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Front Office Originals

Offseason Outlook: Athletics

By Anthony Franco | October 18, 2024 at 10:59pm CDT

Outside attention on the A's will center on their temporary move to Sacramento. The front office's focus will be on supplementing a burgeoning offensive core. A decent second half offers hope the A's could push close to .500 with a few additions to the pitching staff. With a completely blank payroll slate, they'll need to spend some money.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • None

2025 financial commitments: $0
Total future commitments: $0

Option Decisions

  • None

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)

  • Austin Adams (5.150): $1.7MM
  • Miguel Andujar (5.053): $2.8MM
  • Seth Brown (4.096): $3.8MM
  • Brent Rooker (3.059): $5.1MM
  • Dany Jiménez (2.162): $1MM

Non-tender candidates: Adams, Andujar, Brown, Jiménez

Free Agents

  • Ross Stripling, T.J. McFarland, Alex Wood, Scott Alexander, Trevor Gott, Abraham Toro, Aaron Brooks, Brandon Bielak, Gerardo Reyes

The Oakland A's era ended last month after 57 years. The Las Vegas era won't begin for three more. The A's will call Sacramento's Sutter Health Park their temporary home from 2025-27. A's ownership will put the finishing touches on securing $380MM in public funds from Clark County and Nevada to begin construction on their Vegas ballpark. General manager David Forst and his front office get the unenviable task of trying to sell a few veteran players on joining a team that'll call a Triple-A park home.

By default, Forst and his staff will have money to spend. The A's incredibly have zero dollars committed to the 2025 player payroll. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects the entire arbitration class to cost $14.4MM. The actual outlay will be a lot less, as only Brent Rooker (projected just north of $5MM) is guaranteed to be brought back.

Each of the A's commitments last winter were one-year deals. The last player they've signed (free agent or extension) for more than two seasons: Ryan Madson in 2015. It's fair to presume the aversion to long-term spending isn't changing in Sacramento, yet the A's will need to add a couple players on short-term pacts. The A's opened the 2024 season with a player payroll around $61MM, as calculated by Cot's Baseball Contracts. Even by John Fisher ownership standards, the A's should add $25-30MM to next season's payroll.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Front Office Originals Membership Oakland Athletics

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Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers

By Mark Polishuk | October 18, 2024 at 10:58pm CDT

One of the great late-season surges in baseball history brought the Tigers from eight games under .500 to within a game of the AL Championship Series.  With the rebuild now over, the Tigers have plenty of avenues available to bolster the roster for 2025.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Javier Baez, SS: $73MM through 2027
  • Colt Keith, 2B: $24,142,500 through 2030 (includes $2.6425MM buyout of $10MM club option for 2030; deal also includes $13MM club option for 2031 with $1MM buyout, and $15MM club option for 2032 with $2MM buyout)
  • Kenta Maeda, SP/RP: $10MM through 2025

2025 financial commitments: $38.5MM
Total future commitments: $107,142,500

Option Decisions

  • Casey Mize, SP: $3.1MM club option, $10K buyout (if option is declined, Mize is still arbitration-controlled through 2026)

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Tarik Skubal (4.114): $8MM
  • Casey Mize (4.111): $2MM
  • Jake Rogers (4.040): $2.5MM
  • Will Vest (3.100): $1.4MM
  • Zach McKinstry (3.099): $1.3MM
  • Jason Foley (3.033): $3.5MM
  • Matt Vierling (3.026): $3MM
  • Akil Baddoo (3.003): $1.6MM
  • Alex Lange (3.003): $1.3MM
  • Andy Ibanez (2.170): $1.5MM
  • Beau Brieske (2.134): $1.3MM
  • Non-tender candidates: Baddoo, McKinstry, Lange

Free Agents

  • None

After moving most of their veteran players at the trade deadline, Detroit looked to be playing out the string as late as August 10, when a 3-1 loss to the Giants dropped the Tigers' record to 55-63.  That's when the magic started happening, as the Tigers went 31-13 over their last 44 games to surge into the final AL wild card spot, giving Detroit its first playoff berth since 2014.  The club then upset the Astros in the Wild Card Series and took the Guardians to the limit in the ALDS before Lane Thomas' clutch grand slam in Game 5 finally put the upstart Tigers away for good.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Detroit Tigers Front Office Originals MLBTR Originals Membership

