky.
“Giants Unlikely To Play .500 Ball in 2023”
Headline fixed.
That’s a rather simplistic, uninformed, L take. The backup catcher position alone is not going to determine that.
Bart has not proven he is a starting catcher and the backup, who will start 70 games, is a rule 5 pickup. Its an INFORMED take.
Lol, you wrote “informed” in all caps so it must be true.
Bart hasn’t proven anything, one way or the other. Typical rookie mistake to pronounce judgement off a small sample.
Bart IS the starting catcher. That’s all the proof needed. You’re proven wrong, not informed.
#FF, Why are you willing to give Bart the time to prove he belongs, but not Farhan. It takes longer for an organization to be turned around that it does for a player to prove whether he’s a bust or not.
I don’t have blind faith in either Bart nor Zaidi. To me, there isn’t enough data yet to not believe that either should be let go. Why are you so eager to pull the trigger on FZ, but not Bart?
#tad2b13 – I have given him time. It’s been over 4 years since he signed. This will be the 5th and final year of his contract. If the Giants continue to regress, not progress, I’m sure it’ll probably be his last in SF.
I’m not impressed with his drafting or the overall current state of the farm system. I’m tired of never signing even a single star player, even our own, even when very publicly promised.
I’m not happy with the unprofessional manner the Correa saga was handled in, or the disrespect to Brandon Crawford.
I’m disgusted by the death of the winning culture attitude the franchise fostered and earned in the past decade.
Farhan never built a franchise on his own, without help. I think he’s in over his head.
Personally I’m ready to see Putila or someone else take over as POBO.
Bart still has potential to be a superstar. I see great potential in him, for a multitude of reasons.
At this point I have more faith in Joey Bart to do his job well, than I do in Farhan Zaidi.
I hope this answers your question sufficiently.
#FF, But you haven’t given him enough time. On the one hand you say, if the Giants regress, like it’s a wait and see attitude, but then you’re ready to see Putila, or someone else take over. It’s like you’ve already made up your mind that he show be fired. He signed a 5 year deal, let’s see where the team is at the end of the deal first.
I don’t think you’re being objective. The Giants improved every year for the first 3 years of his tenure. It was only last season where they regressed. so it looks to me you want him fired for one bad season.
Drafting is still somewhat of a crapshoot. Proof of that is when you see a guy like, Zach Plesac, a 12th rounder, become successful in MLB. That’s just luck, because if it wasn’t, 29 other teams wouldn’t have passed on him for 11 rounds. And there are a bunch of guys like that. But Zaidi inherited a 24th ranked farm system, and it has improved, even though it’s not as much as we would like.
But some things are solely in your mind, and just aren’t real things, like disrespecting Crawford. That did not happen. The Correa situation was not handled unprofessionally. That is SOP, and could have been any other team in MLB. It’s not the first time a deal fell through because of a physical, and it won’t be the last.
The big problem I have with the critics of Zaidi is there seems to be no understanding of what he could done otherwise with the 73 win, bloated payroll team he inherited. The only legitimate criticisms I see are his not re-signing Gausman and Rodon. But, that’s short term thinking, and those deals aren’t ones I wish he’d made. Especially the 6 years given to Rodon.
It’s great that you see Bart as a superstar, but whether he will be that, or a league average catcher, or a bust, is still a question. But it’s interesting you seem to have amnesia about the 2021 Giants’ team, and the 2022 team is who you think the Giants are.
@tab, this was an excellent and refreshing write-up.
#tadb – we’re close to the end of Farhan’s contract. It’s his last year.
I have no emotional attachment to the guy, I’m being completely objective. I was actually one of his most outspoken supporters, until the past 2 months, when he hasn’t kept his word or promises.
I don’t want him fired for just one bad season, no matter how it looks to you. Things aren’t always as they appear, are they?
You think they didn’t disrespect Crawford, but everyone else sees clearly that they did. Why were the Mets moving Correa to 3rd? Out of respect for their SS. Who’s not being objective? Seems soley in your mind, and a very few others actually.
What day did the Mets announce a press conference for Correa and what day did they cancel it? They were more professional, than to prematurely announce a date and put everyone through a dance, just to cancel at the last minute.
Yeah we’ll see about Bart. Time tells all tales.
I have no amnesia about the ’21 team, I think the team is in the middle between the two.
