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 state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: I’m getting a little concerned that we might not see Austin Slater make the roster. Is too much depth ever a problem? If so, what does that look like? How do you see Farhan Zaidi addressing that issue? Who are the players that are out of minor league options? If the Giants are hunting free agents in 2022, what position do you think they should target (assuming Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford are gone). The team talks a lot about stretching out pitchers. Would it be a health consideration for ‘starters’/multiple inning pitchers like Shun Yamaguchi or Nick Tropeano to have normal bullpen duties and also be able to make spot starts? I guess more clarity on the idea of stretching out players. Did the fact that the Giants had to protect four players from the Rule 5 Draft hinder their attempt to sign more major league contracts?

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick answers listeners' questions about the state of the San Francisco Giants. Among the questions asked and answered are: If LaMonte Wade Jr. makes the team, who would be on the chopping block (better to DFA Darin Ruf or send down Austin Slater)? How does this stockpiling pitching depth work with roster spots since veterans often opt out if they don’t make the MLB club? Would Shun Yamaguchi consider starting in Triple-A? With the rosters back to 26, it seems like either Ruf or Donovan Solano may be expendable. If they do get dealt, what would they bring back? I can’t wait for this wave of prospects to be ready. Who do you think will be the first to make an impact on the big club? Where do you see Tyler Beede fitting into the rotation and how do you think he’ll do? Adding to that, might Beede make a home in the bullpen? You brought up Jaylin Davis on the podcast yesterday. He only got 12 at-bats last year before getting the hook and was kind of forgotten about. Any word on him, and who would be the favorite to make the roster between him and Steven Duggar?

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing pitchers Shun Yamaguchi and Scott Kazmir to minor league deals with invitations to spring training. Yamaguchi signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays last offseason, and did not have a good 2020 season. Toronto cut him loose this winter, and the Giants picked him up on a minor league deal that will pay him the league minimum if he makes the major league roster. Yamaguchi was a star closer and starter in Japan, and could be used as a starter or reliever with the Giants if he makes the team.

Kazmir is 37 years old and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2016, but he's still throwing in the low 90s and has always had a really good changeup. It's a no-risk move for a guy who still has potential. In Kazmir and Yamaguchi, the Giants have added two more pitchers capable of making starts. The Giants now go at least nine deep with intriguing arms to fill out the starting rotation. They're likely going to need that depth to cover 162 games, a year after pitchers' workloads were severely shortened due to the 60-game season.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about a number of hot topics related to the San Francisco Giants. Aaron Sanchez, whose one-year, $4M deal with incentives that could take it up with $6.5M was announced on Sunday, raved about the organization he's set to join. He said that he "heard nothing but great things, both [from an] organizational standpoint and a pitching and analytical standpoint." That last part, about the "analytical standpoint," should not be overlooked. Sanchez is the latest in a growing line of Giants pitchers and hitters who have praised the team's use of analytics. This is in stark contrast to many fans' and analysts' negative views of "analytics," despite that word being a blatant over-generalization used to describe something that is wide ranging and complex.

Ben also discusses the Giants' decision to DFA Trevor Gott, and their signing of former Japanese ace Shun Yamaguchi to a minor league deal.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing right-handed pitchers Aaron Sanchez and Nick Tropeano. Sanchez was one of the more intriguing starting pitchers available this offseason, because of the stuff and success he had early in his career with the Blue Jays. Injuries held him back in recent years, however, and he missed all of 2020 after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2019. Sanchez seems to be healthy now, as just a few days ago he hit 98 mph in a bullpen session in front of scouts, which seemingly caused the Giants to pounce. Sanchez figures to round out the Giants' starting rotation, which is full of upside and risk. Fascinatingly, all five of the top projected starters are set to reach free agency at the end of the year. Nick Tropeano comes over on a minor league deal, but he reportedly has a good shot of making the opening day roster. He has experience as a starter, but his stuff played up in the bullpen last year for Pittsburgh.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the Giants' stated goal of adding more starting pitching depth. Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi met with the media on Friday, and he said that the team is still looking at adding starting pitchers. Notably, he also mentioned that the position player group and bullpen mix are pretty much set. Ben discusses which free-agent starting pitchers remain unsigned, and talks about how the Giants could benefit from locking one of them up to a multi-year deal. He also talks about Zaidi's comment that a trade for an experienced starting pitcher is possible.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the fact that MLB and the MLBPA agreed to health and safety protocols this week, and spring training is set to begin on time next week. As part of the health and safety protocols, MLB will re-instate the extra-inning rule from last season, as well as seven-inning double headers. There will be a 162-game season, with no DH in the National League and no expanded postseason.

Also on today's show, Ben answers the following questions from listeners: Would you care to expand on why we should buy into certain 60-game season stats (like offense) and why we shouldn’t for others? I think you’ve mentioned that the offense didn’t look flukey; what would a flukey offense look like? Who's the player you think is most likely to be traded or DFA'd on the current 40-man? Are there any prospects that have a legitimate chance of making the Opening Day roster?

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The latest from Atlanta where they are getting ready to host an NBA All-Star game that players don't want and fans are confused over. LeBron James sends the Lakers into overtime against the Thunder. The Suns ended the Milwaukee Bucks win streak. Karl-Anthony Towns returned for the first time since contracting COVID-19. A 5-team trade in the WNBA. Are the Jets the most interesting NFL team this offseason? Plus, Can the Vikings pull off what the Buccaneers did? It's the Q of the day.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants signing left-handed reliever Jake McGee to a two-year, $7M contract. The deal has not been announced by the club, but has been reported by multiple reputable sources. McGee was cut loose by the Rockies prior to the start of the 2020 season, but quickly signed on with the Dodgers, where he went on to have a huge rebound season for the eventual World Series champions. McGee's fastball regained its old dominant form, and he threw the pitch a whopping 97% of the time, the most frequently any pitcher threw any pitch in 2020. Third on that list was Matt Wisler with his slider, and the Giants signed Wisler to a one-year deal earlier this offseason. With the addition of McGee, the Giants continue to build quality depth throughout their 40-man and major league roster.

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On today's Locked On Giants podcast, host Ben Kaspick talks about the San Francisco Giants' acquisition of LaMonte Wade Jr. in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. The Giants sent right-handed reliever Shaun Anderson to Minnesota to complete the swap. In Wade Jr., the Giants add an optionable young left-handed outfielder with athleticism and a rare combination of plate discipline and contact skills. It's an ideal foundation for the Giants' savvy hitting coaches to work with. Wade Jr. figures to surpass Steven Duggar on the Giants' outfield depth chart, and should compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Also discussed on today's show is the Dodgers' acquisition of ace right-hander Trevor Bauer, a move that, as Ben explains, doesn't change much for the San Francisco Giants. The 2021 PECOTA projections are also analyzed.

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