Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

Somehow it's a bit controversial, but San Francisco Giants manager reiterated what should be clear: Joey Bart has not done enough yet to be the presumptive No. 1 catcher heading into 2023. Bart's struggles at the plate (and occasionally behind it) have been well documented. There's been too much swing and miss, too many strikeouts. Bart enters camp in a pure competition with Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol and non-roster options Roberto Pérez and Austin Wynns.

David Villar, meanwhile, showed enough in 2022 to warrant being the presumptive favorite to start the season at third base. Villar generally has some of Bart's same issues, but Bart takes those issues a bit further into unacceptable territory (e.g., Bart had a 38.5 K% in 2022, compared to 32% for Villar). Villar dominated in Double-A in 2021 and Triple-A in 2022, and showed an ability to adjust to some early struggles in the majors. Bart had a hot August but came crashing down in September; Villar finished strong with a great September/October.

The Giants provided some injury updates yesterday, and the headliner was that top prospect Marco Luciano sustained a lower back stress fracture during winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Luciano missed a bunch of time during the minor league season with a low back strain, and the fracture was an aggravation of the issue. The SF Giants are hopeful that Luciano fully recovers and is a full go for the upcoming season, but back injuries are never something you want to see from a top prospect.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The San Francisco Giants weren't a 107-win team in 2021, and they weren't an 81-team in 2022. The 2021 SF Giants outperformed their talent level by dozens of wins. Last year's Giants seemingly underperformed by 5-10 wins. Hopefully things stabilize a bit in 2023, as the SF Giants figure to be in the mix for a playoff spot. Projections have the Giants as an above-.500 team, good enough to make the playoffs. How many games will the Giants win this year?

How will the Giants' defense be affected by the shift restrictions? A lot has been said about how their hitters could be affected, but what about the defense on a team whose pitchers generate so many ground balls? It might actually help the Giants, as Thairo Estrada is a relatively rangy and athletic second baseman. Someone like Tommy La Stella would've hurt them there, but he's no longer on the roster. Hopefully Estrada stays healthy, as the likes of Wilmer Flores might otherwise be forced to play second, without being able to shift, and that would hurt.

What would it take for the Giants to trade for the Brewers' Corbin Burnes? It would cost a lot of prospect capital, as Burnes is one of the best pitchers in MLB and is under club control for two more seasons. The Giants aren't really in position to be selling away their best prospects for short-term pieces like Burnes. San Francisco has money to spend every winter, and it makes far more sense to simply pay for a player like Burnes rather than give up someone like Kyle Harrison—and his six-plus years of team control—for a short-term solution.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Logan Webb returns to the front of the San Francisco Giants' rotation in 2023, but what lies behind him? Alex Cobb very quietly put up spectacular underlying numbers in 2022, but he, like so many others SF Giants pitchers, were hurt badly by the defense. Cobb has legitimate No. 2 starter upside if he's healthy, throwing in the mid-90s, and getting ground balls at one of the highest rates in the sport.

Behind Webb and Cobb, the Giants have a deep collection of mid-rotation starter types. Newcomers Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea have both had really nice seasons in the past, with Stripling's most recent great year coming in 2022. Manaea had a miserable 2022, but was the leader of some good A's teams in the recent past. Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafani are in a similar mold, and we saw the best of those two in 2021 and the worst of them in 2022. Seems likely at least two of these four rebound to have nice years.

In the bullpen, you'll probably see a couple starters to start the year, assuming health (like DeSclafani and Jakob Junis). Camilo Doval's sinker helped him reach new heights in 2022, and Taylor Rogers is a nice addition who pairs nicely with Doval toward the end of games. Tyler Rogers, John Brebbia, and Scott Alexander are back from last year's Giants team, and the final bullpen spot is seemingly up for grabs. Thomas Szapucki and Cole Waites are young flamethrowers on the 40-man, while others like RJ Dabovich aren't far behind and could crack the Opening Day 'pen.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The football season is over, and that means one thing: It's time for baseball! San Francsico Giants pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training this week, and the games will be underway about a week after that. At this point in spring, it's worth taking an initial crack at the SF Giants' Opening Day roster.

There's one position that is very unsettled and opinions about it may even be controversial. Joey Bart was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018, but his time in the majors has been largely disappointing thus far. Bart struggled with strikeouts in 2022, so much so that he was sent down after a couple of months last year. When Bart was called back up, he appeared to have made significant progress in the contact department. However, he was back to his high strikeout ways again by the end of the year. So the hot take is that Bart starts the year in the Minors and Roberto Pérez and Blake Sabol (a Rule 5 pick who must make the roster or be offered back to the Pirates) crack the Opening Day roster instead.

The Giants also have some instability at first and third. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores figure to platoon at first, and David Villar projects to get a real opportunity to start the season as the starting third baseman. Thairo Estrada and Brandon Crawford figure to be near-everyday options up the middle.

