The Giants have been fairly quiet through the offseason's first two months. They've added back-end starter Adrian Houser on a two-year, $22MM deal with a club option. Their only other moves have been cheap fliers on rehabbing relievers Jason Foley and Sam Hentges.
While technically in line with their offseason plan to focus on pitching, their moves to date aren't the type that'll move the needle. Chairman Greg Johnson and general manager Zack Minasian have downplayed the chance of making a long-term investment on the pitching staff. There are still a handful of players on the open market who fit on paper. Any of Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez or Zac Gallen would upgrade the rotation. Top free agent hitters Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger and Bo Bichette happen to fit at their respective biggest problem areas on the position player side (right field and second base, respectively).
It's possible ownership doesn't want to meet the asking prices necessary for anyone in that group. The Giants project for a $176MM payroll, as calculated by RosterResource. That's narrowly above their $173MM Opening Day mark from 2025. That doesn't include the $17MM payment they owe to Blake Snell on January 15, as they agreed to defer the signing bonus on his contract for the '24 season.
They're also on the hook for one of the most expensive managerial situations in MLB. They owe fired skipper Bob Melvin a $4MM salary. They paid a $3MM buyout to the University of Tennessee to get Tony Vitello out of his contract. Vitello is reportedly set for a $3.5MM salary, meaning they're committing $10.5MM to the position for the first season.
Even with an estimated $40MM until they hit the luxury tax threshold, the budget could be tight for a marquee free agent. However, that doesn't mean the offseason needs to be exclusively depth acquisitions. The Giants have a few ways to chase the extra wins needed to push them from their annual .500 finish to more firmly in the Wild Card picture.
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I can fix the giants. Stop acting like a broke team and start acting like the major market team they are.
Fixed.
If you aint broke, fix it!
They are. Johnson said they are willing to pay over the luxury tax. again this year. They only dipped under it for 1 year, to reset the penalties. Adding three $100+ million contracts within 1 year says they aren’t acting cheap. Farhan’s gone, there’s a new sheriff in town. Try to keep up.
Then sign Bo Bichette. Get one of Gallen or Suarez.
Grab a guy like Bader.
Sign a guy like Fairbanks.
They’ve been connected to Bichette, as of this morning. I’m hoping for Tucker. If they were in on Shcwarber, I’m sure they’ve asked about Tucker. They’ve been connected to Bader too. Either him or Tucker would solidify the OF, and lineup too. Bellinger rumors are happening, but I’m not high on him. Mike Yastrzemski had better stats over a four year period. They’ve had a visit with Framber Valdez, so obviously they’re showing interest in the top of the pitching market too.
I don’t think the Giants need Fairbanks.
“Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”
They took on the Devers’ deal so you can’t call them not acting like a big market club. It takes time to complete a rebuild. Assess after 26 or 27.
It’ll definitely take a minute for things to settle in SF. The West should be solid and competitive again this upcoming season. Except the Rockies of course.
That’s why they play the games.
Sure I can. The giants can afford to spend well above the tax line.
The Giants get like 100m a year in local tv money. They have the fan base to draw 3m+ a year. They can easily have a top 5-7 highest revenue each year if not higher.
Having a payroll in the 250-275m a year should be easy for them. Spend another 50-75m and this team would look like a real contender.
Images of a dark room with Posey threatening ownership families to get more payroll flexibility pop into my head when thinking about it.
If they can sell the movie rights, it’ll pay for a few guys.
If that’s how you feel, then you should be happy about the Giants stated willingness to spend over the luxury tax again this year. Say what you want, but dollars don’t pitch, field, run or hit. It’s people that do that. They could spend another 100m and it wouldn’t move the needle at all, if it wasn’t spent correctly.
Johnson himself has openly stated the Giants willingness to pay over the luxury tax again this offseason.
Those visions in the mind are products of sportswriters and media heads who have very little or no information, but have to print articles to get paid. So they speculate and often just make things up. It’s only guesses. Without doing that, they don’t get their clicks or get paid.
Contrary to popular belief, as a Dodgers fan I prefer the division be very competitive. No matter how good a team might be on paper, they need to be challenged and tested on the field.
When the Giants won 107 and won the division I wasn’t upset. They had a great season and deserved to win it.
If the Padres had beaten the Dodgers in the 2024 playoffs? Then I accept that they played better baseball when it counts.
I’m thankful Dodgers ownership has gone all in after previous ownership was absolutely terrible. But while being appreciative is how I feel, feeling entitled to a world series win isn’t realistic or acceptable.