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Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

By Anthony Franco | October 18, 2024 at 11:11am CDT

MLBTR’s Anthony Franco held a live chat today, exclusively for Front Office subscribers! Anthony took questions on the Giants' offseason priorities, the Red Sox's rotation, Emmanuel Clase's postseason struggles, whether the Yankees should re-sign Gleyber Torres, the possibility of a Jackson Merrill extension, KBO infielder Hyeseong Kim's expected posting, and much more!

 

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Offseason Outlook: San Diego Padres

By Anthony Franco | October 17, 2024 at 11:59pm CDT

The Padres won 93 games and went into October as a trendy pick for a long playoff run. Their bats stalled out in the final two games against the Dodgers, sending them into an offseason that could see a decent amount of turnover with a handful of important free agents.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Manny Machado, 3B: $314MM through 2033 (including $35MM in remaining signing bonus payments)
  • Fernando Tatis Jr., RF: $306MM through 2034
  • Xander Bogaerts, 2B: $225MM through 2033
  • Jake Cronenworth, 1B: $71MM through 2030
  • Yu Darvish, RHP: $63MM through 2028
  • Joe Musgrove, RHP: $60MM through 2027
  • Robert Suarez, RHP: $26MM through 2027 (can opt out after '25)
  • Yuki Matsui, LHP: $24.75MM through 2028 (can opt out after '26 barring intervening Tommy John surgery)
  • Wandy Peralta, LHP: $13.15MM through 2027 (can opt out after '24, '25 and '26)

Option Decisions

  • LHP Wandy Peralta can opt out of final three years and $13.15MM on his deal
  • Team, SS Ha-Seong Kim hold $8MM mutual option ($2MM buyout)

Additional Financial Commitments

  •  Owe $12.24MM to Red Sox as condition of Eric Hosmer trade

2025 financial commitments: $138MM
Total future commitments: $1.117 billion

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projected salaries via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Luis Arraez (5.121): $14.6MM
  • Dylan Cease (5.089): $13.7MM
  • Tyler Wade (5.058): $900K
  • Michael King (5.004): $7.9MM
  • Adrian Morejon (4.140): $1.8MM
  • Jason Adam (4.132): $5.3MM
  • Luis Patiño (3.061): $800K
  • Luis Campusano (2.144): $1.7MM

Non-tender candidates: Wade, Patiño

Free Agents

  • Tanner Scott, Jurickson Profar, Ha-Seong Kim, Kyle Higashioka, Donovan Solano, David Peralta, Martín Pérez, Elias Díaz, Nick Ahmed

It seems like every offseason in San Diego results in a significant shakeup. This winter will probably be no exception, even if the Padres aren't going to make a single move that is as impactful as last winter's Juan Soto/Michael King blockbuster. Between a hefty arbitration class, a number of free agents who played key roles in 2024, and a late-season injury that dealt a hit to their rotation, there's a lot for the front office to address.

The offseason kicks off with option and qualifying offer decisions. There's not much intrigue with San Diego's pair of option calls. Wandy Peralta will forego his chance to opt out of the remaining $13.15MM on his free agent deal. Ha-Seong Kim will collect a $2MM buyout on his mutual option and test the market.

San Diego probably won't issue a QO to any of their free agents. The midseason trade renders Tanner Scott ineligible, not that the Friars were likely to offer a $21.05MM commitment to a reliever anyhow. Kim once seemed like an easy call for the QO, but his late-season labrum surgery makes that too risky. The only other candidate would be Jurickson Profar, who'll be one of the tougher free agents to value after a career year. If the Padres expect Profar to repeat this year's production, he'd be worth the QO price. Profar's career has been wildly inconsistent, though, and there's probably not enough payroll space to offer the first-time All-Star more than $21MM while addressing multiple holes on the roster.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Front Office Originals Membership San Diego Padres

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Offseason Outlook: Toronto Blue Jays

