2010, 2012, 2014 The Giants have hade half of the last 6 world series victories, and it has been on every even year, so to continue that pattern they would need to win it all in 2016. With the offseason just beginning all Giants fans are asking what will it take to bring the title back once again?
The current look of the Giants team I would guess would have a lineup something like this: 1. Angel Pagan 2. Hunter Pence 3. Brandon Belt 4. Buster Posey 5. Joe Panik 6. Matt Duffy 7. Gregor Blanco 8. Brandon Crawford 9. Pitcher Based on my extensive research using a modified version of the program I used to create the stat ORA, this lineup would produce about 630 runs. |
Right now the Giants only have three or four starting pitchers left after the loss of Tim Lincecum, Mike Leake, Ryan Vogelsongand Tim Hudson. There is pretty much no doubt that the Giants will be making some moves to fill this void. It could be resigning Lincecum or Leake, or it could be making a much bigger move to bring in someone to change this team, such asJohnny Cueto, or Zack Greinke. |
So that's what the Giants look like right now, I would guess they would come out at around .500, not world series material, but what will they need to do to change this. Below are some likely options that could help.
Sign a proven pitcher to make a major impact.
$ $ $ $
This is the most expensive option, but could still be a possibility. If the Giants were to sign Zack Greinke or Johnny Cueto I would predict this to bring their runs allowed to around 590 just in itself this would make them an 87-75 team and a maybe for the playoffs (in 2014 they were just 88-74). However it would leave little to no room for other free agents on the budget.
Best fit: Johnny Cueto
Cost: 17-20 million per year, 4 or 5 years.
Value: 6 wins
$ $ $ $
This is the most expensive option, but could still be a possibility. If the Giants were to sign Zack Greinke or Johnny Cueto I would predict this to bring their runs allowed to around 590 just in itself this would make them an 87-75 team and a maybe for the playoffs (in 2014 they were just 88-74). However it would leave little to no room for other free agents on the budget.
Best fit: Johnny Cueto
Cost: 17-20 million per year, 4 or 5 years.
Value: 6 wins
Sign a second tier outfielder.
$ $
With Alex Gordon, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Yoenis Cespedes all taking up big dollars for rich teams the second tier outfielders such as Dexter Fowler, Denard Span, and Gerardo Parra are going to be steals. The Giants have loved having Gregor Blanco as their fourth outfielder for years now, and I don't see this changing, but I also don't see them signing one of the first tier players likely to receive many year payroll eater contracts.
Best fit: Gerardo Parra
Cost: 10-12 million per year, 2 years
Value: 3 wins
$ $
With Alex Gordon, Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Yoenis Cespedes all taking up big dollars for rich teams the second tier outfielders such as Dexter Fowler, Denard Span, and Gerardo Parra are going to be steals. The Giants have loved having Gregor Blanco as their fourth outfielder for years now, and I don't see this changing, but I also don't see them signing one of the first tier players likely to receive many year payroll eater contracts.
Best fit: Gerardo Parra
Cost: 10-12 million per year, 2 years
Value: 3 wins
Sign a bullpen pitcher, or two $ In 2014 such a huge part of the Giants success was from their bullpen. However last year it was certainly not as strong. in 2016 I think they will try to get it back to it's previous strength. There are not really any huge bullpen names this year, but there are some impact players includingTony Sipp, Trevor Cahill, Brian Duensing, and Mark Lowe. All of whom are definite possibilities for the Giants and I believe they will probably be signing multiple relievers although probably only one of the aforementioned players because they will be expensive. Best fit: Mark Lowe, and Joe Thatcher Cost: Lowe, $9 mil/year, 2 years Thatcher, $4 mil one year Value: 2 wins |
I do not see trades to be very likely, because the Giants have a very shallow farm system and no positions with a major surplus of players they have a very homegrown team that I do not think are going to change much, other than to add players through signings. The best possibility is a trade of Andrew Susac who is young and has major potential but is stuck behind Buster Posey, and with Hector Sanchez also there to back up Posey, Susac does not seem needed. However Posey has begun to play more and more first base he has gone from 11% there in '13 to 23% in '14 to 26% last year. At some point the Giants may want to have Posey split time completely, and at that point it would be nice to have Susac still around. We will see how it plays out. It will likely depend on what they could get for him. Another possibility is that the Giants will let him prove his worth along with seeing if anyone in their farm system gains value and then try to swing a deal at the deadline to bring in an impact player for the final push.