I think in the case of the NL West, it’s a matter of every team competing at a higher level because there is a need to do so. Giants and Padres improve to beat the Dodgers. Dodgers have to keep improving to fend them off. Then Arizona comes out of nowhere and spoils the party every so often.
It’s what makes watching baseball as a Dodgers fan is so enjoyable. We get to see every teams best effort every game.
@Simm No way Bichette is going to choose SF, hes a bat first player and his offensive #s would take a hit. His bat puts up good #s for a middle IF but only hits for average power.
I do think Bader and Gallen would be amazing fits tho.
Mostly agree, except Bader who has the glove but not the bat—even to platoon in CF. He hits lefties poorly and only has last season to showoff offensively (and even then it was RH pitching that he feasted on.) Not a good choice for the Giants at any price.
Gallen and Suarez are perfect for the Giants. Buster should sign both. And oh how I’d love Bo at 2b (but I think he’s going back to Toronto and SF management does want another long tern infielder contract.)
@Tigers3232 Adames is a bat first player too, which proves your theory incorrect.
Gallen, Valdez, Tucker are all perfect fits for the Giants. I don’t think they’ll sign all 3. Maybe Gallen and Tucker, but if Valdez then likely not Tucker too.
Johnson only said they would be ‘very careful about’ long term contracts to pitchers in particular. He said nothing about position players. They were in on Schwarber, and Giants beat writers recognize the Giants as being more open to a long term deal with a position player, than a pitcher.
@Ramos, Its not a theory its reality. Oracle is tied for 2nd least hitter friendly park.
And Adames has more power than Bichette. Not a ton more but more.
Statcast Park Factors | baseballsavant.com share.google/3akR5XLf32YliM3fu
As long as he gets paid well on a long-term deal, he’s not really going to be worried what his numbers will look like. And when his next contract is up, teams will take into account what park he played in.
Bader just had his career high in plate appearaces at 501. It was one of his two best seasons. Whoever signs him is not likely to get what they’re going to be paying for.
Willy Adames is an above average major league SS with the glove.
He is so much better than Bo defensively.
@Tigers3232 I agree about Adames. I never implied otherwise. I know that Oracle Park is not the hardest hitters park. Your chart shows them tied with 4 other teams. Statistically to hit HR in:
Based on Statcast park factors, which use complex methodologies to determine how much a park increases or decreases home runs compared to the league average (100 is average), the following stadiums are known for suppressing home runs:
Park (Team) Home Run Park Factor (Lower = Harder)
Comerica Park (Tigers) 0.818
PNC Park (Pirates) 0.823
Oakland Coliseum (Athletics) 0.798
Kauffman Stadium (Royals) 0.888
Progressive Field (Guardians) 0.929
Oracle Park (Giants) 0.807
Chase Field (Diamondbacks) 0.765
@Simm They signed someone better than Bichette, when they signed Adames. Grabbed a guy like Devers. Signed a guy like Chapman.
Are you trying to make some kind of point?
@ramos-
My point is the giants are a large market team. They have plenty of money and they should spend it. Yes they spent a bunch last year but they can spend a bunch this year as well.
As of now this team looks mid or even below mid. They need further impact bats and arms.
They have the money. They are well below the tax line and the tax line shouldn’t even matter much.
Yes they did spend a bunch last year, as you’ve pointed out.
They are likely to spend a bunch this offseason too. Johnson has stated that they are wiling to pay over the luxury tax again this year. They dipped under the luxury tax for just one year, to reset penalties, and the crying, whining, throwing of fits start, lmao.
Devers, Adames, and Chapman… That’s a pricey infield. Meanwhile, as recent years have demonstrated, the offseason market is a slow grind. If Bichette, Tucker, Bellinger, Bregman, Framber, Imai, Gallen, and Ranger Suarez are still available, that seems to suggest that about 30 teams have failed to sign them as these eight stars take the slow and steady approach to seek out their best deals.
take the slow and steady approach to seek out their best deals.
Or wait til their markets fall out and sign a short deal to return to free agency soon.
The problem for these dudes is there are options. Do I sign Bregman? Bichette, trade for Marte or trade for Donavan?
Do I sign Suarez, Valdez, Gallen, Imai or do I trade for gore, Skubal or Peralta.
Tucker or bellinger…some teams are like I could do one of them or just do the infielder. Others are like I could just sign Bader or trade for Robert and go defense first.
So teams are just waiting for the prices to come down.
As of now it’s 25-30m per year on these guys. Outside of Tucker these dudes come with questions.
