On paper, the 2017 San Francisco Giants look to be in pretty good shape. After finishing the 2016 campaign one inning away from an elimination game with the Cubs in the NLDS, the Giants addressed their biggest need in the offseason, signing star closer Mark Melancon to a multi-year deal.
Still, there are a handful of things to be ironed out between the opening of Spring Training on Feburary 24, and the season’s first pitch come April.
Here are the three biggest questions the Giants will hope to find answers for during the next two months.
Who will be the everyday starter in left field?
Aside from the rotation, left-field is the Giants’ only positional question mark heading into the 2017 season. With the departures of veteran outfielders Angel Pagan and Gregor Blanco, the Giants head into spring with the unproven Mac Williamson, 26, and Jarrett Parker, 28, competing for a starting spot.
Initially, it seemed as if the Giants were planning on platooning the two, something that would make sense considering Parker bats left-handed, while Williamson bats right. General manager Bobby Evans reveled that is not his desire, however, telling Tom Tolbert on KNBR two weeks ago that his hope is for one of them to win the job outright.
“In a perfect world, one guy would win the job,” Evans said. “You’re not necessarily looking for a platoon. You’re looking for one guy to win the job.”
Parker and Williamson each had low batting averages while playing their first significant ball at the major league level last season, but overall both were decent at the plate in limited action. Parker finished with a line of .236/.358/.394, while going deep five times in 127 at-bats. Williamson posted similar numbers, .223/.315/.411, hitting six jacks in 112 at-bats. Assuming the veterans in the lineup hit closer to their career averages, if either Parker and Williamson can replicate or improve upon those numbers this season, the Giants will probably be okay with that.
It’s clear at this point that the front office was only willing to spend big on one free agent this offseason, and elected to solve their issues at closer instead of breaking the bank on an outfielder. Considering last year’s bullpen catastrophe, that was the right decision, but it has left San Francisco without a proven option in left, something that explains inviting veteran outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Michael Morse to camp for insurance purposes.
Should both Parker and Williamson struggle to the point of concern, there is the contingency plan of throwing Eduardo Nunez in left-field, and rolling with Conor Gillaspie at third. Gillaspie finished the 2016 season on a tear, but he hasn’t been an everyday player since 2014. There is also the possibility of Gorkys Hernandez, who was arguably the Giants’ most reliable hitter off the bench last season.
There are a number of moving parts here, but San Francisco is hoping at least one of the stated parties does enough over the next couple months to make the decision easy come April.
Who is the fifth starter?
After finishing the season with 11 and 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings (including an eight inning shutout against the Dodgers in his second career start) lefty Ty Blach looked primed to join the rotation in 2017. It came as a bit of a surprise then, when Evans stated two weeks ago that the job is essentially Matt Cain’s to lose. Seeing as he is due $20 million next season, however, one can see why Cain earning a spot back in the rotation would be a desirable outcome for the organization.
“Well we’re going to create some competition, but if Cain is Cain, that’ll be an easy decision,” Evans said. “If Cain scuffles with command or just doesn’t seem to have the stuff, that’ll be different. But I think now as he gets more and more removed from surgery and has had a typical offseason to prepare, I think he’s gonna be much stronger for us.”
Cain finished 2016 with a 5.64 ERA in 17 starts, while dealing with multiple injuries. Blach finished with a 1.07 ERA in 17 innings, and posted a 3.43 ERA in 26 starts with the Sacramento Rivercats. The contingency of course is that Cain would need to resemble the guy who earned a 5 year, $112,500,000 million contract extension in 2012. That is a huge if, and considering we haven’t seen that player for nearly half a decade, Blach should be in a decent position to win the job.
There are also a few outside possibilities in prospects Tyler Beede, Chris Stratton and non-roster invitee Michael Roth. None of the three have significant experience at the major-league level.
Which non-roster veterans will separate themselves?
Though the Giants didn’t make any splash signings this offseason aside from Melancon, they did invite a number of notable veterans to compete for roster spots in Spring Training, with former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins, fan favorite Michael Morse and the aforementioned Ruggiano being the most notable.
Of the three, the Giants would probably most like to see Morse separate himself. Morse can provide outfield depth, has the ability to hit for power, and was a fan favorite and excellent locker room presence in 2014. The question is, can he still play?
Morse hasn’t been the same guy since leaving San Francisco. He was traded by the Marlins after struggling mightily in 2015, and was released by the Pirates last season after just eight plate appearances. Morse was one of the Giants’ best hitters in 2014, finishing with a .811 OPS, second highest on the team.
Ruggiano, 34, hasn’t been an everyday player since 2013, but had good numbers at the plate in very limited action with the Rangers and Mets last season. Rollins, 38, started 41 games with the White Sox in 2016, but hit just .221 before being released in June. He’ll compete for a utility infield position, and with Ehire Adrianza designated for assignment, the Giants do not have a set back up for Brandon Crawford at shortstop.
“The challenge for Jimmy, he hasn’t necessarily had the bat recently that he’s had in the past. And coming off the bench is very different than starting every day,” Evans said. “And playing second or third is not something he’s done. So there’s going to be challenges for him, but I’m excited that he wanted to come here. That says a lot about him and about the organization and about his interest in the Bay Area.”
It’s possible that none of the three could make the team, especially if a handful of young players (Austin Slater, Steven Duggar, Wynton Bernard) standout. All things considered, that would probably be the best outcome, but the Giants wouldn’t hate to see any of the three veterans go through at career renaissance in 2017.