Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick

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The San Francisco Giants’ offense has hit a breaking point. After a winless road trip, two runs in three games at Tropicana Field, and a six-game losing streak, the SF Giants are reportedly calling up top prospect Bryce Eldridge and versatile catcher/utility option Jesus Rodriguez ahead of a huge series against the San Diego Padres.

Ben Kaspick breaks down why the Giants’ decision is exciting, necessary, and maybe even a little desperate. Bryce Eldridge has mashed in Triple-A, showing huge raw power, strong walk rates, elite hard-hit data, and serious upside as a 21-year-old first baseman/DH. But his high strikeout rate raises real questions—and so does the roster fit. With Rafael Devers locked in at first base/DH despite brutal early-season struggles, and Casey Schmitt swinging one of the hottest bats on the team, where exactly does Eldridge play?

The episode also digs into Jesus Rodriguez, acquired in the Camilo Doval trade, and what his low-strikeout, high-contact profile could mean for a Giants roster that has struggled badly to generate offense. Could Rodriguez push Patrick Bailey for playing time? Could Eric Haase, Jerar Encarnacion, Will Brennan, or Christian Koss be affected by the roster moves?

Also discussed: Rafael Devers’ alarming strikeout rate, Casey Schmitt’s breakout, Luis Arraez’s surprising value, the Giants’ lack of walks, Buster Posey’s roster construction challenge, Tony Vitello’s role, bullpen bright spots, NL Wild Card math, and why the San Francisco Giants’ season is already starting to feel fragile.

Independent, ad-free SF Giants analysis from Ben Kaspick.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

The 2026 MLB season starts tonight with the only game on the schedule: Giants vs. Yankees at Oracle Park. Ben Kaspick breaks down the full Opening Day roster and makes the case that San Francisco's position player group is one of the most underrated in baseball, projecting as a top-10 lineup by FanGraphs batter WAR, ahead of the Phillies, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox.

In this episode:

• Why the Bryce Eldridge option to Triple-A was the right call

• The Luis Matos DFA and the failed Matos/Luciano prospect era

• The case for the Giants' lineup: Chapman, Adames, Devers, Arraez, Bailey, Lee, Ramos, Bader & more

• Patrick Bailey as baseball's best defender—and how ABS could make him even more valuable

• Heliot Ramos finally ending the post–Barry Bonds left field streak

• Jared Oliva: the under-the-radar speed weapon (71 steals in 115 games counting last year and this spring)

• Logan Webb as a top-5 ace and why his health is everything

• The full pitching staff breakdown: Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, Landen Roupp

• Caleb Kilian's insane velocity jump (+3.5 mph) and what the new coaching staff is doing

• Keaton Winn's move to the bullpen and the full relief hierarchy

• Hayden Birdsong's Tommy John surgery

• Tony Vitello making history as the first manager with no pro experience

• FanGraphs projections: 82 wins, 35% playoff odds—and why Ben thinks they'll beat that

• BONUS: Ben announces his new involvement with Locked On MLB Game Night

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

The San Francisco Giants are reportedly in agreement with Harrison Bader on a two-year, $20.5 million deal, and while the move clearly addresses a major need, it also continues the theme of a very “meh” offseason.

In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben breaks down who Harrison Bader actually is, why his 2025 offensive surge is unlikely to be sustainable, and why the SF Giants are really paying for elite center-field defense, leadership, and stability—not a breakout bat.

Ben dives into:

Why Bader’s contract makes sense when you look past last year’s surface stats

Statcast and Outs Above Average data that show just how bad the Giants’ outfield defense was, and how much Bader helps

Why Jung Hoo Lee may be better suited for a corner spot, and how Bader changes the entire outfield dynamic

The ripple effects for Heliot Ramos, Luis Matos, and Jerar Encarnacion

Why the Giants still look unfinished without a true second baseman

Concerns about the rotation and bullpen behind Logan Webb

What an opportunistic move—whether a trade or a late pitching addition—could mean for the Giants’ playoff hopes

The Giants have added solid players, but the big question remains: have they done enough? With pitchers and catchers reporting soon, the window to push in a little further is closing.