In the outfield, newcomers Mitch Haniger and Michael Conforto are projected to man the corners pretty much every day, with Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater patrolling center. Joc Pederson and J.D. Davis figure to platoon at the DH spot. The Giants' defense appears improved to the point of being at least about average, which would be a big upgrade over last year's disaster. And they figure to have above-average offense up and down their lineup, with the exception of perhaps the catcher position.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Ironically, despite all the negativity surrounding the Giants this offseason, they come in with a rosy record projection, according to ZiPS. The popular projection system projects the SF Giants to win 88 games and make the postseason as the final team in the NL. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the Giants are projected to finish only a few wins beneath the Dodgers and the Padres, who each have 91-win projections. Those teams appear to have higher ceilings than the San Francisco Giants, but they also have far less depth to cover bad and unexpected scenarios.

Logan Webb was a surprising omission from the Team USA World Baseball Classic roster, which was announced last evening. Webb had agreed to participate in the tournament earlier this offseason, so it was surprising to see his name left off of the official roster for Team USA. Webb is an extension candidate this offseason (even though he's under team control through 2025), so perhaps the Giants wanted him to put off him plans to play in the WBC while they're negotiating a long-term deal.

Why didn't the SF Giants upgrade their infield defense this winter? The outfield was much more of a problem than the infield defensively in 2022. And even in the infield, where the Giants ranked 21st with -7 Outs Above Average, they got a combined -12 from Brandon Belt (-4), Tommy La Stella (-4), and Donovan Walton (-4). Their projected starters, Brandon Crawford (+7), Thairo Estrada (+3), LaMonte Wade Jr. (+2), and David Villar (-1) combined for +11 Outs Above Average in 2022. So the short answer is that their infield defense might not really be a huge problem and that's why they didn't make huge efforts to improve it.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Shohei Ohtani to the San Francisco Giants? It's never too early to start speculating. The SF Giants clearly prioritized signing a superstar this offseason, and while it didn't work out (for some insane reasons), there's no reason to think the Giants won't try again next year. Ohtani is far and away the biggest name available next winter, but Manny Machado should also be out there since he can opt out of the remaining five years and $150 million left on his contract, which would be an easy decision if he has a typical Manny Machado season.

Why did the Giants' farm system take such a big hit in some rankings this year? So much of the SF Giants' future will depend on successfully developing their own talent, so the Giants' drop in public rankings seems like cause for concern. However, it's important to remember that these rankings are subjective and that they can change year to year. Last year, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Giants' farm system second. This year, Keith Law ranked the Giants' system 18th. Did that much really change, or was it just a down year for some key guys?

How can the San Francisco Giants quell some of the frustration coming from the fanbase? Making the playoffs will be important, as will having some young players find success in the majors in 2023. Kyle Harrison has a chance to be special and figures to debut early in 2023. The Giants also have young players like David Villar, Casey Schmitt, R.J. Dabovich, and Cole Waites who could impact the team this year. If some of those players have legitimately good seasons, and the Giants make the playoffs and win at least one round, the fans should be feeling a lot better about the team's future.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Kyle Harrison is coming, and he's coming fast. The San Francisco Giants' left-handed pitching prospect is on the cusp of the major leagues, and now it is official that he'll be in MLB camp with the Giants. Harrison, who's a consensus Top-20 prospect in baseball, is very likely to debut for the SF Giants in 2023 and it could even be early in the season.

Casey Schmitt is another name to watch closely, and he's another one of the Giants' list of non-roster invitees. Schmitt is known for his excellent defense at third base, and over the weekend at Giants FanFest, manager Gabe Kapler said that Schmitt could see some time at shortstop as well. With Brandon Crawford entering the last year of his deal, the Giants' future at that position is in flux and adding Schmitt to the mix would be a big deal. Schmitt is also probable to debut with the Giants in 2023.

Lastly, the Giants have some real upside relievers who are close to the majors. R.J. Dabovich is close and could get a look early in the season. Cole Waites already made his debut late last year. People seem to be down on the Giants' system at exactly the moment when things are looking up, since so many intriguing young players are on the doorstep. Bear in mind that they've already had some major success stories in recent years in Logan Webb and Camilo Doval. The catcher position is also discussed, after Roberto Pérez's deal was finally finalized. Seems to be a wide open competition, including for Joey Bart.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Are the San Francisco Giants really going to be a top home-run-hitting team in 2023? Farhan Zaidi recently said as much, but does his prediction figure to come true? The SF Giants set a franchise record for home runs in 2021, and despite some narrative to the contrary, they weren't a bad power-hitting team in 2022. Their additions of Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger figure to add many more home runs to the mix, so it's not at all hard to envision the 2023 Giants being a top power-hitting team.