It’s interesting that you seem to assume you know what’s in my head and that you’re qualified to speak for my feelings and intentions. Seems like a typical narcissistic bully technique.
#disadvantage – really hits your heartstrings eh? I could make a second account to agree with myself too, but it wouldn’t truly add to my credibility, it would just be an appearance
#ff
Now I’ve seen everything! You get dragged through the mud, but rather than just give up or change your tone, you resort to conspiracy? Well I’m glad to see you’re having fun.
The thing is, every response I have made to you is calling out your dishonesty and inconsistencies. Honestly, of the debates I have had on MLBTR, yours are some of the easier ones to disprove – I’m still laughing at how adamant you are Joc went two months without a HR or hit poorly after being slapped, when all it takes to disprove is literally looking at his numbers. It doesn’t really require any cheering on to put you in your place. Plus, @tab has written some downright eloquent posts (including the one I had just agreed to), so I’d prefer to use this account if I wish to look smart.
And from my experience, it’s usually the person making the allegations as projection onto the other person. So if agreeing with another post means multiple accounts are being used, well…
“#FireFarhan: #BondsAway – exactly my point…”
“#FireFarhan4: #KHE – Agreed. Very well said.”
… what are you doing with TWO separate accounts to cheer yourself on? You need to stop this behavior immediately.
Anyways, I’ll leave you with your only good point so far:
“I could make a second account to agree with myself too, but it wouldn’t truly add to my credibility…”
– Right! Because posting bad takes from two accounts would not increase your credibility. Good point!
“Seems like a typical narcissistic bully technique.”
Okay I’m done.
Should be worth noting the Giants signed Brett Cumberland to a minor league deal. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s invited to spring training. Then bringing back Wynns as a spring training invitee, I think they probably would be comfortable with that corps.
Austin Wynns is a 32 y/o backup catcher who’s never hit a lick.. He hit .259/.313/.358 last year. Is anyone really upset that this dude is gone? Backup catchers grow on trees.
Sabol has some pretty sweet minor league stats, although he’s kinda old for a prospect.
They don’t actually. Mets were actually able to trade McCann and $5m of his salary to the Orioles.
rhandome, I agree except for Sabol being old for a prospect. Average age for promotion to MLB is about 24 1/2 years. But, by position, catchers make their debuts at an older age than any other position. I’m guessing that’s due to them having a lot more to learn before they’re ready.
A .259 BA from a backup C these days is a huge bonus. Even most starting catchers are in the low .200s The fact that SF is still positioned to call him up if Sabol bombs is a pretty good situation if you ask me.
I like this move. Opens the door for Bart and Sabol to get more playing time. Bart hopefully blossoms into a star this year and if Sabol flops, there’s Wynns or another pickup or prospect, like Genovese, to replace him.
It’s amazing how two years ago people were claiming Zaidi was the best in baseball, the smartest guy, and now they’re retracting and saying he’s the worst.
Two years ago, FZ looked like a genius for a 107 win team lead by aging vets and random scrubs, a victory that was all the more gilded because SF was rebuilding and not spending any money. But that was supposed to be a holding pattern, until the bad contracts came off the books, and the team could supplant a burgeoning farm system with top tier talent. Two years later, the farm has taken a step back, and SF failed to land any big fish after pumping up its fanbase with talk of how they could and would spend; and fans are rightfully pissed. I get the frustration and the swings of opinion. As others have noted, this is an important walk year for Zaidi.
I love Zaidi pwndroia, don’t listen to these doomers on here. Blah blah blah, it’s the same pablum every day. Zaidi is smart and compassionate. This year we will compete and a few kids from the farm will be up. It’ll be fine. All the doomers need to chill, get some fresh air, and enjoy life a little.
#agnes gooch – do you love lots of cutthroat millionaire executives, thinking that they are ‘compassionate’?
#pwndroia – that’s because, as many others have noted Farhan has not succeeded in sustained success for the Giants. One good year, followed by a big step back the next.
Add to it the mishandling of the Correa situation and disrespecting the greatest SS in franchise history, Brandon Crawford, along with NEVER being able to sign even ONE marquee free agent, and this becomes pretty much the year that will make or break Zaidi in SF. If the team continues the pattern of backsliding further this year, then I doubt Farhan will be around SF beyond this season.