👉 The first half of the episode is free. The full episode is available exclusively on Substack.

Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick—independent, ad-free, rational San Francisco Giants analysis.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

Ten days ago, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the San Francisco Giants were “aggressively pursuing” a second baseman, naming Nico Hoerner and Brendan Donovan as trade targets. Ten days later, nothing has happened—and spring training is right around the corner.

So what’s actually going on?

In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben digs into the report, explains why Passan’s word matters, and breaks down the three most realistic second base options for the Giants: Hoerner (Cubs), Donovan (Cardinals), and C.J. Abrams (Nationals).

He looks at:

—Why the Giants’ interest in second base makes perfect sense

—How Hoerner’s elite defense, speed, and Bay Area ties factor into the conversation

—Why Donovan’s on-base skills, versatility, and likely acquisition cost could make him the best fit

—How Abrams’ youth, power/speed combo, and team control change the calculus

—Contract status, years of control, defensive metrics, platoon splits, and realistic trade availability

—What recent MLB trades (including MacKenzie Gore and Freddy Peralta) say about where the market is headed

Ben also explains why the lack of immediate action doesn’t mean the Giants are done, why timing shouldn't matter too much, and which move he ultimately expects the front office to make.

As always, this is independent, ad-free Giants analysis, grounded in data and roster context—not agent-driven speculation.

👉 The first portion of the episode is free. The full episode is available to subscribers on Substack.

Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick—rational, detailed San Francisco Giants coverage, every step of the way.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

The San Francisco Giants have officially signed Tyler Mahle to a one-year, $10 million deal, and that move raises more questions than answers.

In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben breaks down why Mahle’s surface-level 2.18 ERA from last season doesn’t tell the full story, what the underlying numbers actually say, and why injury risk looms large for a rotation already packed with uncertainty. He also examines the SF Giants’ broader offseason approach, including their stated reluctance to commit long-term money to pitchers, how internal depth factors into the plan, and what that means for names like Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and the rest of the staff.

Plus:

• Why the Giants may still be active via trade

• How payroll constraints, deferred money, and managerial costs are shaping decisions

• Where the roster looks stronger than it gets credit for, and where it doesn’t

• What realistic next moves could still make sense before Spring Training

If you’re wondering what the Giants are actually doing this offseason, and whether this roster is good enough as currently constructed, this episode lays it all out.

🔒 Full episodes are available exclusively to paid subscribers on Substack.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick

In this episode, Ben breaks down a flurry of San Francisco Giants news as the offseason begins to take real shape. From new pitching additions to emerging trade rumors—plus a major Hall of Fame moment—there’s a lot to unpack.

🔹 Giants Signings: Hauser, Foley, and Hentges

The Giants add three arms to a pitching staff with plenty of question marks:

Adrian Houser reportedly agrees to a two-year, $22 million deal, giving the rotation a veteran, ground-ball-heavy arm who raises the floor but doesn’t necessarily move the ceiling.

Jason Foley signs a one-year deal after being non-tendered by Detroit. Foley brings elite ground-ball rates and past closing experience, though he’s expected to miss roughly half of the season due to injury.

Sam Hentges, a left-hander with strikeout ability and velocity, join SF on a one-year deal and is expected to be ready by Opening Day.

Ben digs into what these moves say about the Giants’ pitching philosophy, bullpen construction, and remaining needs, especially after recent departures and injuries.

🔹 Rotation Outlook & What Comes Next

With Logan Webb at the top and uncertainty behind him, the Giants appear far from done:

Robbie Ray’s late-season struggles

The roles of young arms like Landon Roupp, Hayden Birdsong, and others

Why adding “average” pitching still matters

The front office’s stated goal of adding two starters, and who could still be in play

🔹 Giants Named “Frontrunners” for Brendan Donovan

Reports link the Giants to Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan, a versatile, left-handed bat with elite contact skills.

