Where do the Giants go from here?
San Francisco is coming down from its heartbreaking NLDS series loss to the Dodgers and the attention turns to the 2022 season. The Giants have plenty of question marks heading into an uncertain offseason, as MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association is set to expire on Dec. 1.
Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming joined Bonta Hill and Joe Shasky on 95.7 The Game’s “Morning Roast” Tuesday to share his thoughts on what’s next for president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, general manager Scott Harris and the Giants.
“I think the Giants are in a better position than almost anybody,” Flemming said. “No. 1 because they have flexibility and No. 2 because they have an ownership group that isn’t afraid of making commitments that maybe in the short term -- ‘Ah, does it makes us a little nervous? But we feel like we’’ll be OK in the long term?’
“I feel like the Giants are in that position, whereas there are a lot of other franchises that are feeling more nervous about the financials of all of it and are probably going to be less willing to make some of those commitments. I think the Giants can leverage that.”
When looking at the current makeup of the Giants roster, Flemming singled out starting pitching as the area the team needs to focus on the most. Beyond emerging ace Logan Webb, San Francisco’s 2022 rotation is unknown at this point. The Giants hold a $22 million club option with a $5 million buyout on Johnny Cueto, but Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood are all unrestricted free agents who are sure to have some suitors this winter.
“I think the starting pitching is the most in question part of this team going forward,” Flemming said. “There are decisions to be made about like Brandon Belt -- what is that contract going to look like? Buster Posey -- do they re-work the deal? Kris Bryant -- are they going to be keeping Kris Bryant around?
“Those are important decisions but I think the inflection point of this team is the starting rotation. It’s sort of the same as last year. It’s actually closer to getting a group of young pitchers in the minor leagues who are ready to contribute, but they’re not there with that, at least in terms of starters.”
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While Flemming noted the Giants have money to spend on some high-risk, high-reward players, he also thinks Zaidi and Harris could try to acquire talent via trades.
“Talking about starting pitching,” Flemming said, “I think it’s a real possibility that the Giants could target a younger, maybe not even wholly successful starting pitcher, somebody they think that, ‘Hey, we can maximize his ability and trade away from some depth at another spot. I think that’s a real possibility.’”
