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Scott Boras, Bumgarner watch: What to expect from Giants Day 2 at Winter Meetings

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Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports


SAN DIEGO — Day 1 brought a Stephen Strasburg megadeal and some Madison Bumgarner movement.

Which may be more than last year’s Winter Meetings accomplished.

There is reason to believe Day 2 can keep up the momentum, as the Giants wish to begin checking off items from a long to-do list and the rest of Major League Baseball is shedding the patience from the past few years.

This offseason the Giants are striving toward at least one starting pitcher, likely a veteran reliever, a lefty infielder and a righty, slugging outfielder. On Monday, Farhan Zaidi was optimistic one rotation member would be brought in before the Meetings let out Thursday.

Whether that addition would be from the free-agent ranks (Brett Anderson?) or the trade market (J.A. Happ?) is unclear. But as Tuesday’s edition of the hot stove summit heats up, whether the Giants can indeed land a veteran to supplement Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto is an interesting development to watch for. Here are a few more on tap for Day 2:

Bumgarner watch

Bumgarner and Gerrit Cole loom largest in the starting-pitcher market, and the offers for the former Astros superstar reportedly are coming through. Once Cole is off the market, there will be plenty of disappointed teams with unspent money at their disposal who have to move on to Plan Bumgarner.

The Angels and Yankees are both heavily pursuing Cole, and whoever whiffs easily could pivot. The New York Post reported the Diamondbacks are in the mix, while the Twins, Phillies and Braves have been linked to the big lefty, too.

Bumgarner should be looking at a nine-figure deal, and while the Giants said they would meet with his representatives this week, they aren’t expected to be serious bidders.

State of Scott Boras

The rent-a-quote super-agent will preside over the masses at noon, fielding questions about his clients and the state of baseball. A day after scoring the eye-opening, $245 million pact for Strasburg, Boras will turn to the rest of the league and ask why it won’t spend more money on his clients.

It will be great theater, at least if you like your theater with extra theatrics. And for the Giants faithful, Boras will get questions, too, about the …

Nicholas Castellanos intrigue

The best corner outfielder on the market is repped by Boras, and the Giants are interested.

A rival bidder for Castellanos told The Athletic that San Francisco is viewed as the most likely landing spot for the former Tiger and Cub. The Giants have not been in the mix for upper-echelon free agents, feeling 2020 will be about progress and not going all-in, but Castellanos could be a fit.

With a, say, four-year deal, the Giants would get his Year 28 through 31 seasons, believing they’re adding a potent bat now who will grow with the team. Castellanos, a righty who kills lefties, has been steady since 2014, last year his best campaign at .289/.337/.525 with 27 home runs. He would be the corner outfielder and middle-of-the-lineup bat the Giants have lacked.

If not Castellanos, Marcell Ozuna and Yasiel Puig should interest the Giants.