Ben explains:

Why Donovan fits the Giants’ offensive profile

His defensive versatility and platoon splits

Contract status, arbitration outlook, and likely trade cost

How he could slot in as an everyday second baseman — or a super-utility option

🔹 Why a Ketel Marte Trade Feels Unlikely

The Giants are also rumored to have checked in on Ketel Marte, but Ben lays out why this scenario is far less realistic:

Massive contract and team-control considerations

Division-rival trade dynamics

The prospect capital it would likely require

🔹 Jeff Kent Elected to the Hall of Fame

A huge moment for the franchise:

Jeff Kent is elected to the MLB Hall of Fame via committee vote

He’ll almost certainly enter wearing a Giants cap

What this means historically for the organization, and why it matters

🔹 More Giants Notes & What’s Ahead

Additional topics teased or discussed:

Giants jumping to No. 4 overall in the MLB Draft Lottery

Coaching staff additions, including Ron Washington and Jesse Chavez

Marco Luciano being claimed off waivers

ZiPS projections

Rule 5 Draft activity

Ongoing interest in Cody Bellinger

Why there’s still a lot more coming this offseason

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick brings data, insight, and personality together in a smart, independent show breaking down everything happening (and not happening) around the San Francisco Giants. Host Ben Kaspick, who covered the Giants professionally for more than six years at Locked On Giants, returns with deep analysis, sharp perspective, and a decade of podcasting experience.

In this episode, Ben recaps a busy and bizarre offseason stretch: Tony Vitello’s unprecedented jump from Tennessee to the Giants dugout, the delayed completion of the coaching staff, rumored hires like Jayce Tingler, Hunter Mense, Justin Meccage, and Frank Anderson, and the club’s push to modernize player development. He breaks down the Giants’ biggest needs for 2026, the early impact of Dylan Cease’s $210M deal on the pitching market, and why San Francisco must get aggressive in free agency and trades if they want to avoid mediocre season.

Ben also looks at roster crunches, out-of-options dilemmas, potential trades involving Marco Luciano or Luis Matos, and what league executives are saying about Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, who multiple MLB insiders predict could land in San Francisco.

If you’re a Giants fan who wants smart analysis, front-office context, real roster insight, and zero fluff, you’re in the right place.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit benkaspick.substack.com

The San Francisco Giants are on the verge of making baseball history.

According to multiple top reporters—Jeff Passan, Ken Rosenthal, Andrew Baggarly, and others—the Giants are closing in on hiring Tennessee Vols head coach Tony Vitello as their next manager.

Stay in the Giants loop 🧡

If the deal goes through, Vitello would become the first manager in MLB…

The San Francisco Giants have officially missed the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons, despite headline moves like acquiring Rafael Devers and signing Willy Adames. How did a roster with Devers, Adames, Matt Chapman, Logan Webb, and Robbie Ray still collapse down the stretch? And what does it say about the SF Giants’ future under Buster Posey’s leadership?

In this episode of Giants Baseball with Ben Kaspick, Ben dives into:

The brutal 1–15 home stretch that sunk the Giants’ season.

Why wasting the prime of Logan Webb is so frustrating, even after three straight 200-inning campaigns.

Breakout signs from Bryce Eldridge and what his arrival means for 2026 and beyond.

Bob Melvin’s uncertain future as manager and what Zach Manassian’s recent comments reveal.

The Giants’ payroll outlook, upcoming free agents (Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores, Tom Murphy), and potential offseason targets.

It’s another season of disappointment in San Francisco, but there are real reasons for hope if Posey and the front office can deliver more bold moves this winter.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benkaspick.substack.com/subscribe

The San Francisco Giants have flipped the script, shaking off doom and gloom to become one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Today’s podcast is fully free, but future episodes (and current written content) will be paywalled. For $5 a month (or $50 a year) you’ll get full access to all content and support clear, independent, ad-free Giants coverage.

Former Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick breaks down Rafael Devers’ explosive tear (his 30th homer, the SF Giants’ hardest-hit blast of the Statcast era, and his fiery clash with Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland), Willy Adames’ push toward an extremely rare 30-HR season in orange and black, and the team’s benches-clearing brawl in Colorado.

With just 23 games remaining, the Giants are only 4.5 games back of a playoff spot and riding MLB’s longest consecutive-game home run streak of the season. Could this possibly be the start of something special in San Francisco? Time’s running out, but the Giants are still alive and playing their best baseball of the season.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benkaspick.substack.com/subscribe