Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi met with reporters this night. San Francisco pulled again to .500 with a win over the Diamondbacks tonight, however they missed the playoffs for the fifth time in Zaidi’s six-season tenure. That has led to hypothesis about his job safety — which solely ratcheted up in latest weeks amidst conflicting stories about possession’s position in dealing with negotiations on Matt Chapman’s $151MM extension.
Zaidi declined to invest about his job standing however acknowledged that possession is contemplating its choices. “Anytime you might have a disappointing season, it’s my job to judge every thing in my purview, and it’s their job to judge every thing in my purview, plus me,” the baseball ops chief stated (hyperlink by way of Andrew Baggarly of the Athletic). “And so I believe that course of is going on, and I perceive it.”
The Giants and Zaidi agreed to an extension final winter that coincided with Bob Melvin’s hiring as supervisor. Each the supervisor and baseball operations chief are on assured contracts for subsequent 12 months with choices for the 2026 season. That definitely doesn’t guarantee job safety — groups frequently dismiss coaches or executives earlier than the tip of their offers — but it surely stored Zaidi from working on a lame duck foundation in 2024.
Any doubt about his standing with the group can’t cease Zaidi from planning the workforce’s strategy to the upcoming offseason. That begins with Blake Snell, who has pitched at a Cy Younger degree for the higher a part of 4 months. The star left-hander is ready to say no his $30MM participant choice and take one other shot at a long-term contract.
Zaidi admitted the Giants anticipate Snell to choose out. He stated the Giants will stay out there however conceded they’ll face stiff competitors. “I believe it’s going to be a precedence for everyone. He’s been the very best pitcher in baseball the second half of the season,” Zaidi stated of Snell’s market (relayed by Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle). “And I believe he’s going into free company the identical means he did final offseason. He desires to maintain an open thoughts. We’re inspired about what he stated about how a lot he likes being right here, how a lot he likes San Francisco and enjoying for Bob. We’ll be fairly excessive on his checklist, however we’re respecting the truth that he’s going to need to play out free company.”
Snell turns 32 in December. He’ll in all probability take goal at a six-plus 12 months deal that approaches $200MM. That type of funding in beginning pitching could be out of character for Zaidi. As proven on MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, the Giants haven’t gone past the $90MM Logan Webb extension for a beginning pitcher. The $62MM assure they awarded Snell late final winter is their largest free agent rotation funding.
The Giants have been far more comfy with short-term upside performs for beginning pitchers who need to retest the market than they’re with prolonged commitments. That working process made them a powerful match when Snell’s market didn’t materialize the best way he’d envisioned final winter, but it surely’ll current a problem to maintaining him round. San Francisco was content material to let Kevin Gausman and Carlos Rodón stroll after putting gold on short-term performs for each pitchers.
If Snell had been to depart, Webb would retake his spot because the unquestioned workers ace. He’ll be adopted within the rotation by Kyle Harrison and Robbie Ray (who’s unlikely to choose out of the $50MM remaining on his contract). The Giants may attempt to stretch Jordan Hicks again out as a starter whereas giving alternatives to youthful arms like Hayden Birdsong, Landen Roupp and Keaton Winn. They’d absolutely add to that group in some capability after coping with numerous rotation accidents this season.
Zaidi additionally addressed the place participant combine, particularly saying the Giants will “undoubtedly be within the middle-infield market” (by way of Rubin). Tyler Fitzgerald has had a improbable rookie season since taking on at shortstop. The Louisville product linked on his fifteenth homer tonight and is as much as a .287/.338/.510 batting line via 325 plate appearances. His 31.1% strikeout fee is trigger for some concern, however Fitzgerald’s energy and defensive flexibility have earned him a task someplace on the diamond.
That would come on the opposite facet of the second base bag. The Giants waived Thairo Estrada final month after he hit .217/.247/.343 in 96 video games. Estrada will likely be a minor league free agent at season’s finish. Zaidi lauded Estrada’s professionalism and expressed some confidence that the infielder may rebound in one other setting, however he indicated the Giants will go in a distinct route.
Shifting Fitzgerald to second base whereas bringing in a longtime shortstop is an choice. Willy Adames and Ha-Seong Kim are the potential regulars within the free agent class. Zaidi expressed a want so as to add “a longtime, plus defender within the center infield” by way of free company or commerce. Adames and Kim would every match the invoice (though the previous has had an uncharacteristic spike in errors this season). Each gamers are going to say no qualifying presents from their present groups and would require draft decide forfeiture. Adames may command a assure north of $150MM, whereas Kim’s deal may land within the $75-100MM vary.
Bo Bichette has been the highest speculative shortstop commerce goal. The Blue Jays didn’t appear inclined to maneuver him even earlier than he went on the injured checklist simply earlier than the deadline. Except the Toronto entrance workplace reverses course, they in all probability received’t promote low in the course of the winter.
There aren’t a ton of apparent center infield commerce candidates. The Reds might hear on Jonathan India, however he’s not the caliber of defender to which Zaidi alluded. That’s additionally the case with Tampa Bay second baseman Brandon Lowe. The Pirates would in all probability hear on Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whose offensive manufacturing has cratered since a deadline commerce with Toronto. There’s an opportunity the Mariners may transfer on from J.P. Crawford as they attempt to reshape their offense.
A free agent pursuit of Adames or Kim, although, could be extra simple. That’d permit the Giants to make use of Casey Schmitt in a utility capability and doubtlessly free them to play Marco Luciano within the outfield. Zaidi stated tonight that they’re not closing the door on Luciano successful the second base job, however they’ll have to see enchancment (particularly defensively) subsequent spring for that to occur.
One space the place the Giants don’t appear inclined to make a long-term play: first base. Zaidi indicated the workforce was reluctant to make an funding that may impede the trail for prime prospect Bryce Eldridge, their 2023 first-round decide. Eldridge remains to be a month shy of his twentieth birthday, however he mashed at a .335/.442/.619 clip in Excessive-A. He has made cameos on the prime two minor league ranges, and whereas he’s unlikely to interrupt camp subsequent 12 months, Zaidi prompt there’s a path for him to debut sooner or later in 2025.
“As soon as a man is in Double-A, Triple-A, they’re within the image,” Zaidi stated (relayed by Baggarly). “I believe it behooves us to have a roster that’s versatile sufficient that if he’s prepared subsequent 12 months, even early within the 12 months, there’s a spot for him. In order that’s going to be actually necessary for us. I don’t anticipate us actually locking up the primary base and DH spot.” There’s a stable group of free agent first basemen, headlined by Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, however that doesn’t seem like a precedence for San Francisco.
After all, these preliminary plans may go in any variety of instructions if possession decides to make a entrance workplace change. That must be decided throughout the subsequent few weeks. Giants followers will need to take a look at each The Athletic and The Chronicle columns in full for extra quotes from Zaidi about his imaginative and prescient for the winter.