I think we tend to associate “no signings” to teams being “cheap”. The only way these guys are signing fast is if they are bowled over with offers they want. I wouldn’t be surprised if something big gets done before Xmas tho. There’s always sometime that wants to get it done before the holidays.
Agreed.
After Christmas. No way before xmas
Certainly possible before Christmas. Last month the Giants signed a free agent on Thanksgiving day.
Simm I couldn’t agree more they need to spend on a few player’s that can make the difference
Tucker would be perfect, and I think might happen. If they were in on Schwarber, there’s no doubt they’ve asked about Tucker. They’ve already had a visit with Framber Valdez, so obviously they’re showing interest in the top of the market.
He would be a good fit though I’d probably prefer Bichette because he is right handed. That park is really hard on lefties. At least power wise.
Though they definitely need better defense in the outfield.
I understand what you’re saying. Although the all time HR king was LH and played there. Tucker has the power to hit it out there.
As for the defense, yeah, Lee left something to be desired. Signing Bader and moving Lee over to RF would probably fix SF’s OF defense. Tucker is a gold glove caliber defender, but would leave Lee still in CF. Ramos has consistently been above average defensively in LF, outside of some growing pains for a couple months this summer, when the whole team was slumping, and he was pressing, trying to do too much. It was his first full MLB season, growing pains happen and should be somewhat expected. He’ll be fine moving forward imo.
I haven’t looked up Ramos defensive stats but I’ve watched a decent amount of giants games and he looks extremely shaky.
I’d look to trade him or DH him. The issue is with Eldridge/devers 1b/dh. If that’s the duo there isn’t a lot of DH at bats available.
I’d try and trade Ramos. Maybe the royals would take him for Bubic. Bubic is probably better but less years of control.
Schmidt is also fine at second if they went with Tucker. He can give them some pop from the right side. Perhaps grab Tucker and Bader.
They need pen help but most of the good arms are gone already. Could trade for Minter.
Ramos is the worst defensive outfielder in baseball, hands down. He needs to DH, Lee needs to move to a corner, and someone from outside the organization needs to be in CF (Brenton Doyle would be my pick, but unlikely to happen).
Ramos gets to just about anything in front of him, but going back on the ball he is extremely challenged.
That’s really all he needs to fix.
Ramos never looked shaky in LF before June of this year. At the end of May this year there were some writers who thought he might win a gold glove. Something happened around June that affected the whole team. We can speculate what that might have been. The only people who bash on Ramos defense are casuals who only go by the eye test, and don’t look up/know/understand the actual stats, or remember further back than a couple months.
I don’t think that trading away or DHing our first homegrown All Star OF in over 30 years, who is the only RH hitter to ever be able to hit a splash hit at Oracle Park, and has consistently graded as above average defensively in LF, outside of some growing pains during this year, (his first full MLB season), is smart at all.
I totally agree about Schmitt. Even without Tucker. We don’t need Tucker AND Bader, we only need one to completely solidify our outfield. Bader in CF, Lee over to RF would do it.
They’ve already signed a couple free agent bullpen arms, have you not noticed?
Ramos never looked shaky in LF before June of this year. At the end of May this year there were some writers who thought he might win a gold glove. Something happened around June that affected the whole team. We can speculate what that might have been. The only people who bash on Ramos defense are casuals who only go by the eye test of only the most recent games, and don’t look up/know/understand the actual stats.
> The only people who bash on Ramos defense…didn’t look up/know/understand the actual stats.
What!? WHAT!? Have you even looked at his defensive stats? They’re terrible. I mean, they’re just abysmal across the board. Not only are they recently abysmal; they’ve been consistently abhorrent throughout his whole career, to the point where even Scott Boras would struggle to put a positive spin on it.
Ramos’ value is severely degraded by putting him on the field. He’s a DH-only guy, and that’s likely to be the case for the remainder of his career.
He’s d is terrible and I’ve forgotten more about baseball than you will ever know
They aren’t signing Tucker man. Move on.
Ramos Splash Hit—
Look I like Ramos, but please let’s not pretend he’s an average defensive outfielder—not yet at any rate.
I hope you’re right about Heliot’s defense in the future but I watch (or go to) 150+ games a year. I know that Ramos needs A LOT of work in the OF.
Ramos’ defense hasn’t always been atrocious, and he’s shown flashes of competency, but I think your outlook on his glove is far too optimistic. He has some tools, but his abundance of mental mistakes and absolute baffling fumbles made him a liability in left field. He’s like the inverse Mike Yastrzemski, a guy who lacks some of the tools Ramos has but is wildly better on defense because Yaz does all the little things well (footwork, routes, anticipating how the ball will carom off the wall, etc). It’s also how Yaz has been serviceable as a baserunner despite not being fast. Ramos has the tantalizing talent to be a bit toolsy, but he shoots himself in the foot with sloppiness and poor decisions.