By Mark Polishuk | October 16, 2024 at 2:44pm CDT

Quick postseason exits in 2022 and 2023 left the Blue Jays wondering last winter if their core roster was good enough to compete for a World Series.  Heading into this offseason, the question is now if the Jays' core can even still contend at all, after the team cratered to a 74-88 record.  In what could potentially be Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s last season in Toronto, the Jays are under enormous pressure to turn things around.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Jose Berrios, SP: $84MM through 2028 (Berrios has opt-out clause after 2026 season)
  • Kevin Gausman, SP: $46MM through 2026
  • George Springer, OF: $45MM through 2026
  • Yariel Rodriguez, SP/RP: $22MM through 2028 (includes $6MM player option for 2028; Blue Jays have $10MM club option if Rodriguez declines)
  • Chris Bassitt, SP: $21MM through 2025
  • Bo Bichette, SS: $16.5MM through 2025
  • Chad Green, RP: $10.5MM through 2025

Other Commitments

  • Roughly $1.22MM to the Pirates to cover a portion of Isiah Kiner-Falefa's 2025 salary

2025 financial commitments: $117.72MM
Total future commitments: $246.22MM

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (5.157): $29.6MM
  • Erik Swanson (5.059): $3.2MM
  • Jordan Romano (5.051): $7.75MM
  • Genesis Cabrera (5.011): $2.5MM
  • Dillon Tate (4.144): $1.9MM
  • Daulton Varsho (4.128): $7.7MM
  • Alejandro Kirk (4.047): $4.1MM
  • Alek Manoah (3.063): $2.4MM
  • Zach Pop (2.171): $1MM
  • Ernie Clement (2.168): $1.7MM
  • Non-tender candidates: Cabrera, Pop, Tate

Free Agents

  • Ryan Yarbrough, Paolo Espino

After a comparatively average 2023 season, Guerrero responded with a huge year that re-established him as one of baseball's top hitters.  Daulton Varsho also improved to roughly league-average offense, and continued his exceptional glovework in Toronto's outfield.  Alejandro Kirk has quietly become something of the catching equivalent of Varsho, as a standout defender whose bat leaves something to be desired.  Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, and Chris Bassitt were more good than great this season but they bring a lot of durability and general effectiveness to the rotation.  They'll be joined in next year's staff by Bowden Francis, whose sudden emergence in the second half made him like a budding ace, let alone simply worthy of a starting role.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Front Office Originals MLBTR Originals Membership Toronto Blue Jays

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Offseason Outlook: Baltimore Orioles

By Leo Morgenstern | October 16, 2024 at 1:01pm CDT

The Orioles got off to a strong start in 2024 but were only two games above .500 over their final 100 contests. They still finished with 91 wins, third-most in the American League, but their season ended in disappointment. For the second year in a row, the Orioles were swept out of the postseason in short order. General manager Mike Elias seems confident he’ll have more payroll flexibility this winter, but he’ll also be tasked with replacing (or re-signing) two of the 2024 team’s most valuable contributors.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Zach Eflin, RHP: $18MM through 2025
  • Félix Bautista, RHP: $1MM through 2025 (arbitration-eligible in 2026 and ‘27)

Additional Financial Commitments

  • Craig Kimbrel, RHP: $1MM buyout owed on $13MM club option for 2025

Total 2025 commitments: $22MM
Total future commitments: $22MM

Option Decisions

  • Eloy Jiménez, DH: $16.5MM club option for 2025 with $3MM buyout (White Sox will pay $1.5MM toward buyout)
  • Seranthony Domínguez, RHP: $8MM club option for 2025 with $500K buyout
  • Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/DH/OF: $8MM club option for 2025
  • Danny Coulombe, LHP: $4MM club option for 2025
  • Cionel Pérez, LHP: $2.2MM club option for 2025 (eligible for arbitration if club option declined)

Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Gregory Soto (5.102): $5.6MM
  • Burch Smith (5.086): $1.6MM
  • Cedric Mullins (5.078): $8.7MM
  • Jorge Mateo (5.000): $3.2MM
  • Matt Bowman (4.137): $1.3MM
  • Ryan Mountcastle (4.105): $6.6MM
  • Cionel Perez (4.085): $2.1MM (Orioles hold $2.2MM club option)
  • Keegan Akin (4.083): $1.4MM
  • Trevor Rogers (4.075): $2.8MM
  • Jacob Webb (4.046): $1.7MM
  • Ramon Urias (4.025): $3.1MM
  • Tyler Wells (3.132): $2.1MM
  • Dean Kremer (3.112): $3.5MM
  • Emmanuel Rivera (3.026): $1.4MM
  • Adley Rutschman (3.000): $5.8MM
  • Kyle Bradish (2.160): $2.1MM

Non-tender candidates: Soto, Smith, Mateo, Bowman, Rivera

Free Agents

  • Corbin Burnes, Anthony Santander, James McCann, John Means, Austin Slater

The Orioles have money coming off the books this winter, most notably the salaries of Corbin Burnes ($15.64MM), Craig Kimbrel ($12MM), and Anthony Santander ($11.7MM). However, Zach Eflin is due for a raise, and his salary will be on the payroll from day one. Seranthony Domínguez, Ryan O'Hearn, Danny Coulombe, and Cionel Pérez could also receive raises if the O’s exercise their club options. (The same is true for Eloy Jiménez, but this team is more likely to pick up and move to Baltimore, Ireland than it is to pick up that option.)  In addition, the Orioles have more arbitration-eligible players than any other team. 

If the Orioles pick up all of their club options (aside from Jiménez’s) and tender contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible players, that would put their player payroll for 2025 at around $105.8MM, a number that includes guaranteed contracts, buyouts, estimated salaries for arb-eligible players, and RosterResource’s $9.12MM estimate for pre-arb salaries. To put that in context, RosterResource estimates their final payroll in 2024 was $103MM. All that to say, ownership and the front office have little choice but to increase the payroll if they're planning to improve the roster over the winter.

It's a good thing, then, that Elias suggested he'll have more spending power this offseason than he has in the past. He has not confirmed that the Orioles' payroll will rise in 2025, but he told reporters (including Jake Rill of MLB.com), “I would be pretty confident that we’re going to keep investing in the Major League payroll.”

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Baltimore Orioles Front Office Originals Membership

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Offseason Outlook: Arizona Diamondbacks

By Mark Polishuk | October 12, 2024 at 11:09am CDT

The Diamondbacks fell just short of the playoffs, as arguably the league's best-hitting team was let down by subpar pitching.  Fixing the pitching will be a priority, but Arizona will also have to fill what could be several prominent holes in the lineup.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Corbin Carroll, OF: $102MM through 2030 (includes $5MM buyout of $28MM club option for 2031)
  • Eduardo Rodriguez, SP: $66MM through 2027 (includes $6MM buyout of $17MM vesting option for 2028)
  • Ketel Marte, 2B: $49MM through 2027 (includes $3MM buyout of $13MM club option for 2028)
  • Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF: $32MM through 2026 (includes $5MM buyout of $14MM club option for 2027; Gurriel can opt out of contract after 2025 season)

Option Decisions

  • Jordan Montgomery, SP: $22.5MM player option
  • Eugenio Suarez, 3B: $15MM club option ($2MM buyout)
  • Joc Pederson, DH: $14MM mutual option ($3MM buyout)
  • Merrill Kelly, SP: $7MM club option ($1MM buyout)
  • Scott McGough, RP: $4MM mutual option ($750K buyout)
  • Randal Grichuk, OF: $6MM mutual option ($600K buyout)

2025 financial commitments: $55MM ($123.5MM if all players with options remain on the team)
Total future commitments: $249MM ($317.5MM if all players with options remain with the team)

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections from MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Zac Gallen (5.100): $14.1MM
  • A.J. Puk (4.124): $2.6MM
  • Ryan Thompson (4.095): $2.9MM
  • Kevin Ginkel (4.033): $2.3MM
  • Joe Mantiply (4.029): $1.6MM
  • Kyle Nelson (3.076): $800K
  • Geraldo Perdomo (3.015): $2.1MM
  • Pavin Smith (3.015): $1.6MM
  • Non-tender candidates: Nelson

Free Agents

  • Christian Walker, Paul Sewald, Josh Bell, Kevin Newman

The 2023 Diamondbacks won 84 games to sneak into the last NL wild card spot, then went on a magical postseason run that took them to a World Series appearance.  This breakout performance emboldened the D'Backs to spend to new heights, as the club's Opening Day payroll of just under $163.4MM was by far the largest in franchise history.  Topping their 2023 payroll by over $47.1MM bought the Snakes five more regular-season wins, but this time it wasn't enough to even reach October --- a 2-5 record in their last seven games left the D'Backs tied with the Braves and Mets on 89 wins, but Arizona fell behind both teams on tiebreakers.

