Where Giants' roster stands at offseason's early deadlines
Here's a look at where the roster stands after the deadline to add Rule 5 eligible prospects and the non-tender deadline, and the needs the Giants still have to fill.
The Giants had plenty of work to do Wednesday night, with 10 arbitration-eligible players and three more who were taken off the 40-man roster to clear spots. But they didn't take a breather once the 5 p.m. deadline to tender contracts passed.
Front office officials immediately started calling agents of players non-tendered elsewhere. On the Giants' YouTube show that aired Thursday night, general manager Scott Harris said he called one agent as late as midnight, but he was already sleeping.
The Giants have interest in several players who were let go Wednesday, hoping to add depth to a roster that was surprisingly productive in 2020. This is usually about the time of year that starts to happen, too. Harris joked that he told the agent he should expect midnight calls in early December given that conversation at the Winter Meetings often goes much later than that.
There won't be in-person meetings this year, but there's still an expectation that next week -- the original week for the annual event -- will jumpstart the market. As we wait for significant action, here's a look at where the roster stands after the deadline to add Rule 5 eligible prospects and the non-tender deadline, and the needs the Giants still have to fill:
For outsiders, it likely looks like the Giants are all set behind the plate. You pull up their roster and see that the only two catchers on the 40-man are Buster Posey and Joey Bart and assume that's that.
But president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi has already said that Bart will ideally get more time in the minors, so the Giants need a backup for opening day and probably at least the first month of the season, and they also need options for Triple-A, because their depth has been wiped out. Tyler Heineman signed with the Cardinals, Aramis Garcia was claimed by the Rangers, and Chadwick Tromp was non-tendered Wednesday.
Bringing back Tromp on a minor league deal would solve a lot of problems. There are plenty of options out there, but it's unlikely an experienced one signs to back up Posey knowing that Bart will take over at some point early on. The Giants need a younger catcher with options who can be stashed as Triple-A depth in the second half.
The group here could be set, with Brandon Belt and Wilmer Flores at first and Evan Longoria and Jason Vosler at third. Vosler provides the left-handed bat, although Zaidi has said that addition won't keep him from adding a more experienced option. That player would need to bat left-handed and ideally would have defensive versatility.
Belt is coming off heel surgery and may not be ready by the start of camp, but the Giants are extremely well covered there with Flores, Vosler, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater and Posey all capable of playing first.
This will be the spot we lead every conversation with a year from now, with Brandon Crawford's contract expiring, Marco Luciano moving fast, and perhaps the best class of free agent shortstops in history ready to hit the market. But heading into 2021, the Giants are set.
Crawford is coming off a bounceback year and Donovan Solano won the Silver Slugger Award. The Giants tendered him a contract and they're fully covered at second between Solano, Flores, Mauricio Dubon and potentially Vosler. The only question for 2021 may be whether Dubon becomes a super-utility guy again or stays in center, as he did over the final month of the season. The Giants probably need him to cover a lot more innings at short over 162 games.
Giants outfielders ranked third in the NL in homers, on-base percentage and wRC+ and fourth in total WAR, which is ... not at all what we've come to expect from Giants outfielders.
Mike Yastrzemski was an MVP candidate, Alex Dickerson had another strong year, and Dubon mashed lefties while showing he can handle center. All will be back, and given what they showed in 2020, it's not unreasonable to expect they all flash more improvement in Year 2 with a new staff.
The Giants expect Austin Slater to be 100 percent after an elbow scare, and when you throw Ruf back into the mix, they're pretty well covered in the corners. The question for the next couple months will be if they want to aim higher, and there are plenty of interesting options available after the non-tender decisions.
The Giants could use a platoon partner for Dubon, although they like Luis Alexander Basabe and still have Steven Duggar on the roster. The final player currently in the mix is Jaylin Davis, who was the potential breakout outfielder a year ago at this time but now is a bit buried. Davis is still just 26, though.
This was an area of need last Winter Meetings. It was an area of need during the season. It remains that way even with Kevin Gausman back in the fold.
The Giants have Gausman as their likely opening day starter, but after that ... you're hoping Johnny Cueto does a better job of limiting runs, you're hoping young Logan Webb gets deeper into games and trusts his stuff, you're hoping Tyler Beede makes it back by the start of May and hits the ground running. All of that is very possible, but this front office doesn't count on hope.
With Tyler Anderson non-tendered, the Giants have two rotation holes to fill, and they need at least one lefty. Right now, Andrew Suarez is their most experienced starting option from the left side and he's made just two starts during the Zaidi Era.
This is by far the weakest group on the roster, but the good news is there are plenty of ways to bolster it. This year's market is overflowing with pitchers who are likely to sign one-year make-good deals, and the Giants have proven to be an effective home for the formerly injured or underperforming. Expect them to add a couple of familiar names, and then also a couple of additional options on minor league deals -- think Trevor Cahill, Tyson Ross in 2020 -- to bring plenty of depth to Scottsdale.
The Giants tendered contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible relievers, which brings the bullpen into focus a bit. With Jarlin Garcia and Wandy Peralta back, and Caleb Baragar and Sam Selman still around, they're set from the left side and halfway to a full pen.
Tyler Rogers is a lock, Reyes Moronta will be back from a shoulder injury, and Trevor Gott signed a one-year deal to return. Shaun Anderson, Sam Coonrod, Conner Menez and Suarez remain on the 40-man roster, along with newcomers Camilo Doval, Gregory Santos and Kervin Castro. Doval could be an option as soon as the spring.
In theory, you could put together an eight-man bullpen from this list, but it would be inexperienced, and likely not very good. The Giants aim to add a veteran or two to the mix, and they could certainly use someone with ninth-inning experience. Team officials have indicated they would like a set closer this time around.
The Giants like the young arms they have and believe they can mold this group into a strength, but if they hope to be competitive in 2021, they'll need some more seasoned arms in the bullpen in April.
