This week’s mailbag will get into potential offseason targets for the Giants and Nationals, the potential free companies of Trent Grisham and Ha-Seong Kim, and the Mets’ present six-man rotation.
Neil asks:
Giants fan right here. They’re killing me with this Jekyll and Hyde act on offense this yr. It is the .500 crew I used to be anticipating however they want extra crew velocity and the OF protection offers me a headache. Who ought to they aim in free company?
Todd asks:
I see my Giants are hanging on (barely!) within the West, however wanting ahead to subsequent yr, who do they should purchase to be given an ‘A’ for his or her low season subsequent March? Clearly pitching is required, I am focused on particular names who they need to be focusing on. Thanks!
Let’s do a Giants rundown!
C: Having Patrick Bailey because the starter represents a option to sacrifice offense on the place for Gold Glove protection. That technique can work, however you’d ideally make up for the useless spot within the lineup in another method.
1B: Rafael Devers appears to be enhancing defensively; he is been splitting time at first base with Dominic Smith. In August, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that the state of affairs “may flip right into a timeshare depending on high prospect Bryce Eldridge’s improvement on the place.” Eldridge, 21 in October, has a 100 wRC+ in 260 Triple-A plate appearances. He is nonetheless the Nineteenth-ranked prospect in baseball, so if and when he figures out Triple-A, he is anticipated to share first base and DH with Devers.
2B: Tyler Fitzgerald, the Giants’ innings chief on the place this yr, was optioned to Triple-A just a few weeks in the past. Since then we have largely seen Casey Schmitt, with rookie Christian Koss blended in. Former high prospect Marco Luciano, at instances talked about as a possible future second baseman, has spent your complete yr at Triple-A and has been taking part in left area.
SS: Willy Adames is settling in with a 149 wRC+ since July.
3B: Matt Chapman has had a few IL stints for hand accidents, however he is nonetheless having a typical good yr.
LF: Heliot Ramos has hit decently with a 111 wRC+ (and no platoon splits), however he is been one of many recreation’s worst defensive left fielders this yr. As such, he is been price just one.1 fWAR. Ramos is below crew management by means of 2029 and will not but be arbitration eligible in 2026.
CF: Jung Hoo Lee has been stable in his first full MLB season and has a 133 wRC+ since July.
RF: With Mike Yastrzemski traded to Kansas Metropolis, the Giants have been giving Drew Gilbert and Luis Matos some run. The samples are too small to essentially inform proper now, however maybe they may type an enough platoon.
DH: It has been Devers, Smith, and Wilmer Flores right here. Smith and Flores could depart as free brokers, however the Giants should not do something main right here given Eldridge’s trajectory and Devers’ defensive limitations.
The Giants’ offense this yr ranks ninth within the NL with 4.37 runs scored per recreation. Their wRC+ is an excellent 100.
That is all the best way as much as 118 since August, third-best within the NL. The membership has been carried by veterans Devers, Lee, and Chapman in that point, with bonus contributions from Matos and Smith. For subsequent yr, the hope is that Eldridge can come up and contribute, however the Giants cannot actually matter on it.
Second base looks like a transparent want for the Giants. Gleyber Torres will probably be a free agent once more, and the commerce market may supply just a few choices comparable to Luis Garcia Jr.
The Giants may use a giant bat within the nook outfield. Kyle Tucker is the apparent selection. The versatile Cody Bellinger would additionally match effectively in San Francisco. Adolis Garcia could be a less expensive bounceback candidate.
For Neil’s outfield protection issues, shifting on from Ramos would assist. Defensive upgrades may embody Bellinger, Wilyer Abreu, and Luis Robert Jr.
What is the outlook on the beginning pitching facet?
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