It was a crushing ending for a team that saw several of its investments from last season pay off handsomely, except almost all of the success came on the offensive side.  The re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr., newcomer free agents Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk, and trade acquisition Eugenio Suarez joined with the rest of the mighty lineup to lead all of baseball with 886 runs scored.

Unfortunately, the Diamondbacks also had the fifth-most runs allowed (788) of any team in the league.  Arizona ranked 25th in bullpen ERA (4.41) and 27th in rotation ERA (4.79), as the team's approach to building both pitching units backfired.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Arizona Diamondbacks Front Office Originals Membership

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Offseason Outlook: Seattle Mariners

By Steve Adams | October 11, 2024 at 10:59pm CDT

The Mariners' second near-miss of the playoffs in the past two years prompted significant leadership changes before the season drew to a close. Manager Scott Servais was shown the door shortly before the completion of his ninth year on the job and replaced not an interim basis but by the full-time appointment of former M's catcher Dan Wilson as the club's new skipper. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander remain in place and will be under even more pressure to field a playoff club next year.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Julio Rodriguez, OF: $180MM through 2034 (contract could climb as high as $450MM through 2039 based on series of options/escalators)
  • Luis Castillo, RHP: $68.25MM through 2027 (contract contains 2028 vesting option)
  • J.P. Crawford, SS: $21MM through 2026
  • Mitch Garver, C/DH: $12.5MM through 2025 (includes buyout of 2026 club option)
  • Victor Robles, OF: $8.5MM through 2026 (includes buyout of 2027 club option)
  • Dylan Moore, INF/OF: $3.825MMM through 2025
  • Andres Munoz, RHP: $2.5MM through 2025 (contract contains club options for 2026-28 seasons)

Option Decisions

  • Mitch Haniger, OF: $15.5MM player option
  • Jorge Polanco, 2B: $12MM club option with $750K buyout

Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)

  • Austin Voth (5.115): $2.2MM
  • JT Chargois (5.101): $1.7MM
  • Luis Urias (5.014): $5MM
  • Trent Thornton (4.148): $2.1MM
  • Randy Arozarena (4.129): $11.7MM
  • Josh Rojas (4.126): $4.3MM
  • Sam Haggerty (4.036): $900K
  • Logan Gilbert (3.144): $8.1MM
  • Tayler Saucedo (3.112): $1MM
  • Cal Raleigh (3.085): $5.6MM
  • Gabe Speier (2.172): $900K
  • George Kirby (2.151): $5.5MM
  • Non-tender candidates: Voth, Chargois, Urias, Haggerty, Speier

Free Agents

  • Justin Turner, Yimi Garcia

The Mariners' 2022 return to postseason baseball after a 20-year drought raised expectations in Seattle. Those expectations have not been reached in two subsequent seasons. The Mariners have played winning ball in each of the past two seasons but have failed to secure even a Wild Card berth. This year's loss is particularly painful for the organization, as Seattle held a dominant 10-game lead on the division in early June but had squandered it by the following month. A resurgent Astros club stormed to yet another AL West crown. There's no indication that front office changes are nigh -- team chairman John Stanton already said Dipoto would remain at his post -- but baseball operations turnover often follows coaching changes if the results don't quickly improve.

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Front Office Originals MLBTR Originals Membership Seattle Mariners

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Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

By Anthony Franco | October 11, 2024 at 11:39am CDT

MLBTR’s Anthony Franco held a live chat today, exclusively for Front Office subscribers. Anthony took questions on Willy Adames' market,  where the Royals can look for offense, what it might cost to sign Tanner Scott, Cardinals' trade possibilities, if the D-Backs can re-sign Christian Walker, the upcoming playoff games, and much more.

 

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Offseason Outlook: San Francisco Giants

By Darragh McDonald | October 10, 2024 at 7:15pm CDT

A big shakeup is in process for the front office in San Francisco. The Farhan Zaidi era came to an end last month and now Giants legend Buster Posey will be calling the shots as president of baseball operations. Since Posey has so little experience in running baseball operations, it's hard to know exactly what to expect, but there are some signs that the club will move from a measured approach to a bolder focus on acquiring marquee players.

Guaranteed Contracts

  • Matt Chapman, 3B: $151MM through 2030
  • Jung Hoo Lee, CF: $101MM through 2029 (Lee can opt out after 2027)
  • Logan Webb, RHP: $82MM through 2028
  • Jordan Hicks, RHP: $36MM through 2027
  • Taylor Rogers, LHP: $12MM through 2025
  • Tom Murphy, C: $4.25MM through 2025 (including $250K buyout on 2026 club option)

Option Decisions

  • LHP Robbie Ray can opt out of final two years and $50MM remaining on contract
  • LHP Blake Snell can opt out of final one year and $30MM remaining on contract
  • IF Wilmer Flores has $3.5MM player option, Giants have $8.5MM club option if he declines

Total 2025 commitments (assuming Snell opts out while Ray and Flores stay): $110.75MM
Total future commitments (assuming Snell opts out while Ray and Flores stay) : $439.75MM

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)

  • Mike Yastrzemski (5.128): $9.5MM
  • LaMonte Wade Jr. (5.035): $4.7MM
  • Tyler Rogers (5.034): $5.5MM
  • Camilo Doval (3.071): $4.6MM

Non-tender candidates: Yastrzemski, Doval

Free Agents

  • Michael Conforto, Mark Canha, Curt Casali, Thairo Estrada

The Giants did some good things under Zaidi's watch but the club was mostly defined by mediocrity in his time. The club finished just below .500 in his first two seasons. They shot up to an amazing 107 wins in 2021 but were eliminated by the Dodgers in the playoffs and crashed back to earth after. They finished at .500 in 2022 and just below in the next two years, making the 2021 season look like a clear outlier.

On top of the on-field results, there were some unsatisfactory elements elsewhere. The club's offseasons often focused on the players they didn't acquire, as guys like Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa came close to becoming Giants but ultimately didn't. Also, the club struggled to graduate many of its top prospects, with guys like Joey Bart, Luis Matos and Marco Luciano struggling to establish themselves at the big league level.

There were some nice finds on the pitching market, but mostly on short-term deals that allowed the players to get their big money elsewhere. Both Carlos Rodón and Kevin Gausman were able to resurrect their careers as Giants, but both quickly returned to free agency and got their big deals from A.L. East clubs, Rodón with the Yankees and Gausman the Blue Jays. To a lesser extent, guys like Sean Manaea, Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani had some good results with the club but are no longer in San Francisco. The club recently snapped up Blake Snell when he lingered unsigned into early 2024, but he now seems destined to depart like the others.

Last month, it became apparent that the franchise was growing weary of this generally tempered approach. Third baseman Matt Chapman, who had also signed a short-term deal like Snell, was signed to a six-year extension to stay by the Bay. But it was quickly reported that Posey had taken a lead role in getting that deal done, talking with Chapman directly in order to work around Zaidi and Chapman's agent Scott Boras.

Many smelled smoke in that report and the fire was later confirmed, as Posey was then given Zaidi's job. Posey said that he views baseball as a "memory-making business" at his introductory press conference. "Sure, winning is great," Posey said, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "Ultimately, that's our goal, to be a playoff team every year and compete for a championship. But I think just the overall big picture of being a part of something that's bigger than yourself was really appealing."

Does this mean that the Giants are now going to take a more free-wheeling approach, with less concern about squeezing the value of every dollar at the margins of every transaction? Will the plan be just to get things done, even if that means being a bit more reckless and perhaps overpaying from time to time?

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2024-25 Offseason Outlook Front Office Originals Membership San Francisco Giants

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