I have some hope that he can tighten up those mistakes and use some of his athleticism to be at least mediocre (and maybe okay) rather than abysmal, but he’ll need to take a big step forward to pull himself from the basement of corner outfielders. Tony Vitello seems to be a guy who’s focused on the kind of fundamentals that could benefit a guy like Ramos. But until I see him put together 100+straight games of solid defense, I’m not holding my breath
@pbbuchman You literally just made stuff up, without looking at his stats, and were incorrect. Heliot Ramos defensive stats were above average, until June of this year. He had some hiccups during his first full MLB season this year, but only after the whole team went into a slump. He was pressing, trying to do too much. The majority of his career he’s been an above average defender in LF. Through may of this year some writers thought he might get a gold glove this year.
-“Have you even looked at his defensive stats? “-
Here’s some,(Cut and pasted. You can look it up to confirm.):
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
@Edcheffsfungo Not according to his stats before getting the yips after the whole team went into a slump:. You can look this up to confirm it:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
This was his first full MLB season and sophomore slump. I don’t judge a young player by a bad stretch, when he’s already been above average for a longer period of time.
Pete’sView —
His stats show that he has been an above average defender for his career, until the slump this year, that the whole team went into. I cut and pasted this from a simple google search:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
I also watch (or go to) 150+ games a year. That’s why I remember more than only a couple of months of this year. Up until June of this year Ramos was above average defensively in LF. Something happened in June that changed the team chemistry. They took awhile to adjust. It seemed to affect almost everybody, other than Chapman, (who got hurt).
They were mental mistakes, that is true. That only started happening when the whole team went into a huge slump. He was interviewed saying ‘I’m just trying to not make any mistakes out there’. That’s not a good thing to hear from a young player playing in his first full season. Putting pressure on himself. That’s when mistakes happen the most. Before that Ramos was an above average defender in LF. (For more than 100+ games.) A google search can confirm that:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
Melvin putting him in the leadoff spot seemed to mess him up too. He’s a power/RBI guy, not a leadoff hitter. I remember an interview where he said he was ‘Just trying to get on in front of Devers, he’s the big guy’. He started trying to just hit singles and his power numbers suffered. As Susan Slusser has noted, Ramos easily has 30+ HR power.
No other RH hitter has ever hit a splash hit. He’s a strong dude.
I have hope and healthy optimism that he reverts back to his good defense, and his bat rebounds.
Lee doesn’t have a strong enough arm to play right field.
I would package him in a deal for anything. He swings and misses at a lot of pitches.
I think you have some bias here. He takes poor routes, has made poor decisions with the ball… he is a poor mans young Teo but doesn’t play with the same power. He is a fine hitter but a team sticking him at DH would be foolish as well. He needs to improve defensively massively and his miscues haven’t been limited to the magical June swoon the team went through this year such a wishful and frivolous way to brush a topic under the rug.
Only 71 strikeouts last year, so not really. Swing and a miss for you tho !
If the Royals are desperate enough for outfielders to trade Bubic for Ramos, that would be a big win for the Giants. I don’t see it happening though.
Sorry how does K rate equal being a valuable fielder ? He is a fine hitter but not worthy of DHing alone- doesn’t do all the intangibles that a bat only player should be.
@Edcheffsfungo Apparently you don’t know as much as you think you do:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
@Wolfgang 3 You flat out do not know that man. Why even try to argue what you don’t know?
@nacb55
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
That would be a big win for the Royals, and a big loss for the Giants.
First homegrown All Star OF for them in 30+ years, only RH hitter in all of MLB ever able to hit a splash hit at oracle, his uncanny Mays resemblance in the Ricketts field game. Ramos is potentially a budding SF Giants legend. He’s not going anywhere.
Schmitt
Birdsong
Kilen
For:
Nico Hoerner
Hoerner is the biggest game changer in my opinion.
Go get em
As a Giants fan I’d love that trade! EXCEPT, Hoerner is a one-year rental. Sign him to an extension and I’m all in!
Not sure Tucker (another LH bat) is what SF needs.
Might depend on if they trade Eldridge or not. (I personally am against that idea.)
Here’s a sweet trade deal SF: Davis Schneider for no return. Take him, for free.
This article was free like twenty minutes ago, at least I got to read it
If you have friends in Canada they can send you a link to the whole article
I do but I don’t mind missing out on some stuff, they gotta get paid somehow.