Going into Year Five of the Farhan Zaidi era, is it playoffs or bust? Will Zaidi be around for a sixth season if the Giants have another disappointing season in 2023? He probably won't be fired, especially if other things go right, but certainly the rope starts to get a lot shorter. If the Giants have a poor 2023 season and follow it up with one to three more disappointing seasons afterwards, Zaidi might not stick around. But the Giants value continuity, and Zaidi showed in 2021 what he's capable of. Developing young talent will be the most important thing moving forward.

What will it take to get Shohei Ohtani next offseason? Reports are that Ohtnai still prefers the West coast, which puts the Giants in a good starting position. Aaron Judge seemingly set the market for superstar players this offseason when he collected $40 million per year over nine years from the Yankees. It's not hard to imagine Ohtani also getting $40 million per year, but he will be a couple of years younger than Judge was at the time of his free agency. In that case, something like 11 years at $40M per year seems possible (that would come out to $440 million in total).

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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For the second straight offseason, the San Francisco Giants lost an ace-caliber pitcher in free agency. Despite losing Kevin Gausman after the 2021 campaign, the Giants' rotation was a strength again in 2022. And despite losing Carlos Rodón this year, the SF Giants' rotation once again looks like it's up to the task in 2023. This time, the Giants took a different approach. They stockpiled an extremely group of capable starters, and their upside play is waiting in the wings in Triple-A.

The Giants' 2023 ZiPS projections for pitchers are explored. Logan Webb comes in with another excellent projection, followed by strong projections for their remaining deep group of starters. Alex Cobb looks like a legit No. 2 starter if his defense can do a better job behind him, and Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Ross Stripling, and Sean Manaea all have relatively high floors and somewhat high ceilings. In the bullpen, Taylor Rogers has a strong projection, as do rookies such as R.J. Dabovich and Cole Waites.

The real wild card is Kyle Harrison, who has been ranked as high as the 12th overall prospect on Top 100 lists that have come out in recent days and weeks. Harrison figures to start the season in Triple-A, and could be a major factor at the big league level in 2023. The Giants' staff looks deep enough to perhaps carry them to the postseason, and if they get there, it's hard not to dream on the potential of Webb and Harrison in a postseason series, along with Alex Cobb and any of the other intriguing starters the Giants have stockpiled for 2023.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Despite all of the loud talk about the San Francisco Giants needing superstar talent, there's something they arguably needed even more as Spring Training looms. The Giants needed another catcher, and they reportedly signed one over the weekend. Roberto Pérez is not exactly a big name, but he is as solid as they come defensively. Known for arm, framing, pop times, and leadership, Pérez is a low-key big addition for the SF Giants. With all due respect to Joey Bart, Blake Sabol, and Austin Wynns, that's a group with a lot of uncertainty. Bart should still get every opportunity to prove himself, but it'll be nice to have a backup with the defensive prowess of Roberto Pérez. It's not clear whether this is a major-league or minor-league signing.

In other news, Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano continue to rank very highly on prospect ranking publications. MLB Pipeline had both in the top 20 or so, and The Athletic's Keith Law actually had Harrison at No. 12, and considers him the second-best pitching prospect in baseball. What's most exciting is that Harrison is close to MLB-ready, and Luciano should finally reach that point by the end of the 2023 season, assuming he can stay healthy.

Finally, the Giants' outfield defense is discussed. Defense was the San Francisco Giants' biggest issue in 2022, and if you look closely, it was the outfield defense that hurt them the most. Enter Michael Conforto and Mitch Haniger, who have both been above-average defensively in the outfield corners in their careers. Their presence removes Joc Pederson and LaMonte Wade Jr. from the outfield conversation, which is addition by subtraction. And Mike Yastrzemski has been a solid center fielder. So suddenly, the Giants may have improved from league-worst outfield defense to something that's more league average to above-average. In practice, that could mean an additional 40-50 runs prevented, which is a huge number.

Find and follow Locked On Giants on your favorite podcast platforms:

🎧 Apple Podcasts http://apple.co/3ycRK3U

🎧 Spotify http://spoti.fi/3Bak0pN

🎧 Google Play https://bit.ly/3D356mr

🎧 Overcast https://bit.ly/3wqZsbg

🎧 Megaphone https://bit.ly/3wGGcXD

The best daily San Francisco Giants podcast. Whether the Giants are winning championships or retooling for another title run, Locked On Giants host Ben Kaspick—a lifelong Giants fan and former contributor for RotoGraphs and Beyond the Box Score—breaks down every game, rumor, and transaction in a way that's data-driven and rational but also simple, passionate, and accessible to all.

Follow Ben Kaspick on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the San Francisco Giants and talking with fans.

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenKaspick

#SFGiants #FirstListen

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

FanDuel

Make Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get started

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices