Locked On Giants – Daily Podcast On The San Francisco Giants

On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are:

Likelihood the Giants sign Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander?

Will the 2022 rotation be Logan Webb, Scherzer, Verlander, Kevin Gausman, Clayton Kershaw?

Starling Marte: better option than Chris Taylor now that Taylor has a qualifying offer tied to him?

Was Alex Wood really not worth the qualifying offer? With the way he pitched in the postseason, I thought he would be worth the one-year deal, especially when $22 million unexpectedly freed up with Buster Posey's retirement.

Surprised Anthony DeSclafani didn't get qualifying offer? Chances 0 to 100 Giants find a way to sign him anyway?

If Brandon Belt doesnt accept the Giants' qualifying offer, who are our first-base options (in house and potential signings)?

Do you see Reds starter Luis Castillo as a good fit for a short-term deal for market rebuilding? He had a down year, and the Giants have lots of history with that front office.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details a busy weekend that was for the San Francisco Giants. Sunday was a day of forced action, as qualifying offer and option decisions had to be made. The Giants exercised their options for Wilmer Flores ($3.5M) and José Álvarez ($1.5M), and officially declined their $22M option for Johnny Cueto, in favor of a $5M buyout. Flores and Álvarez were strong contributors for the Giants in 2021, and it's good news for the team that they'll be back next year, both in the final year of their deals with San Francisco. Cueto is officially a free agent after six mostly underwhelming years with the Giants. His first season in orange and black was spectacular, but he wasn't able to come anywhere close to it again over the final five.

The Giants extended a one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer to Brandon Belt. There was some possibility that they might extend qualifying offers to Anthony DeSclafani and/or Alex Wood, but both were unlikely and the team ultimately elected to pass. This doesn't mean that they won't be back; just that they didn't extend them qualifying offers. Belt will have 10 days to accept or reject the Giants' offer. If he signs with another team this offseason, the Giants will receive Draft Pick compensation. Belt is a candidate to accept the offer, but he could also work out an extension to stay in San Francisco.

Finally, Ben discusses Brandon Crawford winning his fourth career Gold Glove Award. He was spectacular defensively in 2021, which is a testament to his own hard work and the influence of Kai Correa and Ron Wotus. The Giants' new coaching staff has done a tremendous job getting the most out of players since taking over in 2020, and that includes Correa and his influence over the defense. Crawford, Belt, and Buster Posey were all at or near their best in 2021 despite being in their mid-30s. Ben reminds listeners of how significant of a loss it was when hitting coach Donnie Ecker accepted a position as bench coach and offensive coordinator with the Texas Rangers last week. Mike Yastrzemski was a Gold Glove finalist in right field, but he did not win the award. Still, it's an honor just for Yaz to have been named a finalist.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick, host Ben Kaspick tries to come to grips with Buster Posey's official retirement. His press conference on Thursday was moving, and it's hard to believe it's really the end.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick breaks down the news that Buster Posey has decided to retire after 12 major league seasons. He leaves the game as one of the best catchers of all time, and he should be in line for induction into Cooperstown one day. Posey changed the Giants from the minute he burst onto the scene in 2010, a year in which he ultimately won Rookie of the Year and led the Giants to their first ever championship in San Francisco. Two years later, he was the MVP and he won another ring. Two years after that, another ring. All the while, Posey just kept on being one of the best players in baseball. Since his debut in 2009, only Mike Trout has amassed more FanGraphs wins above replacement. Hall of Fame guru Jay Jaffe considers Posey a lock for induction one day.

Ben relives some of the best moments of Posey's career, from the rings to Matt Cain's perfect game to the grand slam off Matt Latos in 2012 NLDS Game 5. Posey won multiple Silver Sluggers, was selected to seven All-Star teams (and was snubbed a few more times), won a Gold Glove, and was Comeback Player of the Year twice. It will be hard to find a more decorated career in baseball history.

Finally, Ben attempts to turn the page to what comes next for San Francisco. They've been so fortunate to be able to write Posey's name into the lineup most days for 12 years, but that's no longer an option. The team has one more year of control over Curt Casali, who can be retained for roughly $2M if the club so desires. The free agent market for catchers is bleak. There are some possible trade candidates, and of course Joey Bart is waiting in the wings. Ben is still not convinced that Bart is ready following his difficult-to-watch debut season in 2020. Bart's struggles, despite being considered one baseball's best prospects, is a perfect illustration of how truly special Posey was. He couldn't have been much better, and the franchise couldn't have been more fortunate to have him wear the orange and black for his entire career, from start to finish.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the key dates and deadlines for the San Francisco Giants' 2021-22 offseason. Things kick off with a five-day window during which time teams and players must make decisions on options and opt-outs, and teams must decide who among their eligible players to tag with the qualifying offer. The Giants hold club options over Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Wilmer Flores, and José Álvarez, and Ben expects the Giants to pick up the options for all but Cueto. Posey is a possible extension candidate, and there is a possibility he could choose to retire. The club also must decide whether to tag Brandon Belt, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood (the only three realistic candidates) with the one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer.

Once the deadline for all of that activity passes on Sunday, free agency officially kicks off on Monday, Nov. 8. Ten days from Nov. 7, players must decide whether to accept or reject teams' qualifying offers. Two days later, on Nov. 19, teams must add eligible players to their 40-man roster if they want to protect them from selection in the Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled to take place in early December. The Giants have several of their better prospects eligible for selection, including Heliot Ramos, Sean Hjelle, and Seth Corry.

The biggest deadline of all comes on Dec. 1 at 11:59 PM Eastern, when the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire. If MLB and the MLBPA don't reach an agreement on a new CBA by that time, the league may institute a lockout and a transactions freeze. All major-league dates and deadlines thereafter could be put on hold until a new CBA agreement is reached. That would affect the tender deadline, free agency, trades, and the Winter Meetings.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick host Ben Kaspick answers questions from listeners about the San Francisco Giants' offseason. Among the questions asked and answered are:

Thoughts on the Giants going for one of the four Braves outfielders if they don't re-sign? Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler are free agents; Adam Duvall and Joc Pederson have options.

Why haven’t the Giants extended Gabe Kapler? Isn’t his contract up next year? Never want a lame duck manager. Seems the Giants would be smart to try to extend Farhan Zaidi too, while they’re at it.

How is a potential universal designated hitter going to change the Giants off-season plans?

Do you think the idea of the Giants having to overpay hitters to lure them to the Bay are finally over with, now that they led the league in HR?

More likely to come back: Brandon Belt or Kris Bryant. Who would you rather have?

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick, host Ben Kaspick talks about three things we learned this weekend with the San Francisco Giants. Tommy La Stella, who received the largest contact handed out by Farhan Zaidi in San Francisco last offseason, had a disappointing first season in San Francisco. He was injured several times, and most recently his left Achilles bothered him down the stretch and kept him out of some key games. He met with a specialist last week, and ultimately ended up having surgery. He is expected to be back at full strength in four months, but you never know with these things. The Giants may need additional insurance at second base, as Donovan Solano is a free agent and their depth chart there currently looks something like Wilmer Flores, Thairo Estrada, Jason Vosler, and Mauricio Dubón.

The Giants also suffered a big blow in the world of coaching on Monday. Donnie Ecker, one of the Giants' hitting coaches responsible for turning this team's offense around over the past two seasons, is leaving for the Texas Rangers, where he'll be bench coach and offensive coordinator, in charge of offensive development at the major and minor league levels. Ecker is considered a rising star in the industry, and this moves him one step closer to potentially becoming a manager. But it stings for the Giants, although manager Gabe Kapler is known for constantly keeping tabs on coaches who would be next in line if one of their own departs. This is par for the course for a team that shocked the industry by winning a franchise-record 107 games.

Finally, Ben discusses Buster Posey winning his second Comeback Player of the Year Award. It was a tremendous bounceback season for Posey (in part thanks to Ecker, no doubt), after he opted out of the 2020 season and had struggled to below-average offensive performance in 2019. Several Giants veterans enjoyed career years in 2021, thanks to the Giants' new coaches hired by Kapler.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick details the state of the San Francisco Giants' pitching staff. Logan Webb emerged as an ace in 2021 and in the postseason, and he is under club control for four more seasons, but the rest of the starting rotation is a great unknown. Ben expects Kevin Gausman to be re-signed on a multiyear deal in excess of $100M, and he also expects one of Anthony DeSclafani or Alex Wood to be retained. However, that would still leave San Francisco with two open spots in the starting rotation, and of course it takes more than just five starters to get through a season these days. Ben discusses some possible solutions on the free agent market, from top shelf options like Max Scherzer and Robbie Ray, to pitchers looking for pillow contracts like Noah Syndergaard and Justin Verlander.

Also discussed on today's show is the state of the Giants' quietly excellent bullpen. They led the majors in bullpen ERA in 2021, and only Tony Watson is set to reach free agency. The Giants have years of control and roster flexibility in their 'pen, which is an enviable position to be in. Camilo Doval and Kervin Castro have many years of control and are optionable if necessary, and under-the-radar guys like Tyler Rogers, Jake McGee, and Jarlín García are good and retainable as well.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick explores the state of San Francisco Giants position players entering the offseason. He's already spent a few shows discussing who he expects to be back and who he doesn't expect to be back, so today he looks at where things stand assuming that's how things play out. He goes position by position, looking at who currently projects to play, and exploring possible areas for improvement. Tommy La Stella returns, but he may need a new platoon partner with Donovan Solano expected to play elsewhere. Thairo Estrada is out of minor league options and seems like a logical candidate. But Wilmer Flores is expected to be back and could also be a candidate to platoon at second base.

Ben expects Brandon Belt to be back, and he would lock down first base. Brandon Crawford is signed for two more years, and the Giants have a club option on Buster Posey. Ben thinks Evan Longoria should have a left-handed platoon partner, but it's hard to find an obvious fit on the free-agent market. He continues to dream about Corey Seager, but it's difficult to envision that dream coming to fruition.

In the outfield, Ben imagines that LaMonte Wade Jr. could platoon in left with Darin Ruf. Both are under club control for at least the next two years. Ben does not expect Alex Dickereson to be back. In right field, Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater could platoon, with both under club control for three-plus seasons. In center, the Giants have Steven Duggar and Mauricio Dubón, both of whom have several years of club control but are out of minor league options. Ben identifies center as a possible area for improvement, and looks at the likes of Starling Marte, Chris Taylor, and Mark Canha as possible targets.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick names five San Francisco Giants he doesn't expect to be back in 2022. The first is Kris Bryant, which is sure to be a controversial take among Giants fans. While Ben acknowledges that Bryant is a very good player, there are several reasons to think he won't be wearing orange and black in 2022 and beyond. He's likely to have a robust market, and Scott Boras clients often don't sign until late in the offseason. The Giants aren't likely to wait around for Bryant, whose performance with the club was good but not great after he was acquired in a midseason trade. Ben also names Johnny Cueto, Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Dickerson, and Donovan Solano as key players he doesn't expect to be back in 2022 for various reasons.

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