That’s a healthy perspective.
I’m just here for the insightful comments.
I got here too late.
The entire concept of “upside” is inherently silly. It assumes you know something nobody else does about whatever it is you are buying. If not (which is almost certainly the case), you’re simply buying cheap goods at the market price for cheap goods and hoping to get lucky.
Never a sure thing, but the closer you get to “sure” the more you pay
I’ll buy that. All any team can do in baseball is improve their probability of success.
And getting young players with upside can improve that probability of success. Look at all the young players who have been acquired and who improved greatly with the Rays, for example. Apparently they did know more about some of those guys than the teams trading them away did.
If it was that simple, everybody would be doing it. Young players can just as easily wash out as improve. A team trading away a promising prospect didn’t make the trade based on not knowing the player’s potential, but because they were swapping prospect capital for more immediate needs.
Sounds like getting Conforto back.
This is supposed to be serious discussion….or something
I really want the Dodgers to sign himt o a long-term contract.
10+/500+
I think a better term would be to embrace volatility. No team is chasing downside. A team like the Dodgers or Jays where most positions are set don’t need to take gambles on high-risk, high-reward players. The Giants might have to.
If a team signs a player with a league-average performance history, then league average performance is all they can reasonably expect from him. Expecting more assumes either (1) that the teams knows something about him the rest of the league does not, or (2) they are hoping to get lucky.
Further, every signing is a risk — and risk and reward are inversely related. Bigger risks come with larger potential rewards.
Yes every signing is a risk and some signings carry higher risk and reward than others. Signing those high risk high reward players is embracing volatility. It’s taking a chance knowing that playing it safe won’t get them to the playoffs.
You can’t throw all players in the same risk basket. Teams pay a premium for consistency and health. Many if not most players don’t have those. The ones that don’t are cheaper than the ones that do because they carry higher risk.
But as you state teams are “hoping to get lucky.” To which I’d say yes, that’s the entire point here. The Giants know they can’t compete on a dollar to dollar basis so they have to take risks and hope they get lucky as they don’t really have other options while trying to compete against a team with over double their resources.
More spent on a player translates to higher risk, inherently, because a highly compensated player lost to injury is more costly (and harder to replace) than one being paid less. And no matter what many fans believe, injuries are not predictable. If they were, everybody would be doing it. Nobody is doing it. All anyone can do is predict that injuries will occur, to some player, at some time — but not to a specific player at a specific time.
I’m not sure why the Giants haven’t fielded better teams over the last several years. They aren’t a small-market team. It seems to me that they have more available resources than they are willing to use. So it seems to me, a team that could spend more isn’t embracing volatility so much as they are embracing mediocrity.
Lee
Adames
Devers
Chapman
Eldridge
Ramos
Bailey
Schmitt
Matos / Gilbert
Get used to it.
Most likely the 2026 lineup.
Not bad
Not good enough.
Stop batting Chappy in the 4 hole.
@oldgfan Tell me you’re not paying attention, without telling me you’re not paying attention.
Most likely not. If they were asking about Schwarber. they’ve likely talked to Tucker. In talks regarding trades for Brendan Donavan, Marte, Nico Hoerner. Have had a visit with Framber Valdez. Johnson says they are willing to pay over the tax again, after going under of one season, to reset the penalties.
Seems like you most likely just decided to take it on yourself to try to kill enthusiasm for the team.
It’s ok to dream. Writing on the wall says they are not spending big. I’m paying attention to that. Just because you post everything twice doesn’t mean it’s true.
I feel the team can compete as is, at least for a WC spot. If they do make a splash it will be for TOR pitching. Tucker, no way. Enthusiasm with reality is what I have.
Statements such as ‘We’re willing to go over the luxury tax again this year’, visiting with Framber Valdez, and checking in on Schwarber means that the ‘Writing on the wall says they won’t spend big’? That’s doomer delusion, not reality.
The WC is not the goal, the division is. Just like it was in 2021. The division is always the goal. The WC is just a fallback if they don’t win the division. Making the WC a goal is a loser mentality. The fallback to that is around .500, with no playoffs.
Tucker is a perfect positional fit for the Giants, and the best one available. When Posey said we needed a SS last year he got the best one available. It’s not unrealistic to think he might do something similar to what he’s done in the past. History shows it is realistic.
Enthusiasm is not what you have, it’s what you’re trying to destroy in others. And you’re not being realistic at all to say ‘no way’ to a Tucker signing. You seem to be pretending that the Giants are not even a MLB team or able to sign free agents when you say that.. Really you seem to me to be a dodgers fan trying to troll Giants fans, by telling us to not be enthusiastic, or hope for good things.