It’s just like Chaim Bloom. Very similar dynamics
Why are some people sleeping on Joey Bart like he’s some sort of scrap heap journeyman? He’s a young talented catcher learning the game at the MLB level but hey if the Giant’s fans don’t want him I’m sure there are about 29 other teams that would roll those dice. Oh no he struggled at the plate in his rookie season as the starting catcher for a team expected to win, no pressure.
Have you seen how many times he strikes out? Who cares if you hit ten or eleven HRs if you can barely tow the Mendoza Line and strike out half the time? He has yet to prove that he can handle MLB pitching. That’s not to say that he can’t, but with a season and a half at the Show, there’s growing doubt.
A lot of very young players have trouble adjusting to major league pitching, he just needs some more time before we brand him a bust. I think the anti Bart fervor is a little bit ridiculous and it’s probably collateral damage because of the and poor performance in general last season. Catchers take time to develop, there’s only one Buster Posey and we will never see a guy like him again.
I remember Matt Williams struggling with K’s on low and away curve balls in his first couple seasons. Many were frustrated with his early development, but he obviously turned it around. I’m not saying Bart will become Matt Williams, but patience is warranted. Not many players hit the ground running at the ML level.
Great point. Best comment today! I think Bart will be fine
#Mystery Team – Absolutely right! The same naysayers about Bart would have given up on Mike Trout and Nolan Ryan too. Good thing those people aren’t running any team.
Call me crazy but I think Bart plays a lot better this season. He has immense ability, I think he just needs more major league experience. Also Bailey has been a work in progress for a while now and last year there were even rumors of a Bart trade to clear room for him so it seems the FO is confident in the current situation (rightfully or wrongfully).
I’m very confident Bart will be much better this year than last year
Wonder if Sanchez would take a minor league/spring invite contract or if some team will give him a major league deal
why are people forgetting about patrick bailey? i think he’ll be ready to contribute by sept.. i know it’s a hot take but geez
scotcousins, Bailey reached High-A last season. Expecting him to go through AA, and AAA, or skip one, and reach MLB in one season is expecting a little too much IMO. If the rosters could still expand to 40 in Sept. like before, I could see it, but not with the limits now.
why are people forgetting about patrick bailey? i think he’ll be ready to contribute by sept.. i know it’s a hot take
Pat Bailey has yet to progress pass A-ball. He’s not going to be coming up anytime soon…
Wynns will sign a minor league deal with Giants, they can take a look at Sabol in Spring Training and send him back if they don’t like what they see. The whole Wynns thing is about 40 man roster manipulation. Remember there’s still about 80 days until the actually play a game, plenty can happen between now and then.
Zaidi needs to be FIRED, Plain and Simple !!
Plainly, it would be simple-minded to fire a PBO after only 4 years, when that team improved every year except the last, And that last team, one with a .500 record, that lost a guy like Posey to retirement, and DeSclafani, who had a 130 ERA+ the year prior, to season-ending injury, is no reason to inflict the kind of instability that would be the result of firing FZ. Teams that fire GMs/PBOs, and managers, every few years do not do well.
#tad – you’re trying, but there’s more too it than that. Mishandling the Correa situation embarrassingly, while disrespecting the greatest SS in franchise history, while never being able to sign even ONE marquis free agent, (but he’ll let them leave!), has a lot to do with my current opinion, as well as many others.
#FF, I completely disagree with the idea that Crawford was disrespected. Did the Mets disrespect Correa, a platinum glove winner, when they signed him to play 3B? Crawford is a professional, a team guy, and would have moved to 3B without feeling slighted, just as Correa would have played third had they decided to keep Crawford at SS. Any disrespect is solely in your mind.
Calling what happened with Correa, a mishandling, is disingenuous. It might have appeared that way if the Mets were happy with the medicals and signed him for the $315M. But they wallked away as well. The fact that the Twins signed him to deal 7 years shorter and $150M less is proof that neither the Giants nor the Mets mishandled anything.
#FF—Farhan came out in the end as the smartest guy in the Correa mess, he handled it very professionally. So tired of your incorrect drivel.
#tad2b13 – I’m sure the Mets are glad they didn’t announce a press conference date and wait until the player and his family flew into town for it, a week later, to call it off.
I’m sure they’re also glad they didn’t publicly humiliate their current or greatest ever franchise SS during the process.
#agnes gooch – I said my piece on the Correa but, in my reply to tadb. Here’s my deal with Farhan…
It’s been over 4 years since he signed. This will be the 5th and final year of his contract. If the Giants continue to regress, I’m sure it’ll probably be his last in SF.
I’m not impressed with his drafting or the overall current state of the farm system.
I’m tired of never signing even a single star player, even our own, even when
publicly promised.
I’m not happy with the unprofessional manner the Correa saga was handled in, the prematurely announced press conference, timing in cancelling it, or the disrespect to Brandon Crawford. The Mets treated their SS with much more respect.
I’m disgusted by the death of the winning culture attitude, that the franchise fostered in the past decade.
Farhan never built a franchise on his own, without help. I think he’s overrated.
Personally I’m ready to see Putila or someone else take over as POBO.
I don’t care how you feel about it. If you disagree, that’s fine. That’s your right. But don’t let your emotions drive you to start hurling insults at strangers you know absolutely nothing about, on the internet.
To do that is unwise and immature.
#ff
You’re just fishing for reasons to dislike Farhan, and I think you know that. While you have some valid criticisms (I’m taking the wait and see approach with the farm system, but you may be right that it is not his strong suit), they’re sort of masked by your bad credibility (such as your easily disproven remarks about how Joc Pederson was shaken up by Pham or going 2 months without a homerun) and your shotgun approach to build strong desire to show that Farhan is bad (your screenname is literally #firefarhan).
Stop blaming Farhan for Correa. First, it wasn’t solely Farhan’s decision. To act like calling of a $350mm contract is the POBO’s fault and not also the GM or owner is laughable. Second, it was an unfortunate situation for Correa and his family to be sure, but one of the most unprecedented situations we’ve ever seen in baseball. The fact it went down similarly with the Mets shows it was not the Giants – and certainly not Farhan himself – that caused the issue.
And what winning culture? They made the playoffs in 2016, then promptly lost, which sort of ended the playoff magic the Giants exhibited in the early ’10s and the once stars were losing their twinkle. They then promptly went on to two losing seasons, with ownership refusing a selloff even though it would’ve probably fastracked the team to relevance. Instead, Farhan inherited a 98 loss team. What were you expecting? And he had the franchise record 107 win team. So while 107 wins may be an anomaly, it was done in a season where going .500 would’ve been a miracle, and it certainly proves his potential to make a winning team. So why does his potential mean nothing where, as @tab pointed out, Bart’s potential means the world to you (even though he’s scuffled in the bigs)?
So while you’re entitled to your distrust of Farhan, it’s aggravating to see you and many other Giants “fans” spew mindless talking points about how “Farhan bad” when, until this off-season, he wasn’t even able to do much to make the team better other than small, measured risks (like Rodon or Gausman).
#FF, Wait, it’s the fact that the Giants called a press conference is what’s the big issue for you? Seriously? Apparently you’re unaware that is how every team operates. Most players pass their physical. So when an agreement is reached with a player, the assumption is he’ll pass his physical, which then makes the deal official. If it’s a huge FA deal for a star player, the signing is then announced at a press conference. All teams do this. If you want any kind of attendance at the press conference you schedule it ahead of time to coincide the the deal becoming official. But, in the odd instance when a guy fails his physical, it’s all called off. So what? Why is that some sort evidence for you that FZ is incompetent?
#KHE – Agreed. Very well said.
#disadvantage – my comments about Joc weren’t proven wrong. In fact, more the opposite. There’s been a commenter who pointed out his stats plummeting after that point. But if you have solid proof of what I’m saying as being wrong, as you claim, then provide it. Speaking of credibility.
Speaking of credibility, when was the date announced for the Mets press conference about the Correa signing?
Why were the Mets moving Correa to 3rd, if it wasn’t out of respect for their SS!
Don’t tell me who I’m allowed to blame for anything. That’s not your place.
I’ve been one of Farhan’s biggest and outspoken supporters, until recently btw. I’ve just come to my senses. I don’t have any emotional attachment to the guy, it’s just business. The results on the field are lacking. He has never been able to do much to make the team better, even when there’s been golden opportunities.
The winning culture of not giving up before being eliminated from the playoffs. When I watched Hunter Pence, (Of all people!), speech in September, where he said we wouldn’t make the playoffs, weeks before we were eliminated, I realized a lot.
In 2021 going .500 wouldn’t have been a miracle. They finished 1 game under .500 the year before – without Posey. Nice try.
One good season, then regression… If they continue to regress this year, I’m sure Farhan is gone.
I’d advise not letting your emotions overtake your logic