Go touch grass with your determination to be negative, no matter how much twisting of reality it takes lol.
Well now. I guess I was wrong trying to interact with you. You want to call me names like troll, and say I’m trying to destroy enthusiasm ? Whatever. You crossed the line when you called me a Fodger fan. You just go on believing every rumor is factual. Merry Christmas.
@oldgfan Lol. I’m not sure why that’s what you’re hoping for. But they’re in talks about trades involving Donavan, Marte, and Hoerner, and they were in on Shwarber. So most likely you’re full of crap with that comment.
Also Matos is likely gone, Gilbert can’t hit MLB pitching. I doubt we see them. Encarnacion/McCray is more realistic. They clearly sent a message when they sent Matos down and went with McCray, when they were still hoping for a playoff spot.
The Giants should sign Tucker so I can gain another point in the contest. Because that’s what’s important.
Truth. We’re all rooting for you, highfly.
Nice to see I’m not the only one.
Sure they should chase upside? I usually prefer downside but that’s my jam
They do need a 2B.
Do you think Chase Upside will come out of retirement. Can he still hit ?
SF, where power numbers go to die. Dunno what self-respecting slugger would willingly choose the Giants instead of any other team if they care about putting up (positive) numbers.
Money
Lmao. SF, where the All Time HR leader played.
Where Bonds, Kent, Rich Aurilia, Ellis Burks all had no problems clearing 30+ HR BEFORE they moved in the fences.
And Willy Adames and Rafael Devers had no problem easily clearing 30+ this year.
PNC Park, T-Mobile Park, Busch Stadium are all tougher parks to hit HR in.
Great…that still keeps SF very near the bottom of the league in terms of HR’s heading out. Adames got passed by LA among others and SF had to trade for Devers vs signing a power bat FA. The then Farhan/now Buster Show probably better off signing/cultivating contact guys and adding speed + better D vs slug.
In 2021 what team led the NL in HRs? It was the Giants. (Without a single guy hitting 30 mind you.).
The Giants have at least 4 guys on the roster with 30+ HR power, in Adames, Devers, Ramos and Chapman. Likely Eldridge too. Seems like a lot of slug, especially if Eldridge succeeds. That would be most of the lineup.
Schmitt easily has 25+ HR power, if given an opportunity for a whole season. Adding Tucker, Bichette, or Bregman would make this lineup a murders row.
Great…it’ll be 2026 soon enough. Would love to roll the clock back to 2021 but don’t envision that happening unfortunately. Nor do I envision the Gigantes “lineup a murderers row” anytime soon-regardless of whom they sign, or don’t-but haven’t been wrong since lunch or returning home. Regardless, there’s pessimism, optimism and reality. Count me in with the latter.
Reality is the Giants front office under Posey keeps things very close to the vest. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Everybody is speculating at this point. Some are optimistic, some are pessimistic. You’re entitled to think what ya want. But positive thinking tends to bring better results. Posey seems to love big surprises, and clearly has a passion and drive to win. That drive was a big part of the 2021 team. Like you said, it’ll be 2026 soon. We’ll see what happens.
Once the long-term contract is signed, why does it matter? Most players will take the money over the stats. And anyhow, when the time comes for the next contract, the interested teams will be using park-adjusted stats in their evaluation of the player.
I think the Giants and nationals match up well. Gore and Cj Abrams (to play second) for Eldridge, Kilen, Whisenhunt and Cayama or another 45 grade arm. Nats get considerable building blocks. Giants get offense and a durable mid rotation arm controllable for two years ( Gore) and three years (Abrams). Gore and CJ are both cheap, which is a huge benefit to SF.
Don’t want Abrams.
Why would you not? He’s only 25 and a steady producer. His bWar the past 3 years was at 3.5, 3.4, and 3.4.
We already have a star SS signed to a long term deal.
Giants outfield has been below average for a while now.trade lee I’ve seen enough maybe Ramos to the pirates.they need the prospects anyways,they should be in on Robert jr. And bellinger, or try a trade for O’Neill Cruz maybe?
Kinda feels like Robert Jr. is just an ongoing click bait rumor. Been going on for what, three years now ? Doubt he ever moves at this point. Also not that good..
Great, O’Neil Cruz, just what the Giants need, more swing and miss.
Ramos has been above average most of his career, outside of the couple of months this year, when the whole team started struggling. It’s his first full season, he was pressing and making mental mistakes. Growing pains happen. Until June this year he was fine. His stats back that up:
Through May 2025, Heliot Ramos was graded as an above-average defensive left fielder for his career to that point. This included a +4 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and +1 Outs Above Average (OAA) specifically in left field during the 2025 season up to that date, contributing to an overall above-average career grade.
The Giants shold be trying to get whatever they can for Ramos right now. His hitting fell off a cliff in the second half after a hot start last year. He only had 1.2 bWar over 695 plate appearances.
Bo Davidson takes his job in a year or two. Hopefully he builds value in that time frame.
@Hammerin’ Hank You mean he went into a slump during the traditional sophomore slump year, (which was also his first full MLB season), at the same time the entire team went into a huge slump, but you think it’s just him? Interesting. Growing pains are expected with young players, someday you’ll learn that.
You would have shipped out Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Aaron Judge, and a lot of other great players, using your style of talent evaluation.
@oldgfan That’s apparently what you’re hoping for, but very unlikely. Davidson is more likely to replace Lee after he potentially leaves after the ’27 season.
Ramos is the Giants first homegrown All Star OF in over 30 years, has displayed above average defense in LF the majority of his career, is the only RH in MLB ever who has been capable of hitting a splash hit at Oracle Park.
That’s the stuff legends are made of. He’s not going anywhere. The front office is smarter than the armchair GM’s who only look at the last couple months of a players entire career.
We get it. You are a big fan of Ramos.
Awesome. Lee and Ramos are both young players that are young enough to still be in the upside of their development. Hopefully they improve. I do have high hopes for Davidson, and hope SFG won’t block his path to the majors. With almost the entire infield tied up long term I think it would be wise to keep the outfield rolling with the young developing players. Makes financial sense. Hard pass on Tucker.
Yeah I like our homegrown All Star slugger a bit.
Agreed about Lee and Ramos.. Ramos above average defense should return in ’26, I’m sure.
I like Davidson too, He’s got good speed and profiles as a fine CF. Just about perfect timing, if Lee opts out after the ’27 season.
Signing Tucker would not automatically block Davidson.
The overpay that it would take to get Tucker is my concern. Unfortunately it’s a reality with the ballparks reputation as prohibitive for power.
Pitchers do like to sign here though, so that’s the trade off. Valdez or Suarez should be the targets this year. Skubal at the deadline, or next year if he makes it to FA. The best bat to target this year should be Bichette. Probably a long shot, but if the Jays sign Tucker maybe not.
Just my opinions.
Trading Level is definitely a player id deal. The giants have 2 young athletic shortstops one J. Gonzalez and Luis Hernandez. Gonzalez is going to be a top prospect pretty soon. Trading for a player like Robert Jr who can’t stay healthy is a complete risk. I’d certainly try for Donovan definitely. The giants have prospects that teams could be interested in. Trading Schmitt is another possible solution along with a pitcher. Why would you want to trade Ray who admitted near the end of the season he wore down because he was still building up arm strength from his TJ surgery which usually takes about 2 yrs anyway to get that strength back. Why would you trade a controllable pitcher Roupp when the giants need is pitching. Trading from possible strengths to weaken another part of the team doesn’t sound like a great idea to me.
Picked my brain while reading the article.
Spot on Deb !
Well ray is a rental and has trade value .you trade him for prospects then turn around and sign a pitcher to replace him,maybe framber or someone else win-win.
Level is interesting and I believe makes sense for the Cardinals. But Donovan is worth a lot more than him. Nootbaar is more realistic and his defense would help playing in that park.
Zero interest in Nootbar. And I wouldn’t give up a lot for Donovan. If we’re talking Hoerner or Bo, then go for it.
Under no circumstances should Roupp be traded. The guy’s upside is as a solid #2 maybe even (in time) a #1.
I’d wait for year or two, to let him raise his trade value Level.
The Giants are a joke.
You certainly are.
and your the punchline
It’s *you’re.
I think Every Team Should Chase Upside On The Trade Market
Statistically speaking you’d think one of them would be likely to catch him.
I can understand the Giants not wanting to add another long term, big money contract. But I’d love to see them use some financial muscle to take on an underwater contract in a trade to minimize the prospect cost. Something like Abreu + Yoshida.
Gallen makes a lot of sense on a 2-3 year contract, as well.
Yoshida? How many LH DH’s do you think the Giants need?
It’s a salary dump, guy.
They only said that specifically about starting pitchers. Then they had a meeting with Framber Valdez. Seems like it might have been posturing.
Johnson needs to go. He’s not helping the team in any way.
He has a no-trade thingee tho.
The Johnsons only kept the team from leaving SF, got us Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, Oracle Park, numerous division titles and wildcard births, 4 World Series, with 3 championships, after over 50 years with exactly zero….
Yeah, totally “not helping the team in any way”.
I’d prefer they not be sold and potentially moved somewhere else, thanks anyway. Go touch grass.
Trading for Nootbar isn’t necessarily the answer. He had surgery on his feet and thats always tricky. I know that Ray is 1 yr removed from free agency but thats next yr. Trading away a lefty isn’t an answer imo. Hes the number 2 in the rotation. I don’t see Trading him for young players as a solution when the giants are looking to compete. Then turning around and Trading said prospects for another pitcher? Doesn’t make sense to me.
As long as there are teams that can spend and teams that cant, its not a legitimate “league”. NFL revenue sharing with hard caps and floors will make MLB legitimate and interesting for all 30 cities and their fans.
And yet more teams have won the world series than have won the Superbowl in the last 30+ years.
Level playing field only matters if you have a competent owner and organization. So you root for the Browns? Jets? Raiders? Etc…
It’s worked out great for their fans, right?
It’s the Patriots, Chiefs and Eagles in the Super Bowl every year lately. Same difference….
Chiefs aren’t even a playoff team anymore lol You also forgot to mention the Niners.
Forgot bout the Niners losing all those Super Bowls. Purdy, the broke Montana….
That is quite the company line. More than a third of the NFL teams in the new century (that’s 25 years…not a small sample size) chronically miss relevance, much less the playoffs and have approx one or two .500+ winning percentage seasons every decade. That’s not exactly legitimate nor interesting. You can keep your caps and floors. MLB already does revenue sharing.
The giants are one of the most profitable teams. The frustration is 1) they just bought a theater instead of pitching and 2) we’re maybe 1 significant signing away from being a decent contender for a wildcard spot, but some of the talk is as if we’re just going to work with what we’ve got internally plus some bargain hunting.
We are in clear need of a middle of the rotation SP. Roupp should be a #4 SP and Houser #5.
If they are in talks with a big bat or good SP, then there is nothing to complain about. But hearing quotes that they’re fine if this is the rotation without any other adds is just saying let’s continue to be a .500 team with a small hope to make it to the playoffs. Pretty disappointing from a big market team.
The theater money was not from the player budget, and it’s less than most players make in a season anyway. It’ll become a source of year round income they can funnel into the team in the future.
The wildcard is not the goal, the division is. The division always is. Just like in 2021. The wildcard is only a consolation prize if we don’t win the division.
We’ll get another SP. They’ve had a visit with Framber Valdez, if that tells you anything. They were in on Schwarber, which means it’s likely they’ve talked to Tucker. In trade talks for Donavan, Hoerner, Marte…
Don’t mind the posturing. It’s tactical. There were no rumors before the Adames signing or Devers trade, because this front office keeps quiet.
Johnson also said they are willing to pay over the tax again this offseason, after the 1 year reset. Why are you not hanging onto that quote too? There’s a surprise coming, I can feel it. And I’m not the only one who thinks so. As for the .500 record this year, that was still an improvement over last year. We hadn’t ended at .500 in 3 years.
Who is Chase Upside? I seem to recall he was playing in Korea last year….
Nah, he played 2B for the Phillies back in the day.
Who pissed in your corn flakes Trollio?
My personal opinion:
Consider the average team payroll of $160M. Lets be generous and say… $200M.
Any player that asks for 20% – 25% of the team’s payroll would not be welcome on my team.
I would consider it disrespectful to the team, the teammates, the fans and the front office.
Their new strategy involves smoke and mirrors. Bring in Posey, lol. Johnson and his group have demonstrated time after time they will not spend like a major market team. I’m not playing along. I will no longer support them at the box office, not much more I can do!
K bye.
The Giants can run the team like a profitable side business or like a baseball team with legitimate playoff and championship aspirations. The kinds of players they’ve already signed this offseason gets us the former. The good news is there is still time to turn it around. The players they need are still out there, the Giants just have to be bold enough to get them. We don’t need to see yet another way to achieve .500. Let’s do what is necessary to fight it out with the Dodgers and Padres.
Trade Roupp? He’s one of the few young guys they can count on. And Robert is very overrated. I wouldn’t touch him. They can’t wait to get rid of him and his pathetic hitting is why. The Giants have enough guys who can’t hit. You obviously don’t know much about the team. I follow them religiously and many of the things you said were off base.
Free Logan Webb!